I couldn’t help it. It was better than the nightmares, though. Every time I closed my eyes, I’d see Enzo covered in blood—either from my own doing or whatever lashing Steven had chosen to dish out.
I must have made some sort of noise, as Ryker tightened his hold around me for a moment.
“Steven was making me hurt Enzo.” Wasn’t the first time, nor the last. “He…he made me use the device that had spikes on the ends. Each time it landed on his skin, it’d make him bleed. But if I didn’t do it, Steven would have done worse to the both of us. It was bad enough that Steven would force himself on me afterwards.”
A full-body shudder wracked me as the memory hit harder than before.
“I didn’t want it,” I went on, not able to stop. “I didn’t want to hurt Enzo. And I didn’t want Steven’s dick anywhere near me.” I never had. Not the first time, days after he took me from the house party, and not the last time right before he tried to kill me.
“He took everything from me.” One way or another, he had.
“He didn’t take your last breath,” Ryker whispered. He turned to his side, nearly putting us face to face. Well, it was more like face to forehead. I had to tilt my head up just a bit to see his eyes, although they did get stuck at his lips for a moment too long.
One of his hands rested on my hip. The other wrapped around my back and held me to him.
“You’re still alive. I promise. Steven will never hurt another person again once the feds have him in custody.”
“Why don’t they have him?” If there were a few other people like me out there, safe and hidden away, why wasn’t the man who’d started it all already behind bars?
“He’s only one man, Emery. It’s bigger than that. The feds want to take as many people down with him as possible.”
Emery
Ihuffed, pulling a pillow over my head at the same time. I wanted to sleep more. The streaming light through the window was blinding now that I noticed it.
The pillow did little to help the muffled voices. The one-time sleep actually agreed with me, and the universe still didn’t let me freaking sleep in.
I flipped onto my stomach. Maybe if I willed my mind enough, sleep would find me again.
I didn’t care what time it was. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been able to sleep past sunrise. Well, since I’d got out of Steven’s clutches, anyway. With him, sleep had been whenever I could find it. Sometimes, it was hours locked in a basement. Sometimes it was tied up by the hands and feet. Other times, it was in the comfort of Enzo’s arms.
Steven loved to keep me on the edge of sanity.
After…well, almost dying, sleep hadn’t been my friend. I’d wake up in tears more times than not.
With a sigh, knowing it was a lost cause, I tossed the pillow off my head and flipped the blanket off. After sitting, I glared at the clock, seeing it was a little after nine.
Shaking my mood as much as I possibly could, I padded to the bathroom. There, I took a quick shower and did my normal morning business. Maybe by the time I’d finish, whoever was here would leave me and Ryker alone.
I was starting to enjoy it being the two of us more than I should. I knew eventually, I’d have to move on. Grow up. Get a life. Sooner or later, Ryker would tire of me.
With one of his shirts, which was a couple sizes too big for me, and a pair of soft cotton sleep pants, I slowly padded my way out of the bedroom.
The voices seemed to quiet down, so I wasn’t sure if it was just me and Ryker again, or if someone else was here. I was tempted to go back to the room and hide until Ryker came and found me.
So very tempting.
Instead, I took one step after the next. Soon enough, I paused by the entry of the kitchen. Ryker, of course, noticed me right away. A small, welcoming smile lit his face as he stood from the stool.
“Morning, sugar.” Ryker greeted, gently pulling me into a hug. My arms wrapped around him in return. I hummed, melting into his embrace. “Scarlett wanted to bring someone for you to meet. Are you up for that?”
“It doesn’t have to be today,” Scarlett was quick to say from her place at the kitchen island. “Although he’d love to be here already.”
Pulling back from Ryker, even though I instantly missed his warmth, I answered her. “Whenever.”
I wanted to say never, but I knew I couldn’t keep hiding here with Ryker. Not on my own. In time, Steven would be put behind bars and life would go on. Sure, he’d said I could stay here as long as I needed, but I was bound to wear out my welcome.
“I’ll go fetch him in a moment,” Scarlett stated. “But first, I have some news.”
