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It doesn’t matter. I want to know. I need to know.

“What happened next?” I hand him the bottle.

He takes in a breath.

“I got you outside, but they were waiting for us.” He closes his eyes and I move in close to him. Our wet skin brushing. His warmth comforts me, and hopefully mine comforts him.

“They?” I ask.

“Zach and Tanner.” Jack opens his eyes and cups my jaw with one hand. “Tanner grabbed you and Zach hit me over the head.”

Jack takes my hand and lifts it to the back of his neck, sliding it up into the hair until I feel the slight swelling. I hiss like it’s my bump I’m touching. We’re standing so close right now, but I need more. I need to hear it all.

“I was unconscious, but Nico said he saw Zach dumping me in the back of the van after Tanner put you in it.”

I keep my hand on the back of his neck, rubbing my thumb along the bandage there. It will need to be changed.

“Nico punctured one of the tires, which slowed them down. I woke on the ride, but kept my eyes closed.” Jack smirks. “Zach figured it out, but he couldn’t prove it. The others didn’t. I listened for any clue I could get.”

I rest my forehead against his chest.

“You were out. They drugged you. My hands were zip-tied behind my back, but I did my best to curl around you.”

Like he did in bed last night.

Hot tears roll down my cheeks, but the shower hides them. What he went through... What we both went through.

“They got to the farm and unloaded us. By then, they made me walk while one of the guys carried you in.” He cradles the back of my head, and I hear the pride in his voice. “You beat his ass when you woke up.”

I lift my gaze to Jack’s in shock. I did what?

“You took out him and another guy.” Jack chuckles. “You were amazing to watch, sweetheart.”

His smile slips a little. I drag in a breath, unsure if I want to hear more, but knowing I need to.

“What happened, Jack?” My voice is shaky.

“Zach held his knife to my neck.” Jack reaches up and takes off the wet bandages. “He cut me to prove that he would.”

My fingers tremble as I ghost them over the wounds. Not deep enough for stitches. But they’d take a while to heal.

“That must have hurt.” I lean in and press a kiss to his chest. If I thought kissing them would make them better, I would.

“It did, but not as much as the defeat.” He blows out a breath. “We were caught at an impasse, so he sent Tanner to fetch Penny.”

I flinch. He knew to use my friends and Jack against me. But somehow I ended up in a car on the way to the hospital.

“When they brought Penny out, you caved, but not until you tried to call their bluff.” Jack draws me in close and hugs me to him. “They weren’t bluffing about anything.”

I slide my hands up his back and hold him just as tight as he held me this morning.

“They took us into a room where they planned to rape you in front of me.” Jack presses his lips to my hair. “You were brilliant, trying to turn them on each other. But in the end, you let him inject you. That’s when someone came to say the others escaped. Zach went after Tanner, passing me to a henchman who probably didn’t even want to be there.”

I listen to the beating of Jack’s heart against my ear.

“Zach stabbed his knife in the mattress, and Tanner pushed Penny away from him. Penny got the knife and stabbed Tanner in the thigh. I took out the big guy and broke the zip ties.”

I look down at his hand on my shoulder, taking in the bruising on his wrists.