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“You don’t know where to go,” Regent pointed out.
“I’ll go,” Victor said.
“Hush,” the woman said, kneeling. “I hear something.”
There was the sound of something. Voices and then a light.
“Nico? Lottie?” he called out.
“Li?” Nico yelled. He nearly collapsed in relief. And then Nico appeared in the hole. He glanced around then disappeared. And Lottie came up the stairs. She was pale, shaky, and her breathing was too fast.
But she was there.
Before she’d even managed to climb out, he had her in his arms, lifting her and holding her against him.
“It’s all right, gorgeous girl. You’re okay.”
Nico came up next and he reached for him, hugging him tightly. But he pulled away quickly as the others shut the trap door.
“We need to calm her down,” Nico said. “She’s been so brave. So fucking brave. She showed me how to get here even though she was panicking and terrified.”
“That’s my girl. My amazing girl.” He didn’t care that the others were there, watching. He’d do whatever Lottie needed him to do. Sitting on the bed, he arranged her on his lap while Nico knelt on the floor next to him.
“You did it, pretty girl. You got us here. But you need to slow your breathing. Follow me,” Nico coached. “In. Out. In. Out.”
But she was struggling. He could feel it. Feel her panic.
“Get out of the way, I’ll help her,” Regent said. “Come here, darling.”
“Charlotte, listen to me,” Liam said firmly. “You need to breathe, baby girl. Or you’re going to pass out. You’re safe. I’m here. Nico is here. So are your brothers. So, take a breath. Come on, baby girl. Breathe.”
She could hear Liam’s words.
But they were coming from a distance. And then a warm hand was placed around the base of her neck. Warm breath moved against her ear.
“Listen to me,” Liam said firmly. “Relax. Breathe. One. Two. Three. Out. Good girl. Again.”
His words flowed through her. And she gasped in a breath. Nico held her hands, squeezing them tightly. She squeezed back.
“You’re safe. Just breathe,” Nico told her.
She was safe. She just had to breathe.
When the panic attack faded, and she came back to herself, she realized she was in the bedroom at Jilly’s place. Where the tunnel came out. She’d only been here once. She didn’t know Jilly well. And was embarrassed to have panicked in front of her.
But she also wasn’t moving off Liam’s lap.
As the panic faded, she realized there was an argument going on around her. Jilly had left the room and Victor stood at the door while Regent stood by the closet, which was now closed.
“How is she supposed to cope with leaving?” Regent demanded.
“She’s stronger than you think,” Liam argued back.
“She just had a panic attack.”
“After she had to leave her house in a hurry, running from the FBI through dark, damp tunnels,” Nico argued. “Most people would have a panic attack after that.”
“She isn’t weak. She has demons, but so do a lot of people. Lottie is a fighter,” Liam added.
