“It’s okay,” Connor said, as his muscles tightened. “We’re here for you.”
“When I left the motel, I had a long way to go to get back to the Wyoming compound. I didn’t have a car or any cash, so…”
God, she really didn’t want them to know this part.
“I hitchhiked.”
“You what?” Connor and Reid shouted in unison.
Winnie just stared, open mouthed. No doubt she was thinking about what any of the Sabre Daddies would do if they found out one of their Littles had done that.
“But it’s okay. I’m okay. And I only did it once!”
Connor’s jaw flexed. “We are absolutely discussing that later.”
Bliss nodded. “I figured.”
“Go on with your story, Trouble. Before I decide to hand Nori to Winnie and have our discussion now.”
Yikes! She was beginning to see the story as a way of delaying their “discussion.” “The people I rode with were very nice. We stopped at a rest area about thirty minutes later.” Her voice trembled. “That’s when the Russians caught up with me again.”
Connor went completely still. “How the fuck did they find you? And why would you go with them? Wasn’t there any way of getting away from them?”
“No, Daddy. They threatened to kill the people who gave me the ride if I didn’t go with them.”
Reid muttered something vicious under his breath. Bliss could practically feel the heat of Connor’s rage at the Russian emanating from him. In a way, it was comforting that he would be so outraged on her behalf.
She didn’t even realize she’d snuggled closer into Connor. She continued, so ready to have this over and done with. “Theman who was supposed to buy me? He backed out once he found out I’d spent the night in a motel with another man.”
Connor’s eyes went dark. “Thank God for small favors.”
“But my father, I mean Father Cassian, ordered them to bring me back to the Wyoming compound.” Bliss shrugged weakly. “In a way, it was a blessing. I got a free ride to the place I was going anyway.”
Winnie frowned. “Why? Why would you want to go back to them?”
“Phoebe Duncan,” was all Bliss said.
“Phoebe Duncan? Who is that?” Connor demanded.
Bliss continued to focus on Winnie. “She was my best friend.”
Her sister had to understand, even if no one else did. But Connor wouldn’t. So she told him. “A friend in a place like the Society was precious and rare, Daddy. Growing up, I was with Phoebe longer than I'd been with Winnie. We grew up together and had each other’s backs.”
Connor’s expression softened when they saw Bliss’s tears start to drop. “Phoebe fell in love with a Graceless.”
Reid frowned. “A what?”
Winnie provided the answer. “Someone outside the Society, you know, like you.”
Connor’s jaw tightened. “Okay….”
“Please don’t be mad at me,” Bliss begged. “I couldn’t stand it.”
Connor kissed the top of her head. “I’m not mad at you, babygirl. I’m mad at the people who put you through all this.”
“I’m glad because this story doesn’t get any better. Phoebe let herself be taken.”
Connor frowned. “I’m sorry, babygirl, but what do you mean by taken?”
