She opened her eyes to stare into his.
“Whatever it took, remember? Survival. You made it out alive. That’s what matters.”
She would never tell him that it had been his survival she’d paid the price for. He didn’t need that burden. Truthfully, she felt no guilt. That probably shouldn’t be the case—or if not guilt, at least disgust—but he was right. She was here, wherever here was. He was here, and based on his attitude, they were safe.
She nodded. “Nothing I haven’t done before” slipped out in a whisper.
“No. Nonconsensual. Doesn’t count as agreement when you’re coerced. Your choice had nothing to do with the job.”
She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Didn’t want to think about it. Maybe she wasn’t as okay with it as she thought, but it didn’t pay to focus on it. She’d deal with it later.
“Where are we?”
“We’re almost in US waters. You’ve been out since we left the village yesterday. We’ll be home late evening, barring any issues with the port.”
“I don’t remember how I got here.”
“Demon and Steel finally caught up with us. They had some sort of emergency, so as soon as they got us safely to Wes and his friends, they headed back to Los Angeles. But they wanted me to tell you they’re glad you’re safe.”
She hummed a noncommittal response and closed her eyes.
“Sleep,” he urged her. “Feels like that’s all I’ve said to you since we met.” His tone was light, and it sparked like his eyes. “However, it really is the best thing for you right now. I’ll wake you when it’s time to go.”
Soft lips kissed her forehead, then moved against her skin. “You’re safe, Glennon. I’ve got you.”
HOME AT LAST
Glennon
When they arrived in Galveston,Triumph brought her up onto the deck, where she was surrounded by a half dozen men dressed a lot like Triumph, although some wore T-shirts, and some wore unbuttoned camp shirts. If a single one of them was under six feet, she couldn’t tell. They all appeared to be fit and projected alpha vibes, standing with feet shoulder-width apart, arms crossed over their chests or resting on their hips.
Given that they were all in law enforcement, she figured it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it still took her back for a moment. She was used to men of that ilk, but this felt different. Definitely less threatening.
Triumph introduced her. “Glennon, this is Wes, Daxton, Cruz, Quint, and TJ. The guy on the pier is Conor.”
Each of the men gave her a nod in greeting.
Not normally a shy person, she still found their presence disconcerting. “Thank you. It doesn’t begin to feel adequate, but thank you.”
“We didn’t do all that much,” Wes said. “Just provided a ride and an entry to the port. Got some fishing in while we waited and had a boys’ weekend. Not sure we should be thanked for having a good time after your long trek across an entire continent.”
“Would have been longer if you hadn’t been there,” Triumph corrected him. “Thanks from me, as well. Tripoli logged a membership at Elysium for you and your significant others. You’re welcome anytime, even if we’re at capacity. Just show up at the door.”
“I’ve been telling them all about it,” Cruz said. “Mickie and I have been there several times since Francesca moved here. Never seen anything like it. Girls are going to love it. Probably be a great girls’ night out for them.”
“Yeah, and then we’ll have to pick up their happy asses when they’ve had too much to drink,” Dax joked. He didn’t sound that broken up about it.
“So what now?” Glennon asked. “Guillermo’s not likely to give up just because I fled to the States. Especially after you showed Cesar up.”
A look was shared among the men.
Icy tendrils rooted in her gut and snaked through her insides, winding, twisting, and squeezing as they traveled. She already knew the answer.
Cruz delivered the news. “As soon as Cesar reported your departure from the village, Guillermo had his people working to locate you.”
“How the hell is he tracking her?” Wes asked.
“She doesn’t have a single item of what she had on her when we started talking, including jewelry, so there’s really only one way,” Triumph said. “At some point, he injected her with a tracker. It could have been done in a lot of different ways. A shot from a doctor he paid to make it look like a vaccination. Maybewhen she was asleep, or possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
