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Funny, considering she’d thought that instinct had been beaten out of her at the hands of depraved men. But being imprisoned with Brenna had given her newfound strength. So, when the man they called Spec burst into her cell, she’d attacked and managed to catch him off guard long enough to steal the knife off his belt.
She’d reached a breaking point where the thought of more pain and more torment was unfathomable. Spec had entered her space, and he was a man. Men had been hurting her in horrendous ways for days. She’d reacted like a trapped animal, and it had taken more than a little pleading from Brenna for her to drop the knife and trust her rescuers.
“I know,” Harper said as she rested her elbows on the edge of the bed. “Trust me when I tell you Spec could have disarmed you at any time. That man is a machine.”
Frowning, Kelsie picked at a loose thread on the thin hospital-provided blanket. “Why didn’t he?” Spec had stood in front of her calmly, hands in the air, trying to talk her down until Brenna arrived. If he could have disarmed her, why the hell hadn’t he?
“Because as lethal as his capabilities are, Spec is a good man. He’d have let you stab him before doing something that could have hurt you or traumatized you further.”
“Oh.” She’d have to take Harper’s word for it. Since she’d been rescued, being anywhere near a man triggered some kind of trauma response or panic attack. She’d not only threatened a biker with his own knife, but she had a meltdown when a male doctor tried to examine her in the Emergency Room.
Humiliating.
But it seemed to be her new reality. The rest of her life would be difficult if she couldn’t be in the presence of men.
Well, all but one man.
Ty, they’d called him. An imposing man with a fierce scowl, deep tan, and dark, shaggy hair with a few silver strands peeking through the deep brown locks. He hadn’t spoken much and had to be close to twenty years older than she was, but she’d felt safe around him for some reason. So safe, she’d allowed him to carry her out of the hellhole of captivity and cradle her on his lap in the getaway car.
She hadn’t seen him since arriving at the hospital but couldn’t shake him from her mind. As much as she wanted to ask Harper about him or request his presence in her room, she resisted. It made no sense that every other man who came near caused a massive freakout, and she didn’t have the energy to endure the questioning stares or confused comments his comfort would bring.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder where he was and if he’d visit her sometime.
“Kelsie?”
She blinked, bringing Harper’s concerned face back into focus. “Sorry. My mind keeps wandering.”
“It’s all right.” The kind woman squeezed Kelsie’s hand. “Is there anyone we can call for you? Family? Parents? A… boyfriend?”
Keslie’s blood turned to ice at the thought of anyone calling her family. And boyfriend? Ha, if she’d had one of those, she’d never have ended up in this bed. “No, no boyfriend. I was, uh, I was on a first date when...”
Nodding, Harper rubbed her thumb across Kelsie’s knuckles in a soothing motion. “Family?”
“And no family. I mean, I have family, but… no. I don’t want them notified.”
A V formed between Harper’s eyebrows. “Okay,” she said with a nod. “No one will call them.” The unspoken disagreement with the choice hung heavy in the air, but thankfully, Harper didn’t push the issue or ask any more questions.
Exhaustion like she’d never known weighed down Kelsie’s limbs and heavied her eyelids. She hadn’t slept for more than a few fitful hours at a time in about a week. Her body demanded sleep but didn’t want to fall asleep in front of Harper. The woman might have been beyond kind in helping a stranger, but she was just that, a stranger. And she’d yet to earn Kelsie’s full trust.
After a few moments of charged silence, Harper gave her a weak smile. “You look absolutely wrecked. Would it be easier to sleep if I stepped out for a while?”
Yes. A million times, yes.
“Oh, no, that’s okay. I mean, if you need or want to go, then, of course, do your thing. But please don’t feel like I’m kicking you out.”
Leave. Leave. Leave.
“I don’t. Have any plans, that is. But I can appreciate how sleeping without someone you barely know staring at you would be more comfortable. Before I go, though, I want to give you something to think about. I know nothing about your life, but you don’t seem eager to contact anyone. The other women associated with the motorcycle club and I are in the process of developing a shelter for women in your very position. We are nearly finished with construction but won’t be fully operational for a few more months. That being said, we’d like to offer you a room, a place to stay for as long as you need it once you’re discharged. It’ll be a fantastic place to heal. You’ll also be able to see Brenna whenever you want. The building is on the club’s property. It’s very secure and extremely safe. You’ll have nothing to fear while you're there.”
Nothing but a legion of giant bikers.
Men.
Large, rough men with a capability for violence.
The thought of being anywhere near that kind of population drove a bolt of fear into her heart. There was no way in hell she’d survive a place like that, even if Harper hit the nail on the head.
She’d be better off returning to her studio apartment. It’d be lonely, but being alone meant no one could hurt her.
