“Of course, baby girl,” he murmured, running his thumb across Josie’s trembling lower lip.
I kept Josie firmly against my chest, letting out a soft purr to try and soothe her. I met Glen and Dr. Bishop’s stares one last time before turning away. Every cell in my body protested leaving them unharmed, but Josie was my priority. A time would come when they would be without their guards serving as shields, and then we would get our revenge. I would do anything to make this right, to earn my omega’s forgiveness for failing to protect her.
My mind was a blur as Ben ushered us out of the god-forsaken building. I walked as carefully as I could, not wanting to jostle Josie and cause her more pain. She just tucked her face into my neck and breathed in. She kept saying, “I’m sorry.”
I wanted to erase that word from her lips.
We got to the car, and Cam gestured for me to hand her to him. I shook my head. “Not fucking letting her go.”
Cam snarled and turned, punching the car. Josie let out a startled cry at the noise, fresh tears streaming down her face. Cam looked devastated when he realized what he’d done.
“Both of you in the back,” Ben snapped, throwing the car door open.
I started at Ben’s unexpectedly sharp tone and followed his orders without thinking. Cam got in first and held his arms out. This time, I placed Josie in them before sliding across the seat. He held our mate with a tenderness that made my heart ache. Ben started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, muttering curses under his breath.
I ran my hand through Josie’s tangled hair, caressing her soft skin and running my thumb under her puffy red eyes.
“Can I take a look at your arm, love?” The red spot on her sweater was growing larger, and I had to breathe through my panic to stop myself from ripping the sleeve off to see what they’d done.
Josie whimpered, her eyes closed tight.
“Please, angel,” I whispered. “I’ll look real quick. I just need to see if you need medical care.”
After a few long torturous moments, Josie nodded. I tried to push her sweater sleeve up her arm but couldn’t get it high enough.
“I need to pull your arm out,” I said. When I went to remove the sweater, I saw she was naked underneath.
“Where’s your bra, love?” I asked, my voice strangled.
Ben inhaled sharply as he swerved. Cam growled and pressed Josie closer, holding her face to his neck. Her cries were small whimpers as she dug her nails into her palms. I slid my hands into hers, trying to protect her from this small pain.
“It’s okay, you’re okay. We’ve got you,” Cam murmured.
I hated having to do it, but I stripped off one sleeve of the sweater, revealing her arm. The bastards hadn’t even bandaged the wound. Blood was dried against the sloppy stitches along the incision, which looked red and jagged. I brushed my finger against the wound and felt something round and hard underneath the skin.
God fucking dammit.
My mind couldn’t comprehend what they’d done to heragain.
“We just need to get it cleaned and bandaged, angel,” I said, trying to keep my voice soothing. I lifted the sweater just enough to see her ribs. There was a bruise blooming on her side.
“Is your side hurting?” I asked.
“Not too bad,” Josie whispered.
I tucked the sweater back around her, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. “I think we should call Angie to check you over.”
Josie shook her head, her lip quivering. “No doctors.”
I met Cam’s eyes and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. How could we take care of her while respecting her wishes?
Ben stopped at a red light and twisted around in the driver’s seat, reaching back to offer Josie his hand. She took it, pulling it in towards her chest.
“Angie’s an omega, remember? We’ll make sure she doesn’t touch you if you don’t want her to,” Ben said, squeezing our mate’s hand.
“You won’t leave?” she asked in a small voice that broke my fucking heart all over again.
“Never,” Ben said, his voice low and fierce.
