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26
Madeline
Hours after being rescued, I was curled into a tight ball in bed with Storm’s massive body wrapped around mine. The warmth radiating off him soothed me from the outside in. He kissed my head, whispering he loved me over and over. He made me feel cherished as he cared for my every need. I felt whole despite the hell I’d been through.
Storm was all I needed, a balm to my fractured spirit with a healing power like no other.
After he left to talk with Justin, I could hardly breathe. I didn’t want to be a baby. Weak and pathetic needing my man when he had club business to attend to. I’d already caused enough chaos and pain to so many. So I pulled up my big girl panties and assured him I was okay. Naturally, it was a lie.
Not wanting to get into it with Tina, not that I thought she’d press me to talk, I had told her I was going to take a shower. She’d smiled sweetly, and in her quiet, comforting voice, told me she’d be right here if I needed anything. I knew she’d stay until Storm returned. I knew I could share with her the turmoil I was in. She’d understand. Wouldn’t judge me. But the words never came.
In the bathroom, I’d stared at my battered body in the mirror. It was the first time I’d seen myself. God, I looked hideous. My face was swollen and red in some spots: black and blue in others. Dirt and dried on perspiration covered my body. I smelled like the silo. I’d flashed back to when Dawg forced me to strip. My stomach roiled, my heart racing as if his putrid breath was in the bathroom surrounding me. I felt his sticky hands on my breasts, grabbing my pussy. Then the memory of Storm watching that vile man assault me sent me over the edge… I lost it. Completely lost it.
I ran into the shower, even though it was too hot. I wanted to burn Dawg’s touch off my skin, wipe him out of my memory. It didn’t matter how hard I scrubbed. He wouldn’t leave.
I’d screamed for Dawg to get out. Get out of my head. My home. My life. Falling to my knees, darkness engulfed me as I gasped for air in the suffocating steamy shower. Evil and guilt won, bending me to its will.
Now that I was calm in Storm’s arms, I was sure Tina had banged on the bathroom door. I just hadn’t heard her. Nor had I noticed Storm bursting through the door. Or anything he’d said to me.
But I’d felt his tender touch when he lifted me into his arms. Immersing me in his strength as I clung to him for dear life. He was my anchor. My protector. My everything.
After he washed and dried me, he didn’t bother with clothes. We never slept in any, needing to be skin to skin. God, he knew exactly what I needed. Not once had he questioned what happened. He didn’t ask if I was okay or what I needed. He just acted as if he heard my silent wishes.
Still, I sensed his fears and unrest as if it was my own. I imagined his mind raced with horrific thoughts of rape and torture. I heard his soul wailing in despair for not keeping me and the others safe.
I blew out a ragged breath, steeling myself. It was time I set his mind at ease. A little, anyway. I couldn’t bring back AJ. Or magically erase Hero’s injuries and the terror we all had endured. All I could do was put Storm’s mind at rest.
I shifted in bed, rolling toward him, and wrapped my arm around his waist, nuzzling my face in his firm chest. I pecked soft kisses, inhaling him into my lungs. He rubbed soothing circles on my back, holding me close. No words. Just an enormous amount of love.
“I’m okay, Kaleb. Physically, I mean.” Emotionally, it would take some time to heal.
His hand stopped moving as if hanging on my every word.
“They only hit me. Groped me some.” I swallowed the emotion bubbling in my throat. I breathed him in, trying to draw his strength into me.
“You don’t have to do this now, Angel.” His lips dropped to my head, his hand moving again. “It’s too soon. I just got you back.”
“I do have to do this now. You need to know I wasn’t assaulted… sexually.” I peered up to his handsome face with my good eye, finding it strained.
“You can tell me, baby.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he held me closer. Tension rolled off him in massive waves, threatening to pull me in under. I had to find a way to stay afloat. Stay strong for him. “If you want. I’m here for you.”
I reached up, taking his face in my hands. “Look at me.”
His stormy-gray eyes met mine. So much was going on behind them: anger, pain, guilt. I could see it so well he didn’t have to tell me. He didn’t need to feel responsible. I was to blame, me and only me.
“I wasn’t raped. I swear I wasn’t.” I paused as my mind wandered to Tara. I’d feared the worst for her, but Hero had saved her. I was so grateful for his valor. Except they beat him for it. I shook myself out of my thoughts before they took me back into the hole Storm had dug me out of not long ago.
Storm carefully observed me. The corner of his lip twitched. Doubt crossed his beautiful face. Did he not believe me?
I rubbed the palm of my hand over his beard. “Did you hear me? I wasn’t sexually assaulted.”
“When we arrived, moments before barrelling into the silo, Miller stumbled out with his jeans hanging off his hips. You were on your knees.” A shuddered breath vibrated in his chest, rattling mine.
I gripped his face firmly. “No. Do you hear me? Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Dane wanted me to… blow him. But we heard one of the prospects scream. Dane had just entered my mouth but pulled out before anything happened.”
“Fuck,” Storm hissed, pulling out my hands. I caught a glimpse of tears before he hid his face in my neck. He squeezed the air out of me as he gasped. “I’m so sorry, Angel. I’m so goddamned sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You saved me. Saved all of us. My badass biker boyfriend is my hero.”
