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I inhaled.
The sweet scent of familiarity.
The sweet scent of the man I loved.
All the tears I’d held back since I’d been taken gushed out of me. Crying was for girls, I’d always said, growing up with three older brothers.
I used tears sparingly.
Not this time. This time, I let them out. Let them flow. Let them flow onto Bryce’s chest and shoulders.
He kissed the top of my head. “Thank God,” he murmured. “Thank God.”
I let myself weep for several minutes unchecked.
Bryce held me. Simply held me and let me break down. I reveled in it for these few minutes, let myself go, until I knew it was time to gain my composure. I didn’t know where Colin was, and Alex was inside the mobile home bleeding to death.
I gulped down my last sob and wiped my face on Bryce’s shirt. “It’s you. It’s really you.”
“I’ll always come after you,” he said, stroking my hair, which had to be a ratty mess by now. “Always.”
A few more seconds of gentleness passed.
“You okay?” he asked.
What a loaded question. I was far from okay. I’d been drugged and abducted. But I hadn’t been beaten or raped. I nodded into his chest.
“Hey,” Bryce said.
I moved my head to look around. Colin was behind me.
“They didn’t hurt us,” he said. “Other than drugging us and taking us. They actually fed us and everything.”
Colin seemed coolly fine for someone who’d just slit a woman’s throat. Not that Alex didn’t deserve it, but still.
Or had he just recaptured his confidence? Done something to help himself when earlier he hadn’t been able to?
“The woman inside needs medical help,” he said to Bryce.
I nodded. I didn’t want to see Colin charged with involuntary manslaughter or anything. Was that possible? Jade would know.
“I already called 9-1-1 for a guy in another trailer. They’re on their way.” He stroked my cheek. “We found your mom.”
Sweet relief swept through me. “Is she okay?”
“She passed out. Talon got her to the truck.”
“Tal is here?”
“Yeah. Plus Ruby and Ryan.” Bryce tossed his phone to Colin. “Call 9-1-1 and tell them about the woman.”
Colin caught the phone easily—confidently—and made the call.
“I want to know everything,” Bryce said. “Every detail. But first we’re going to get you to a hospital. Both of you.”
“We’re okay,” I said.
“Not good enough. I want you checked out.”
