Page 99 of Spock’s Snare

I turn on my heel and walk away.

“Chloe!” Blackwood shouts behind me. “Come back! You have to listen to me!”

My steps never slow.

“Chloe!”

The SUV door slams with a heavy metallic thud, cutting him off.

For the first time since the attack on my father, I can breathe. So I do. A deep breath that I release slowly as a sense of calm flows through me. My entire body aches. My wrists burn where the ropes tore into my skin, my stomach throbs from Blackwood’s punch, and every muscle feels stretched to its limit. But I’m alive, thanks to Spock, the Demon Dawgs, and five brave women.

I walk toward the women with Spock on my heels.

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

The woman in front shrugs, but I see the warmth in her eyes. “You needed help.”

“You didn’t know me. You saw me running from those men, and you stopped them from hurting me.” I swallow hard.

“They aren’t that bad. A little stupid and slow. They would have figured out you needed help, eventually. We just helped them figure it out sooner.”

My eyes sting. I refuse to let the tears fall.

“I owe all of you my life.” I look at each of them, wanting them to understand I’m not saying the words lightly. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

“We owe you,” Spock adds. “If you ever need anything, come see us. You can come to the clubhouse or 1%. Just tell them Spock sent you.”

“What if we want jobs?” one asks.

“If you’re interested in construction, I’ll hire you,” I say without hesitation.

All five women turn to me.

“You serious?” the driver asks.

“Completely. My company is growing, and I need people I can trust. If construction isn’t what you want, I have contacts in other industries. I can make some calls and arrange interviews.”

“You’d do that for us?” another woman asks.

“You saved my life. I don’t think I could ever repay you.”

The driver studies me as if she’s searching for a catch. When she doesn’t find one, a slow smile spreads across her face.

“In that case, you better make sure we get those numbers.”

“We’ll be taking you up on that offer,” another woman adds.

“I hope you do.” My voice thickens. “All of you.”

We exchange names and promises to meet again before Spock gently touches the small of my back. The simple contact settles something inside me.

“Ready to go home, sweetheart?”

Home.

The word wraps around my battered heart.

“Yes.”