“There. That’ssomuch better.”
Lyle stepped closer, offering the plate, but only a little. I’d have to scoot to the edge of the bed if I wanted it.Damn him. Still, this was my opportunity, so I gathered what courage I had and shifted forward, careful not to reveal the shoe. I kept my eyes down as I lifted my left hand for the toast. Lyle grinned. It looked all wrong and menacing.
After taking the plate, I began to rest it on my lap as Lyle stole a lock of my hair and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply.
“All mine now,” he whispered, and I forced down a scream as a tear slid down my cheek.
Come on, Flora. It’s now or never.
With Lyle distracted, I put my other hand under the blanket, slowly—so fucking carefully—removing the shoe from its hiding place. Sucking in a deep breath, I drew my arm back, preparing myself for the worst.
And then I smashed my sneaker into his face.
“Ahh!” Lyle reeled back, stumbling away from me as his glasses snapped and fell onto the floor. “You bitch!”
I still held the shoe, so I threw it as hard as I could at him, landing another blow to his cheek. But Lyle was quicker than I expected. He surged forward, wrapping his hands around my throat as he tackled me to the bed. His thumbs pressed into my windpipe, and my body screamed. He was going to strangle me. Every part of me knew that this would kill me, and panic—pure fucking survival instinct—kicked in.
I flailed and kicked, but even a skinny guy like Lyle had a physical advantage over me. His face was red from where the shoe had landed. I stopped pulling on his hands for just a second, so I could reach up and jab my fingers into his eye.
Again, Lyle jerked backward reflexively, and with the air rushing into my lungs again, I shrieked. I screamed my fucking head off, praying that someone would hear me.
It was only a second or two, though, and then Lyle was on top of me again, pinning me to the bed before slapping me across the face. Pain blared through my cheek, burning intensely.
“If you won’t behave, I’ll treat you like the animal you are.” Lyle tore at my sweatshirt, and I shouted, desperately trying to smack his hands away. “You’ll be mine, no matter what you do, omega!”
“Flora!”
I glitched, freezing in place as the sound of my name ricocheted through my brain. I knew that voice. I’d know itanywhere. When I looked past Lyle, who also turned over his shoulder, I saw him.
Bear.
Spencer and Chase were right behind him, and the three of them shot across the room like cannonballs. They were trained, working together as a unit. Bear hauled Lyle off me, throwing him into the wall with such force, the wall cracked. Spencer and Chase were on him in a second, Spence driving his fist into Lyle’s face twice before Chase grabbed my kidnapper by the shirt and tackled him onto the ground. One more punch, and Lyle was unconscious.
“Is he…” My voice sounded small, and I hated it.
But Bear wrapped his arms around me, stroking my hair. I buried my nose in his chest, inhaling his pumpkin bread scent, letting it relax me.
“He’ll never touch you again, little omega. It’s over.”
Safe. I was safe.
“Can we get out of here?” As much as I was enjoying the long-lasting grounding hug, I wanted to be anywhere other than that room.
Bear held me firmly against his chest. “Don’t worry, little omega. As soon as the police are here and Spencer hands him over, we’ll leave.”
I wanted nothing more than to be out of the building that smelled like mildew and desperation. The urge to scream, shout, and stomp my feet like a toddler was overwhelming. Or maybe I just wanted to stare at the wall? Still, we needed to make sure the police arrested Lyle. If he escaped, it was only a matter of time before he would start this entire thing all over again. Ineededto know he was behind bars, or I’d never feel safe.
Hell, even then… I wasn’t…
My hands twisted in Bear’s shirt. I desperately needed nothing more than to clamber under his clothing, shoving our skin together, to ground myself with his presence. It hadn’t even been that long, but after everything Lyle had done…
I reached up to my neck. It was bad. Ithurt. But I didn’t want to think about what that meant. “Nest,” I whined in a small voice.
“Soon, baby. We’ll be back in your nest before you know it,” Bear soothed, running his hand over the back of my head.
“The police are here,” Chase announced, walking into the room, eyeing me intently. His hair was messed up, and there was a gun shoved into his waistband. “How are you?”
“I-I don’t…” I stammered, but nothing else came out.
