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“Fucking hell,” I hiss. “Can you watch the girls for me today?” I already know the answer.
“She needs a doctor, son.” I know he’s right. Fuck do I know he’s right. Brushing the stiffened hair back from her face, I try talking to her. “Sunshine, I need you to wake up. Tell me who did this to you?” And how did you get here?
“Hey, Dad, was there a BMW in the driveway?” I ask but get to my feet to look for myself.
“Nope. Semi-fresh tire tracks, though.” Gazing out the window by the door, I see what he’s talking about just as the rain begins pelting the outside again.
“We’ve got the girls. Take care of her, and I’ll see if I can get in touch with an old doctor-friend of mine. She might still do house calls.” Nodding, I wait until they’ve taken the girls to the main house before returning to Scotlyn.
Lying in my bed, hair bloody and matted, is not how I pictured her being here. Going into the kitchen, I grab a large bowl and cloth, filling it with warm water. I plan to get her cleaned up and out of her shredded attire, with the hope that she’ll awaken by the time I’m finished. Spotting her phone on the counter, I grab it and search through it, immediately noticing that it’s not her regular phone; it’s a burner. Activated only recently, too, which means she either stole it or someone gave it to her.
Putting it down again, I grab the water and washcloth and head back to my room. Laying them on the nightstand, I begin undressing her, starting with her socks. Her feet are slightly bruised, but the thick cotton has kept them from being scratched up. Opening the table drawer, I pull out a small pair of scissors and cut the fabric of her stockings. There’s no way I’m getting her costume off without hurting her.
Bruising and scrapes start from her calf and travel farther up the more I reveal, worsening with each passing inch. “Fucking hell, Scotlyn,” I groan when I get to her hips and abdomen, displaying varying stages of black, blue, and purple bruising.
Pulling the flimsy fabric free of her body and tossing it on the floor, I cover her legs with a blanket so she doesn’t get cold. Grabbing the bodice of her costume, I snip slowly through the fabric when she shifts on the bed and groans again.
“Sshh, sunshine, I’ve got you.” She settles down, so I start talking more. “I didn’t know how to tell you this, but I have two girls. Bethany and Bellamy. They are big fans of yours, apparently. You've actually met them.” I choke this out because it’s hard to believe someone was plotting her kidnapping while she was treating my girls like princesses. “You made all their dreams come true that night, Scotlyn. I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.” It’s a burden I’ll carry with me to my dying day because I vowed to be her man, her lover, her protector, and at the first opportunity, I failed her.
“Jaxson?” My gaze darts up to see Scotlyn’s lush green eyes half open and watching me.
Placing the scissors on the table, I move closer and cup her cheek. “Hey, sunshine.”
Her chest struggles to draw in air as she grows emotional. “Hi.” Her chin wobbles and her throat tries valiantly to swallow.
Brushing my thumb along her cheek, I aim to keep her calm. “Easy now, I’ve got you. Nobody can hurt you now.” She nods her head slightly. “Just rest here and let me take care of you, okay?” Tears fall lifelessly down her cheeks as I continue cleaning her up.
“I tried to fight,” she croaks out. “I tried so hard.”
“Scotlyn, baby, don’t do this. You’re safe now. You got out. I’ll make sure nothing ever happens to you again.” Leaning forward, I kiss her swollen lips gently before pulling back. “I’ll find the bastard and make sure he pays for what he did.” Could have been a woman for all I know, but I don’t fucking care. Whoever hurt her planned only god knows what to do to her, and I’ll make them fucking pay.
“Water?” Her hand cups my cheek, and I hold her close, kissing the inside of her wrist.
Dragging the blanket the rest of the way up her body, I’m quick to honor her request.
As I’m pouring the liquid into a glass, I hear a vehicle pull up. Placing the cup on the counter, I again walk towards the window by the door. Three large men—one nearly as old as my dad—are exiting the vehicle, and I have to wonder if these are the men who took her.
Rushing back to the bedroom, I pull out my gun safe, quickly unlocking it, and I load my Sig and place it in the small of my back. “What’s going on?” Scotlyn asks, trying to sit up but is unable to.
“Nothing. Stay put,” I command.
“No, wait. My daddy and brother are coming.” Her words give me pause.
“Big, lots of tattoos, look ready to kill?” She nods. I don’t put my weapon away. “I’ll be right back.” Taking the stairs down two at a time, I slide the barn door open at the same time my dad, Uncle Casey, and two cousins—Drew and Gunner—come out of the main house.
“The whole fucking family is here,” I mutter as the brawniest guy strides over to me. “Who the fuck are you?” I don’t know whether this is her family or the men who tried to take her, regardless of what she just told me.
“Where is she?” the big guy growls.
“Who?” Crossing my arms, I don’t back up when he tries to intimidate me.
“Jaxson Slade?” The lighter-haired man of the trio comes forward, holding out his hand. “I’m Easton Kincaid. This is Saint and Carver Rivers, Scotlyn’s brother and father. I’m the one who made sure she arrived here safely during the night. Is she alright?”
Shaking his hand, I can now see the resemblance to Scotlyn in the eyes of the other two men. “She’s upstairs now. We’re waiting on the doctor to get here.”
Saint and Carver step forward to enter the barn, but Drew and Gun stop them by closing the doors and refusing to move out of the way. A smirk crosses Easton’s face, as well as a hint of respect. “You have no idea who she is, do you?” he asks, and I shrug.
“She’s mine. What the fuck else matters.”
