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“We need to leave this town,” Winnie said quietly. “We can’t stay here.”
It was the same conclusion I’d already come to. “Where will you go?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Home, I guess. Though that doesn’t seem any safer, since that’s where they took me from in the first place.”
I blanched at the idea of her going somewhere Caleb could get to her. “You can’t go back there.” I looked around at all the women who’d all been snatched from their hometowns. “None of you can.”
“I’ve got friends in New York,” Nova said eventually. “I can go there.”
“I’ve got a sister in Idaho,” Georgia admitted. “Maybe she’ll take me in.”
A little relief settled over me as the women all worked out places they could shelter, even if only temporarily. For a moment, I’d been scared one of them might ask to come home with me. Even though I knew I had no other options, I didn’t want that life for them.
I stared down at Hayley Jade’s sweet face. I didn’t want it for her either, but there was no alternative for us. Not anymore.
Winnie cleared her throat and lifted my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. “I just want the four of you to know that although I would never wish this experience on anyone, I am grateful to have met the four of you.”
“Ditto.” Georgia picked up my free hand and linked her fingers between mine. She held her other hand out to Vivienne.
Vivienne took it, holding on tightly. “I’ve never had sisters I actually like,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s what you are to me now.”
Nova nodded fiercely, completing the circle, holding hands with Vivienne and Winnie. “I know I can be a bitch, but I’d be a dead bitch without the four of you.” Her eyes went glossy with tears. “So thank you for saving my life and not letting Caleb kill me that night.” She swallowed thickly. “If any of you ever need me, anytime, even if it’s just to get you hemorrhoid cream for your ass, Kara, I’ll get on a plane.”
We all burst out in giggles, and I wiped away the tear rolling down my face with the back of my hand. “You wait ’til you’re pregnant. You’ll get them too.”
Nova groaned. “Don’t wish that curse on me, please.” She gazed down at Hayley Jade, sleeping on my legs. “That one is worth a sore butt, though.”
She really was. And so much more.
I’d go through everything with Caleb all over again if I had to, because without it, I wouldn’t have my daughter.
31
KIAN
Sweat trickled down the back of my neck, dripping its way down my spine.
“Harder,” Luca barked at me from the other side of the punching bag.
My muscles ached, and I desperately wanted some water, but I didn’t want to seem weak or like I couldn’t keep up with the other fighters in his gym.
Which was state of the art and located in downtown Providence, rather than a couple of dusty weights in the Saint View slums like Gino’s place was.
I still couldn’t believe Luca was letting me train here and not charging me a cent. The fight club was clean and well equipped, and nobody was asking me to throw any matches for money.
“Thanks again for letting me train here.” I was using conversation to buy myself some breathing room, but I meant it.
“I told you you’d like it here. You’ve outgrown Gino’s place. You need to be somewhere like this.”
I knew he was right. I hadn’t felt the same about Gino’s place since I’d realized what they were doing there, setting up the fights. It had dulled the spark I’d once felt being there.
But Luca’s place was a whole different ball game. These guys were pros, and the fighters they trained weren’t out on the streets like all of us at Gino’s.
Luca ran a professional tournament, and I wanted in. Not for the money. My construction job was more money than I’d made as the Weston’s houseboy. I just wanted to fight for the love of the sport.
I slammed my fists into the bag a few more times in rapid succession.
Luca pushed it away, letting it swing. “That’s enough for today.”
