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“Gabe—you just helped by finding that plate number. But I don’t have insurance to cover your ass out in the field. Ash and I will take care of it with our team. Why don’t you go see if Lauren’s up, and if she’s okay?” he asked, dismissing me.
He might not be doing it on purpose, but Levi was getting under my skin. His nose was going to get broken again—soon. Still, I headed to the bedroom without touching his precious, smug fucking face. For now.
Lauren needed me, an
d I needed to keep my shit together for her sake.
She rolled over, just waking up. “Hey.” Her eyes were puffy and unfocused.
I slid into bed and pulled her close, kissing her forehead. “Hey yourself. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yeah—but I need to get up and get going. I have to get back to the office.” She sat up straighter, and then she seemed to fully wake up, a look of realization dawning over her face. She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh my God. Hannah…”
I held her. “It’s okay.”
“I can’t believe she’s…gone. And I can’t help her. And those animals… They beat her.” She sobbed against my chest.
I rocked her against me. “Hannah’s tougher than we knew. She is not letting these people get under her skin. At least, she’s not showing it. She’s strong, babe. I never would’ve thought your sister would handle herself like this, but she’s a fighter.”
Lauren brushed her tears aside and laughed, a messy jumble of emotion. “She really is kind of a badass, isn’t she?”
“She takes after her big sister.”
“I could never be that brave.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do.” She shook her head. “When our parents died, I was the one who held it together. Hannah fell apart—she was young, and it was so sudden. It was horrible, but I didn’t cry. I thought I was the strong one because I didn’t let any of my emotion out. I did that for Hannah because she was my baby sister and I was trying to protect her. I was trying to be strong for her.”
She wiped her face roughly. “But I can see it now—she’s been the strong one all along. She doesn’t hold back, and she never has. She lives closer to the truth. She’s never been afraid of it.”
“It’s good that she’s strong. She’s going to make it through this.”
Lauren stared out into space for a minute while she processed. “I don’t know… I’m worried she’s going to get herself killed because she won’t keep her mouth shut. And I’m worried she’s not going to cooperate because she doesn’t want Li Na to get what she wants.”
I had the same concerns, but I kept them to myself. “We’ll just take it one step at a time. There’s some good news—we figured out the plate number for the car they took her in.”
Lauren sat up straight. “Oh my God! Can they trace the car to where Hannah is?”
“Not yet, but at least we have somewhere to start. Ash went out this morning to start a search. We’re going to find her, Lauren, I promise. My brothers are doing everything in their power, and so am I.”
Lauren threw her arms around my neck. “I’ve been alone my whole life, and I’ve dealt with some big things, but I know for a fact I would not be able to do this without you. Thank you.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I love you, babe. And we’re going to get through this.”
Chapter 7
Lauren
Bethany and I met in my office later that morning. It felt like we were living the same day over and over again, a mind-numbing collection of hours running together, filled with despair and financial documents. I told Bethany about my conversation with Hannah.
Her face drained of all color. “They beat her up?”
I nodded and turned away, looking at my computer screen instead. “She had a bruise on her face…her shirt was ripped.”
“Oh my God.”
“But she seemed okay, as crazy as that sounds. She still has her fight—but I’m worried it’s directed the wrong way. She was giving the guards holy hell, but she needs to be saving energy to keep herself safe.”
