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Dallas hugged me and I turned on Onyx’s lap to face her.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized.
She took my hand, and shook her head vehemently from side to side. “ Don’t!” she said, her voice forceful. “You have nothing to apologize for.” Then she gentled her tone and squeezed the hand she was holding. “I was so scared when he grabbed you. All I could think about was what I would do if we couldn’t stop him. Please tell us what’s going on so we can keep him from ever trying to take you again.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
I wiped my face on my sleeve and winced when I touched a sensitive spot. Pike pulled off his sweatshirt and used the sleeve to gently wipe my face. He kept one hand on my back the entire time. I appreciated him letting me know his presence was a constant.
“D-do I need to talk to the police?” I asked, my stomach twisting at the thought.
“Yes, baby, but they're going to finish taking witness statements first, so we have some time, okay?” Pike answered.
I nodded. I didn’t want to talk to them, but I knew it was important.
Chapter Two
Onyx
Emily trembled in my lap. Dallas held her hands and I kept mine on her back. Pike sat down on the floor beside us.
“Let us help you, princess.” I didn’t know how to help, or even if I could, but I knew I would kill the bastard if that’s what she needed.
“Tell us your story,” Pike prodded gently.
“I don’t know where to start.” Her voice was thick, like she had a lump in her throat.
“What if I asked some questions and you answered them?” I suggested.
She met my gaze, and I saw the trepidation still there, and realized she wasn’t just reluctant to talk about it, she was afraid to. I kept my eyes locked on hers, as if by doing so I could somehow transfer my strength to her. Finally, with a deep sigh, she nodded before tucking her head under my neck. I wrapped both my hands around her.
“How do you know him?” I prompted.
“He… He was my intended.”
“Your intended?” Dallas questioned. Pike reached over and softly tapped her thigh. It was his gentle way of telling her to be quiet while Emily answered our questions.
“I was supposed to marry him when I was younger.” Her voice was muffled as she spoke into my shirt. She'd tucked her head under my chin.
I wished I could say I understood what she was trying to say, but I didn’t. She was only twenty-two, so how much younger could she have been?
“How did you meet him?” I asked instead.
“Through The Movement.”
“The Movement?”
“The cult Rouge and I were raised in.”
Ah. Things are starting to come together now.
“And they arranged for you to marry this man?” I wouldn’t speak his name due to her strong reaction when hearing it earlier.
“Yes, Sir.”
“How old were you, Emily?” Pike cut in, asking the question I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
“Fifteen.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to control my outburst and rubbed her back. I didn’t want her to think my silence held any negativity toward her..
