“You looked at them?”
Her eyes widen, panic filling her features as she shakes uncontrollably.
Knox and I exchange a glance which only sets her off.
“You fucking looked at them!” She screams, and I know it’ll be little consolation for her to know that we didn’t know what we were looking at until it was too late. The second we realized what we were seeing we stopped.
Focusing her gaze on the floor as if she can’t look at us, we watch her break.
“It doesn’t end. It’s never going to end.”
I walk over to her and place my palm on her chin and lift her head until her teary gaze is on mine.
“It ends when he’s dead. Do not let him win. He wanted us to see these disgusting images because he knew it would hurt you. It’s a mind game. The goal was to rattle you so you make mistakes. He did this because he’s afraid, Little Heathen. Terrified people fuck up. They think erratically, and that’s how we get him.”
Heather steps closer to me and I wrap my arms around her as she sobs into my chest.
“I swear I didn’t want them taken. I-”
Placing my hand on the back of her head, I stroke my hand over her hair gently.
“Shh, we know that. You were a child. Consent wasn’t even possible. This was not your fault, Little Heathen.”
She takes in a deep breath and blows it out slowly, calming herself down.
“Thank you. Are we leaving then?”
Knox answers her before I have a chance to.
“Yes. Bones arranged for a hotel. His security will be posted outside our doors.”
Heather covers her mouth with her hand as she releases an audible gasp.
“If he knows we have Olivia, she’s a target.”
Knox and Killian leave the room, I assume to pack bags so we can get out of here.
“We will keep her safe. If she is spotted he will probably assume she’s Bones and Athena’s child. We won’t allow him to get close enough to realize who she is.”
She breathes out another long breath and nods.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. If we are leaving I want the photos with us. I can’t live with someone finding them.”
Pulling her back into my arms, I kiss her forehead.
“We will bring them and you can destroy them.”
Pressing her face against my chest she growls angrily.
“I want to destroy him. I want him to stare at me as I punish him for his crimes. I want to see the fear in his eyes as the blood pours from his body.”
I pull away from her, staring in her eyes, pride filling my chest at the ferocity in her gaze.
“There’s my girl.”
Chapter Forty-Three
KNOX
