She peeked just her eyes out from under the cover. “Am I going insane? I feel like I am completely losing my mind.”
I shifted a little closer to her. “This is all just new and terrifying. We’re going to get you some help, but in order to do that, we have to go for a long drive.”
“We?” she asked, blinking back tears.
“You, me, Maccon, and Bear. We’re all going with you to keep you safe from Alastor. I promise.” Her captor’s name caught in the back of my throat as I watched it send panic through her gorgeous eyes.
“He’ll come for me. We’re not safe.” She threw the cover completely over herself again, uncontrollably shaking.
“The safest place you could ever be is with all of us, but you have to swear that you will stay calm for the drive. Can you do that for me?”
I watched as her head bobbed under the quilt. “I’ll be good. I can be good.”
“If you start to get a little panicky, all you have to do is squeeze my hand. I got you.”
“Like this?” Her dainty fingers peeked out of her safety blanket and slightly wrapped around mine.
“Just like that.” I grabbed her hand, pulling back the covers. “It’s all going to be fine.”
“I trust you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Chapter 7
Reese
“Y’all made good time,” Ravage called down from the front door of the house he shared with his stepson and granddaughter.
Helping Katherine out of the back seat, I carried her in with her face buried in my chest.
“Holy hell. What did you boys get yourselves into?” Rave asked, watching as we escorted the frail girl into his living room.
“Long fucking story,” I replied, laying Katherine on the couch while she cried, still clutching the quilt.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I can’t make myself stop.” She sniffled. “I am trying really hard.”
I leaned in close to her. “It’s all right to cry. No one is going to be mad at you for crying.”
“Thank you,” she mumbled, turning toward the back of the couch to hide her face again.
Rave led the rest of us into his kitchen. “Explain.” His gravelly voice boomed in the small space as he eyed me.
“She’s a buddy’s sister who was kidnapped a while ago, and Maccon and I rescued her from the shithole she was being kept in. Bear and King helped us with our first safe house, but we needed to get her out of Georgia.”
“Who’s this buddy of yours?” Ravage asked while handing all of us beers.
“He saved my life. I served with him,” I clarified.
Rave chewed on his lip. “You’re a good man, Reese Hardgrave.”
“Thank you.”
Bear cleared his throat. “Good to see you, Rave.”
Rave narrowed his stare at Bear. “Good to see you too. Forget anything this time?”
Bear dug his hands into his pockets. “No, sir.”
