Page 6 of Niall

We kept our voices low enough the women wouldn’t overhear. The men assured us the building was demolished, the bodies burned beyond recognition, and none of us implicated.

“The rumor has already started that there was a fire in the lab, and the entire place went up with them all in it so quickly that no one could escape. All Lopez’s fault for having an auction in the same place as a dangerous lab,” Roman informed us.

We spoke at length about the syndicate, working together, and our mutual hatred for what Lopez had represented. The sort of drugs he made and sold were bad enough. Human trafficking was something none of us tolerated.

Some laughter made us look toward the group across from us. Finn smiled. “Your women seem to be the best medicine right now.”

“They understand,” Roman replied, a look of adoration in his eyes as he looked at his wife.

“I am obligated to all of you,” Finn said seriously. “I owe each of you a debt I can never repay, and I will be there if you need me.”

Luca grimaced. “Getting rid of him was in all our best interests. But we’re happy to have helped. I think this has made the syndicate tighter with a common goal. The message will be heard, however it is delivered.” He stood. “But I need my wife and some sleep. We’ll talk more before we leave tomorrow.”

We stood and shook hands. “Thank you.”

Anna shook her head. “I can’t take your bed, Niall.”

I lifted the covers. “I sleep on that sofa more than this bed, Anna,” I lied. I was not letting her sleep on the sofa or getting a rollaway cot. She needed the comfort of the bed. The distance from the door. It seemed to bother her, although I’d shown her the proper locks and reminded her gently that she was safe. I hadn’t mentioned Juan’s apparent escape. I didn’t want her more upset. Still, she was anxious being close to the door leading to the hallway.

“Get in,” I said firmly.

She slid in, her body relaxing into the pillow. “Can you leave the light on?” she asked, sounding ashamed to ask.

I didn’t want her feeling that way. She’d been through a terrible ordeal, and she needed to know where she was when she opened her eyes.

“Of course. I’ll put it to low. The pills Dr. Barnes gave you will make you drowsy so you should sleep, but I’m right out there.” I indicated the living area. “I’ll leave a light on by the sofa as well.”

I was unsure what to do next. She solved the problem by grasping my hand. “Thank you, Niall. You saved my life. I’ll never be able to say thank you enough.”

“I’m glad we did.” I bent a little lower. “No one deserves what happened to you, Anna. You know that, right? You did nothing wrong. They were looking for easy targets, and they found you. That we were able to get you out makes me grateful I am the person I am. That I have the skill set to defend those who cannot.”

Her eyes were wide as I finished talking. “I’m grateful too.”

For some reason, I bent low and brushed a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep. You’re safe and I’m here.”

“I’m grateful for that too,” she whispered, then rolled to her side, pulling up the soft comforter.

I stared down at her, loath to leave for some reason. Wanting to stroke her pretty hair and talk to her more. Let her feel the safety of me beside her. Assure her that I wouldn’t let anything hurt her again.

I had to step back, shocked at my thoughts. At the fact that my hand was already reaching over to touch her.

She didn’t want to be touched. She wanted a safe space, and that was what I was giving her.

Nothing else.

I turned and walked away.

The suite was quiet for about an hour. I was unable to sleep, tense and agitated. I kept seeing the barn. The darkness. Smelling the blood. Watching the bodies fall. Feeling satisfaction as they did.

I wasn’t a good man. I had no remorse for the lives we’d taken tonight. Knowing that by killing those sorry excuses for humans ensured that we saved others from the same fate as Anna, Una, and countless others brought me a grim pleasure.

The thought of what they would have done to her—to Anna—made me ill. To think that her life would have been nothing but pain and humiliation. That the sweetness of her smile would be erased and her lovely eyes dimmed of all happiness made my anger burn hot again. I had no idea what the future held for her, but it had to be a damned sight better than the hell we’d pulled her from.

I flung my arm over my eyes. I needed darkness to sleep, but I refused to turn off the lamps after promising not to leave her in the dark. I sighed, finally feeling the exhaustion catching up on me.

Then Anna screamed—the sound so filled with terror, my blood ran cold. I was on my feet instantly, running. In my bed, Anna was fighting an invisible foe. Begging, pleading not to be hurt. Crying, thrashing, her fear so real, I swore I felt it in my chest.

Unsure what to do, I leaned close, calling her name. When that didn’t stop her distress, I wrapped my hands around her shoulders, picking her up from the mattress, shaking her a little to wake her. I kept repeating her name, assuring her.