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“I will,” I promised. “Lily?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“I’m glad you called.”
“Me too. I’m always here for sparrows and lotus.”
My eyes widened. “You help us too?”
“I sure do. It’s my little slice of heaven that came out of hell.”
I knew exactly what she meant. That was how I felt about Noah.
“What’s a lotus?”
“The lotus is a flower that’s a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. Even when its roots are in the dirtiest waters, the lotus produces the most beautiful flower. Just like us, honey. We’re still beautiful. Still worth love. Nothing can take that away.”
“You’re a special lady, Lily.”
I could hear her smile over the phone. “You are too. Keep your chin up, Bess. Don’t forget you’re not alone.”
“I won’t,” I promised. “This means so much to me. Thank you, Lily.”
“Always.”
After she hung up and we promised to keep in touch, I felt a huge burden lift off my shoulders. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear those words until they were spoken. I wasn’t just a victim, spoiled and tainted for the rest of my life. Sure, I had marks, bruises, imperfections on my skin and proof of the battle that I had endured but I won. I fought. I clawed my way out.
I was a survivor, just like Lily and the other women at Lily’s Hope.
Nothing could change that, and nothing could steal it away.
My phone was buzzing inside my cut and wouldn’t let up. I was anxiously waiting on any information Xenon could find on Chet and had ignored the device until now. When I glanced down, I saw Bess’s name and felt bad I didn’t answer. Swiping across, I was about to apologize when she started yelling and crying and I couldn’t understand her words.
“Bess, sugar, calm down for me a little I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Noah! He’s gone!”
“What!?” I thundered, feeling the immediate rise of my Reaper in response. My words were a growl as I asked her for details. “Tell me what happened.”
“Noah left to feed Savage over an hour ago. When he didn’t come back, I went to your house. The back door is busted in and Savage is injured. He’s bleeding but I’ve got a dishcloth pushed against the wound. I think somebody stabbed him,” she wailed.
Fuck!
“Noah isn’t here. He’s gone!”
“I’m coming, baby. You keep me on the phone. Don’t hang up!” I ordered as I ran through the Crossroads and around my brothers, hopping on my Harley and firing it up the second my ass landed
on the seat. I was vaguely aware of a few following me and was grateful I didn’t have to ask.
“Breathe for me,” I shouted into the wind, placing the call on speaker, and holding it with one gloved hand and trying to steer with both at the same time. Fuckin’ crazy in the weather we were having. Snow was falling down in heavy, thick flakes and I didn’t give two shits that I was freezing by the time I rumbled up my driveway and killed the engine.
“Bess!” shouted, ending the call as I ran around the back of the house.
I found her on the kitchen floor, eyes glassed over and completely panicked. She had a hand pressed to Savage’s side who was lying still but I saw the rise and fall of his chest.
“I’ve got Savage,” Bodie announced. “I’ll take him to the vet.”
I was already tying fabric from two knotted towels around his middle to keep him stable. Tossing my keys to Bodie, he caught them and nodded. “Take my truck.”
