Page 63 of Let Me Protect You

He disappears out the door and closes it behind him. A rat scurries out of its hiding spot behind the racks and across the room. The light flickers, and Abby’s quiet sobs fill the air. I try to scoot my chair like I’ve seen in movies, but it’s a lot harder than it looks. After a few tries, my seat moves, and I get closer and closer to Abby. Halfway to her, my breathing is heaving with the effort. Just a little more and I’ll be next to her.

Once I’m beside her, I rest my head on her shoulder, my chest rising and falling more rapidly. Neither of us says anything for a moment. Her shoulders shudder, and I grab her hand, squeezing it, just so she knows I’m here for her.

My breaths come easier, and I finally pick my head back up.

“I’m so sorry.” Tears streak down her face, leaving trails on her cheeks. “I brought this on you. He was so nice and sweet. I feel so stupid.”

I shake my head. Abigail is one of the best people I know; she just likes to have fun. There’s nothing wrong with her. And I wish I could tell her so, but I don’t know the right words to say.

A man shouts outside the room. Abigail’s wide eyes meet mine. “Do you have a plan?”

I shake my head.

Gunshots explode, echoing into our room, and I jump within the confines of my restraints.

Abigail starts shaking, but her eyes are now dry, so I shoot her a questioning look and she says, “I’m trying to use my bracelet to cut the ropes.”

More yelling and shots pierce the air. One voice—the asshole—shouts above all the others, tossing out insults. My heart leaps. It has to be Elias and possibly Victor’s bodyguards. I knew he’d come for me.

Abby bursts out of her chair with a triumphant grin. “I can’t believe I did it! I thought that only worked in movies.”

She scurries over to me and unties me from the chair.

The moment I’m free, I bolt out of my chair. “Let’s go,” I say, my voice raspy from when I screamed earlier. Then I hurry toward the door.

Abigail stops me before I can open it. “We don’t know what’s going on out there. What if they pissed off someone else, and it’s not Elias?”

“It’s Elias.” He wouldn’t leave me here. “I know it.”

A gun shoots off a bunch of rounds. I don’t know enough about guns to know exactly what kind it is, but it definitely sounds like Abigail and I are outmatched. I glance around the room, praying there’s something we can use for a weapon, but all the shelves are empty.

Then the door bursts open, and I jump out of the way, backing closer to Abigail. Elias stumbles inside. Blood soaks the front of his shirt near his upper chest and shoulder. His normally light brown skin is paler than I’ve ever seen before.

I rush to him and push my lips to his. He deepens the kiss in a frenzy almost like he thought he’d never see me again. When I pull back, I try to lift his shirt to inspect the blood stain, but he stops me.

“Are you okay?” I ask in a hurry.

“Don’t worry about me. It’s just a flesh wound.” His movements are slow, and he flashes me a weak smile. “I managed to bandage it to stop the bleeding before I found you. I promise I’ll be okay.”

At this point, there’s no use in fighting. If he’s weak, he has to get to a hospital, and I can’t stand here fighting with him. “Do you have a plan?”

He nods. “There’s a back door really close to here. We need to get to the car.”

Elias moves to lead us, but his breathing is too ragged and his shoulders are hunched forward. Abigail meets my gaze and nods. We both wrap one of his arms around our shoulders, and he lets out a string of curses.

“Does it hurt too much?” I ask, trying to examine him again, but this time, I inspect his clothes. I find a hole in his shirt by his shoulder.

“Can you just help me on this side?” He motions to the non-bloodied side, and I nod. “I can still get you out of here.”

I don’t say anything. He came for me, and I can help him. We can save each other.

Abigail lets go, and I almost drop him. He has about a head on my height, and his muscles weigh at least fifty extra pounds.

We stumble out of the room to where John is waiting right outside.

Abigail’s eyes widen before she looks at her feet and mumbles, “Thank you both for helping us.”

John lifts her chin, so she stares directly into his gaze, and her cheeks turn pink. “I’ll always come for you.” Then he pulls away and glances between Abby and me. “Now, ladies, please get to safety. Elias needs a hospital.”