“Let her go,” a low voice growls.
“Just let me get her away from the house.”The guy holding me tightens his arms.“A few more steps.”
“If you don’t fucking drop her, I’ll drop you.”That’s Seth—I recognize his voice.
I grasp the sleeve of the guy holding me.Flannel.If I opened my eyes, I would see a plaid pattern, I’m sure of it.“Ford?”
“You’re awake.”He exhales in relief.“I’m so sorry, Madison.So very, very sorry.I didn’t know Cormac was that bad.Can you walk?Here, your boyfriend is coming.”
He helps me stand.I force my stinging eyes to open again.They feel like they’re full of sand, and oh fuck, my headhurts.
“What are you doing with her?”Damiano shouts.
I try to wave at him that we’re okay, but I’m so freaking tired, I’m not sure if my arm even moves.Ford keeps his arm around my waist, holding me up, and walks me to my guys.
I break out of Ford’s hold and stumble toward them.They catch me before I can fall, holding me tight between them.
Police surround us, grabbing Ford.He doesn’t fight them.
“He didn’t hurt me,” I croak out.“He’s okay.”
Nobody hears me, but I shouldn’t be surprised.There’s too much chaos, too much happening.We’ll figure it out later.
“Cormac?”I ask, remembering how he fell, how he didn’t move.
Damiano looks down at me, brows furrowed.“Who?”
“The guy—he was living there.He took me.”I wince.It hurts so much to talk.
Damiano shakes his head.“He is dead.”
I exhale deeply, which causes a fit of coughing.Seth and Damiano rub my back and shoulders.
“Let’s get you to the ambulance,” Seth murmurs.“They’ll fix you right up, okay?”
I nod, afraid to speak through the pain and coughing.
Behind us, the fire rages.Firefighters aim their hoses, trying to quench the flames.I’m sad about the damage to the house, but at least I’m alive.
Damiano and Seth’s firm chests and fierce holds are all the reassurance I need that I’m safe, and the nightmare is over.
15
MADISON
Anurse wheels me out of the hospital, and I blink in the crisp December light.Seth is at my side while Damiano gets out of his car, which is idling at the curb.
I’ve been here for about a week, and I amsoready to go home.The doctors wanted to monitor me, because my concussion was concerning for one reason or another.At least Seth or Damiano was always with me.Usually they were here in shifts, and they always overlapped to make sure I was never alone.Which was good, because I wasn’t allowed to read or watch TV.If they didn’t visit, along with Danica occasionally stopping by, I would’ve died of boredom.
“It is so nice to see you outside of that place.”Damiano hurries around the car to grab me in a gentle hug.
“Same.”I smile.“Thanks for getting me out of there.I just want to go home.”
They help me into the car, fussing over my seatbelt and making sure I’m comfortable.
“Guys, my arms and legs work—I can do all of this.”
“You can, but we’d rather do it,” Seth says.“We love to take care of you, Madison.”
