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“Find Lexi.” Gio says before sliding down the wall to the floor. I hesitate, wanting to check my best friend over, but he repeats his demand.
“I’m fine. Find Lexi,now.”
Keeping my gun out in case anyone else is here, I rush to the door in the living room and find Lexi laying naked with a ball gag in her mouth. Her eyes, which were fearful for a second as I came in, now shed relieved tears, her chest shaking as she sobs behind the ball in her mouth.
I rush to her while doing my best to school my face and hide the unadulterated fury in my blood. Her legs, which are spread apart, are tied to a bed stained with blood and other bodily fluids. The ropes at the foot of the bed go from each bruised ankle to the corners of the frame. Her wrists are black and blue, both tied above her head to keep her completely vulnerable and at the mercy of anyone and everyone.Fuck, what has she gone through?
I lay my gun at her hip and tenderly lift her head to unlatch the buckle at the back of her head.
“Oh, Luce!” She cries, her jaw popping as she closes her mouth. Her bloodshot eyes scan my face as I push her tangled hair behind her ears and swiping tears from her hollow cheeks. She’s as bruised and battered as my sister was, but thankfully she’s alive. She will heal in time, but I’m so fucking thankful my sweetness is alive.
Her thighs and ribs covered in bruises, her lips are split in several places, and she bears bite marks all over her skin. Dried blood is caked to her pale skin, her hair matted to her skull, but all I see is the beauty of her strength.
It takes everything in me not to roar and rage, killing every person in this hotel just to get justice for Lexi.
“Maxine?” Her rough voice asks, but I don’t have the heart to tell her that my sister is gone. I pretend to not hear her as I check her over.
My eyes quickly scan the room, noting the restroom door open and empty.
“Luce–” Lexi cries as I turn back to her.
“Shh, it’s okay, sweetness, we’re here now.”
She releases another broken sob, tucking her head closer to me, but I tilt her chin up to look at me.
“Is anyone else here?”
She shakes her head, her words not able to make it past her tears of sorrow and relief. I want to go check on Gio, but I can’t leave her like this, not even for a second. The thought of having her out of my sight physically pains me.
I pull my knife free and flip the blade out before cutting through the binds. I help her stand from the bed, hating my broken and throbbing arm with each second. All I want to do is pick her up and carry her against my chest, to soak up every ounce of pain she’s in.
I yank a robe that has been discarded on the floor and slide it over her shoulders and lift her chin so I can look into her eyes. Hollowness stares back at me, making my control waver, but I can’t lose it right now.
“You’re safe now, Lexi.” I lean in to kiss her cheek, pulling her closer to me as she wraps her arms around my waist tightly. I want to stand here forever, holding her, but I can’t. I inhale her once before taking her hand in mine.
“You’re bleeding.” Her voice sounds like it’s been broken from crying…begging, pleading, screaming.
I shake my head of those thoughts, reminding myself that she’s alive and safe in my arms now.
“I’m okay, but Gio was shot. We need to get out of here and get you both to the Doc.”
She gasps and follows me out as fast as she can, her eyes landing on the bleeding and unconscious man before skating over him toward Gio.
He’s standing now, wobbling on his feet as he bleeds from his shoulder and neck. His skin is pale as fuck, sweat coating his brow, but it doesn’t stop him from stepping forward and wrapping Lexi in his arm.
“Baby.” His whisper sounds like a prayer, his tears hanging on his lashes as he kisses the crown of Lexi’s head. “Fuck, I missed you.”
Lexi holds onto him, her eyes squeezed shut as her body shakes, “I knew you’d find me.”
She opens her eyes, her brown ones locking on mine as I watch her cling to my best friend. “I knew youbothwould.”
I step up behind her, bringing my face to her shoulder and wrapping my arm around her waist, squeezed between them both.
“We’ll always find you, Lexi. Always.”
