“Carter!”Zee shouted, his throat raw.
“Fuck, no!”Carter’s face crumbled at seeing his lover hurt, and the big man ran towards River.
“Get him!”Xander shouted but Logan and Dax were already gone, chasing after Nico.
“Let’s go get her, Zee!”Erik grabbed his arm, pulling him around.
As if he’d heard the starting pistol, he was already running, his feet pounding on the pavement, Erik on his heels, shoving at the thick white front door, until Erik reached over and tried the handle, pushing it open.
Inside the dark house, the smell of paint and sawdust hung heavy in the air.
The house smelled of stale coffee and dust, but the sound of Ella’s voice carried down the hallway.
With his heart in his throat, Zee followed the sound of her voice, his pulse racing.
Ella stood in the middle of the hall, her clothes torn, her hair a wild tangle around her flushed face.
Her chest heaved as she gripped a jagged rock like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
She froze at the sight of them, her eyes huge and bright with rage and terror.
For one awful heartbeat, Zee thought she might not recognize him.
“What the hell took you so long?”she snapped, voice raw, cracking on the last word.
Zee stopped short, chest heaving, relief crashing over him so hard his knees threatened to buckle.
His heart slammed against his ribs, his vision swimming as if the world itself tilted under his weight.
“Ella—“
She glared at him, ready to fight, then her face crumpled.
The rock slipped from her fingers, clattering against the floor.
He wrapped her in his arms, and she felt so frail in his embrace.
“My dear heart, I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her ears.
She smelled of sweat and dust but the familiar warmth of having her in his arms eased all of his fears.
He’d never let her out of sight again.
“Zee!”Her voice trembled and she pushed away from him before clutching a handful of his shirt and collapsing against him, letting out a shuddering sob.
“I got you, Ella.I’m never letting you go, ever again.You’re safe now.”
“I knew you would come!I tried to escape.”
“You got him good, Ella.Let’s get out of here.”
And he scooped her up in his arms and carried her, exactly like the treasured property she was, out of the house, his heart rate finally slowed because she was in his arms.
“Take me home.”Her voice wavered.
“Hospital first,” Zee said.
“Listen to him, Ella, the man’s been out of his mind worrying about you.Just do what he says,” Xander said.
