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He scooted back and looked down. Her left foot was twice the size of her right one. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said softly. “Where else are you hurt?”
“Nowhere, really. Mostly just bruises. Get me out of here, Sean. Please, just take me home.”
He stood and scooped her into his arms. “I’ve got you, darlin’.” He turned and took a step forward.
A voice growled from the darkness, “Hello, Donavan. I was hoping to see you again.”
Sean’s stomach dropped. Any other time, he’d welcome the chance to face down one of his tormentors. This monster, Harold, had thoroughly enjoyed causing as much pain and agony as possible. In between cursing the ogre to hell, Sean had promised himself the man would pay a painful price for his cruelty. That time was not now. Serena was his priority. He would not risk her life for a chance at revenge.
“You’ve got two choices, Harry. Either back up and let me by, or I’m going to kill you.”
“My name is not Harry,” Harold snarled. “And I’ll be the one killing you. After I have some fun with you, of course.”
Sean glanced down at Serena, noting her face had gotten even paler than before. She was shivering and in pain. He wasn’t having it.
“Hold on to me, baby,” he whispered. The instant her arms encircled his neck and he knew she was secure, he pulled a knife from a side pocket and threw it, hitting Harry dead center in the forehead.
A mask of surprise frozen on his face, the man toppled like a giant elm tree.
“You were always good with knives.”
Her emotionless, almost robotic mumbling sent ice through his veins. She had reached her limit, and he needed to get her the hell out of here now.
Pressing his earbud, Sean said, “I have Serena, but she needs immediate medical care. We’re coming up from the cellar.”
“Mansion secured,” Ash responded. “Get her to the roof. Gideon radioed that our helicopter was hit. One of Kate’s choppers will pick you guys up.”
“Are Gideon and Eve okay?”
“Yes. Just pissed.”
“And Kingsley?” Sean asked.
“Had a Russian Alligator on standby.” Ash’s voice dripped with fury.
“He escaped?”
“Yeah,” Ash growled.
Sounded just like Kingsley. Have a massive war helicopter ready to go, just for him. Leave everyone else behind. Sean glanced at Serena to see how she was responding to the news that Kingsley had escaped. There was no change in her expression.
Not sparing another look at the man he’d killed or the place where he, and apparently Serena, had been tortured, Sean ran up the stairs as fast as he could. Serena had always been small, but she now felt like a feather in his arms. His strong, courageous wife had suffered, and the regret filling his soul almost overwhelmed him. He would do anything to make it up to her.
Liam met him at the top of the stairs. “Hey, Serena,” he said. “How you doing, sweetie?”
Not lifting her head from Sean’s shoulder, she whispered tonelessly, “I want to go home.”
Sean noted Liam’s concern at her lifeless, monotone answer. She sounded empty and…broken. What the hell had they done to her?
Holding her close, Sean took off running. Knowing Liam had his back, he concentrated on getting up to the helipad. Gideon could check her to see what care she needed immediately. Dr. Max would be waiting for them when they arrived at the safe house.
And then, when she was safe, well, and secure, he would hunt Colton Kingsley down, follow him all the way to hell if necessary, and make him pay for everything he had put her through.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Everything was quiet, peaceful. In a vague, visceral sense, she knew she was safe. Blurred memories flashed through her mind. She knew that Sean and her OZ family had rescued her. She remembered Gideon giving her a quick evaluation and some fluids through an IV. Then she’d been brought here to a safe house. Dr. Max had treated her ankle, cleaned her cuts and bruises, and given her a few shots. One of them must have been for pain, because she felt floaty, her thoughts quiescent and still. But in the background, in a tiny, tight corner, far away from rationality and reason, a woman was screaming. That woman was her.
She told herself it would be all right. She was back with people who loved her. She’d had the presence of mind to ask about her family while Gideon had been treating her. She had been reassured that they were indeed hidden away from danger. Everyone she loved was safe.
