Suddenly, she felt awhooshof air blow past her. Mars released his hold, and she fell to the ground as Ben tackled Mars. Her arms were too weak to brace herself against the impact of hitting the ground. Her head bounced off the hard earth, and stars sparked behind her eyes.
She struggled to hold on to her consciousness, and she forced air in and out of her lungs. She rolled to her side with a moan. Her eye focused on the two shadowy figures ahead of her, but she identified Ben’s form looming over Mars.
“Ben,” she sighed, her voice barely audible.
Gunshots echoed around her. With wide-eyed terror, she watched Mars fall to the ground. And then Ben fell.
“No!”
Sobs wracked her body as her heart shattered. She closed her eyes, giving into the pain.
Someone suddenly dropped beside her, and unfamiliar hands lightly touched her face. Adrenaline mixed with panic surged within her. She fought against the person, knowing it was a losing battle with her weakened state. But she had to hold on. She had to get to Ben. He needed her.
“Paige. It’s me. Easton. Ben’s brother. It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe. It’s okay. It’s Easton. Paige, you’re safe.”
Easton repeated the words a few times before they registered in her mind. Once she realized she was being held by a friend and not an enemy, she clung to him. Her tears clouded her limited vision.
“Ben. Oh, my God! You have to help him! You have to…”
“Paige, he’s fine. He’s fine. Look. He’s up.”
Easton pulled a cloth from a pocket and used it to clean her face. Then he gathered her gently in his arms and shifted her to gain a better view of the other men. Paige sagged against Easton in relief, fresh tears flowing. Ben stood, towering over Mars’ defeated form crumpled to the ground. She wasn’t sure if her abuser was dead or just severely wounded, but all that mattered was Ben was neither of those.
“Paige, honey, he’s coming to you. We’re getting you out of here and getting you some help. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
She nodded once, unable to speak. Easton gently released her, and suddenly Ben was there. She didn’t have to see him clearly to know it was him. Her battered body felt renewed, and she willed herself to sit up. Her hands framed his face, the feelof his rough, sweaty skin under her palms evidence that he was real. He was here. He came for her.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” he breathed.
“Ms. Miller?” she whispered.
“Safe. They never kidnapped her. They just wanted you to believe they did.”
She closed her eyes again and sagged against him. Ben supported her with his body and carefully wrapped her in his embrace. She placed a hand on his bicep, shocked to feel something wet and sticky clinging to her fingers. After battling through her confusion, she realized she wasn’t the only one hurt.
“He shot you.”
“It’s nothing, Paige. I promise I’m fine. A lot better than him. Mars is dead.”
Her breath hitched. “Boyd?”
“Not dead, but caught. You’ll get your chance to tell the world what he’s done and watch him be punished for it.”
“But the evidence…” Her voice trailed off. Her head hurt too much for her to think, but she knew her situation wasn’t over. Not yet.
“Baby, listen to me. I’m telling you all you have to worry about now is healing and spending the rest of your life with me.”
“Okay,” she breathed and collapsed against him.
Black spots swirled in front of her eyes. “Ben?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Did you…ask me to marry you?”
His chuckle rumbled through his chest, and she felt it soothe the broken pieces of her spirit.
“I think I told you that you were marrying me. I don’t think I asked.”
