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It was close to seven in the morning when Dane crept into bed. I rolled over, hugging him.
“How is she?” I asked.
“She’s okay.” He laughed suddenly. That got my attention. I rolled over to face him, to see what was so funny.
“Hell, I don’t know how she is. How are you supposed to be after being locked up like an animal for ten years?” He spoke with anger. I kissed his chest gently, knowing there was not much I could say to make him feel better.
“I’m here, Dane. If you want to talk.” I murmured. I felt his embrace around me tighten.
“Thanks Lil.” He whispered huskily. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” He whispered, his lips pressing against mine. I melted into the kiss, unable to resist his soft lips, and sweet taste.
I lay awake until he had fallen asleep. Closing my eyes, I listened to the sound of his breathing. Yesterday had been such a huge day for everyone, but none more so than for Dane and his parents. I couldn’t seem to dull the ache in my heart I felt for his whole family, not only Steffy.
Dane and I walked into the South Mercy Hospital,
my hand in his. How the media hadn’t grabbed a hold of this yet I didn’t know. Fifteen women and girls found chained in the basement of an abandoned warehouse, listed for auction on a website was the kind of story the media would kill for.
According to Aaron, the other women listed on the website were in a similar set up in Bolivia, ready to be shipped the highest bidder. The thought made me sick. How many of these women had already been sold by these assholes?
Steffy was in a private room now, and all the machines and been removed. She looked much more comfortable. Her parents hadn’t left her side since she’d been given the all clear from the doctor. Dane’s father, met us in the hallway. He smiled warmly at me, shaking my hand.
“Nice to see you again, Lily.” He said.
“You to, Mr. Hansen. How is she today?” I asked, glancing through the glass at Steffy, curled up, asleep.
“She’s still sedated. She hasn’t spoken much, but she did manage a small smile.” He said, a fresh surge of tears appeared in his eyes. “Physically, she’s okay. She has many old injuries that haven’t healed properly, but she is okay. Emotionally, we don’t know how she is yet.” He tried to look strong, but I could see the pain in his eyes, as he thought about what his little girl had been through. Instinctively, I reached for his hand. He looked at me, both surprised and touched by my gesture.
“You better keep this girl, Dane.” Andrew said to his son. Dane smiled at him.
“I will, dad.” He replied. Andrew went back in to be with his daughter. I followed Dane into the room. Steffy looked much better without all the tubes, and her hair had been brushed, her porcelain skin showing the slightest bit of color today. Mrs. Hansen smiled at me, as she sat next to Steffy, holding her hand. Dane went over to the bed, and bent down, kissing his sister on the forehead. His head tilted, he smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear as she slept.
After a few moments, he came back to me at the foot of the bed.
“I might call Aaron, try and get some information out of him. Meet me downstairs in the café later for a coffee? I asked. He nodded, leaning in to kiss me.
“See you later.” He smiled, his fingers trailing down my hand until they let go. I stood by the window, watching him as he hugged his father, feeling so lucky that I had found such a wonderful man.
Aaron ended up meeting me for a coffee, in a small café just down from the hospital. Apparently, the coffee in the hospital was pretty bad. I’d been waiting at the table for a few minutes when he walked in. He spotted me, and smiled, ordering his drink and then joining me.
“Lily.” He smiled, sitting down. “How are you? How’s Dane?” He asked, concerned.
“I’m good, and Dane is…coping.” I finally said, smiling. “Did you find anything out, about what might’ve happened to Steffy?”
“The detectives briefly interviewed her. She’s pretty overwhelmed, and scared. She should be released tonight from hospital. It won’t be long until this story leaks to the media, and Steffy’s parents have been advised to take her somewhere private to recover.”
“The media is going to be crazy.” I mumbled. Of the fifteen girls recovered yesterday, all were runaways, except Steffy. What happened to them was in no way any less of a crime that what happened to Steffy, but to the media, a girl abducted at six, a man charged with her murder who died while in prison, and the girl being found alive ten years later was a massive story.
“They will, so it’s important Steffy be kept out of the spotlight as much as possible while she recovers,” he agreed, as the waitress brought our coffees over. Stirring a sugar into my coffee, I listened as Aaron told me more about what had been discovered in the warehouse. It made me sick to think what all those girls had been through. How could someone treat other people in that way?
After leaving Aaron, I texted Dane that I’d be back at the hotel, and went to find Kella. She and Fraser were in their hotel room, packing their things.
“Frase just spoke to Dane. He offered them his plane to get Steffy out of New York. Apparently Danes parents have a cabin in Stacy Beach where they’re going to stay until things blow over with the media. Frase also knows a guy who’s organized one of the top trauma psychiatrists in the states to work with Steffy,” she added.
“Is there anyone you don’t know, Fraser?” I said, laughing in spite of the somber mood we were all in. Fraser grinned.
“Then I won’t mention the pediatrician I’ve organized too,” he winked at me. I laughed again, still stunned by Fraser's generosity.
“When are you guys heading off?” I asked.
