“I’ve got you, Pazessca. I'll never let anyone take you again. Or hurt you. Never again,” Synn whispers into my ear.
I shiver, understanding he's referencing all the way back to the first time he thought he was saving me when handing me to the Solomons.
“My Hoodie Boy. I trust you. I love you, Synn,” I admit, tears springing up in my eyes.
Synn makes a sound low in his throat, and peppers kisses along my neck. “When we get back, Pazessca, you’re mine.”
I stiffen in his hold, barely able to stand being touched as it is. I need time to process.
“Only when you’re ready,” Synn assures me, with a squeeze.
I’m relieved that I not only forgive him, but trust him to take care of me. I want him—badly. Hopefully I can beat back my newest trauma to finally have my Hoodie Boy.
Shock might be taking hold of me. I feel almost numb about the whole experience.
I crank my head around to peer at Maxim all the way in the back, 3 and Frost practically sitting on him to hold him down.
My heart beats faster, but my stomach doesn’t sink. My guys help me feel safe.
Maxim's voice floats forward to meet my ears. “Oh, Little Bird. I'm far from done with you. I will make you my wife eventually.”
“Fuck. No,” 3’s voice grits out. “You die.”
Maxim struggles, and a pissed off Frost clubs him on the head hard with the butt of a gun, knocking him out.
Confused, I ask, “If you guys had guns, why didn’t you just shoot Maxim?”
Frost grits out, “There were too many people cramped in such a small space. We weren’t going to risk hurting you.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“I’m going to check you out really quick, Malishka,” Ghost tells me from where he’s next to me and Synn.
“Wait, I am struggling being touched. Can you give me a minute, please?” I take a few deep, calming breaths, reminding myself that Ghost would never hurt me.
Sucking in one more breath, I say, “Go ahead.”
He pats me down gently, carefully checking every inch of skin he can. “Are you hurt anywhere? Did he force himself on you?”
I shake my head. “No. He did beat me though... and he branded me. I'm okay. In pain, but I have a high pain threshold.”
“What? Where did he brand you?” Ghost cries.
I shakily point to my pubic mound.
Ghost leans over and softly inches my nightgown up, peering at the bandage. He carefully peels it back.
“Well, it’s healing and doesn’t look infected. But we will properly have you looked at by a doctor when we get back,” he says.
Throwing him a small smile, I turn around, looking at everyone in the SUV. “Where’s Razor, Trikk, Hunter, and Purge?”
“Razor and Trikk are in one of the other two cars. Purge and Hunter stayed at the compound to help the other hackers,” Synn answers.
“What about Val and Bryan? Shit, are they okay? And where is Cynthia?”
“They’re fine,” Ghost responds. “Last we heard, Cynthia is being taken care of by Thor.”
I'm not even going to begin to pick that apart. I'll save it for later.
