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“It’s late.”
“Yes, but she’s been waiting to hear from me. I’m sure she won’t care what time it is. I know I wouldn’t care either.”
“Go ahead.”
I call her number, and she doesn’t answer until the last ring. “Hello,” her voice cracks from sleep.
“Lily,” I say.
“Harley,” she screams. I rub my ear and pull the phone away as I smile. “Where are you? Oh my God.” Suddenly the sleep is gone.
“I’m safe now. I’m back in Dallas.”
“Back in Dallas, safe?”
“Yes. It’s a long story,” I say with a sigh. It’s insanely difficult to process. The sheriff in town brought over a professional to talk with me about my abduction to help me deal with my situation, and I have the Steele Rider women as well, who strangely all have had something crazy happen to them in one way or another. Unfortunately, being with men who have power leads to a whole host of enemies. My problem was a screwed-up family, which apparently is a commonality in this country.
“You ran away to deal with your feelings. I totally get it, but I didn’t think you’d do that to me right before my wedding,” she huffs.
“I didn’t.”
“You sent me a text and I thought it was a lie, but now that you’re back…”
“A text? I didn’t send you a text, Lily.” Fucking dicks were well prepared to make it look like I fled.
“I told James and the cops you wouldn’t have done that to me.” My eyes slam shut. I’m going to have to explain that my own cousin betrayed me—her cousin, too.
“I was kidnapped, but I got away.”
“Kidnapped,” she gasps, and a loud thud could be heard in the background.
“Lillian? Lily!”
“Sorry, I dropped my phone on the floor. I can’t believe that happened and we still had the wedding. I knew I shouldn’t have listened to anyone else. Where are you? I have to see you’re okay.”
“Tomorrow. I need rest.”
“Okay. Please meet me for breakfast, girl. Anywhere you feel safe.” Her voice is shaking with tears.
“Please don’t cry, Lily. We’ll see each other tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she says. I end the call and cling to Dylan.
“She’ll be fine. She has her husband by her side.”
“And I have you.”
“That’s right, and you’ll have me forever, Harley.” He kisses me until we fall onto the mattress and lose ourselves in passion, letting the night slip away.
****
Dylan didn’t want to meet them at Lillian’s house because he didn’t trust my safety just yet, so he scheduled a meeting with them in a secure and neutral location. I rolled my eyes because I knew Lily wouldn’t do that to me. She isn’t deceitful and never has been. If there is anyone who has a good soul, it is her.
We meet in a local café for breakfast. We’re early, and I fuss over my dress as if I’m meeting a complete stranger that determines my future instead of my favorite family member.
“Stop, sweetheart. You look perfect.”
“Hardly. I’ve got bruises and rope burns,” I say, pointing out my reddened and scabbed wrists. They’re not as bad as they were, but there’s no mistaking the injuries.
