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Hand in hand, we walk down the hallway to the waiting room. As soon as Darin spots us, he shoots to his feet, a worried frown between his brows. Savannah shoots up beside him, her gaze locked on me, both waiting expectantly.
“The four of us are fine,” I say with a broad smile, rubbing my stomach while squeezing Will’s non-injured hand.
They cheer, relieved smiles on their faces, and a group hug ensues before the four of us head out into the frigid December air. I pull my coat tighter, moving closer to Will, seeking his warmth. He wraps his left arm around me, looking down at me.
“What is it, goddess? You look disgusted.”
My gaze travels down the clothing I’m wearing, then back to his, shivering. This time it isn’t from the cold, but from flashes of images that circulate through my head.
My coat was removed before I woke up, the hard concrete floor uncomfortable, the cold seeping into my bones. Consciousness slowly flooded me, my mind still sluggish from whatever drug he’d knocked me out with. My limbs were bound, helplessness surging through me. Struggling against the ropes to free myself. The angry voices arguing. Watching Ronnie manhandle Colin. Then Ronnie left and Colin started tugging at my clothing…
My breathing accelerated quickly, but I’m not taking in enough oxygen. I gasp, my hand clutching my coat, trying to unbutton it because it’s too constrictive.
“Goddess,” Will’s low, soothing voice is against my ear, his warm, cinnamon breath washing over me. “Breathe in and out with me.”
I don’t realize we’ve stopped moving until Will stands in front of me, hands rubbing my arms through my coat, his worried gaze pinning me in place.
Mimicking his breathing, I focus on the way his chest swells and then deflates beneath his suit jacket. Stepping forward, I lift one hand, my fingers trailing over the softness of his silky shirt, feeling his chest lift beneath his ribcage. Raising my head, I look up at him, taking in the stubble covering his chiseled jawline, his soft, pillowy lips, and his light blue eyes, an endless sea of love shining in their depths.
The anxiety attack fades away and reality washes over me. “You’re not wearing a coat. And your suit is torn…” My gaze roves over it, locking on every torn piece and thread, from his shirt to the knees of his pants. “And you’re rubbing my arms with a fractured hand.”
He chuckles, shrugging. “My jacket is still inside my office. I had much more important things I needed to take care of.” He cups my face, the splint on his right hand rigid against my cheek. “I tore my clothing during the fight.” Completely unconcerned about the frigid air or his clothing, his gaze searches mine. “And your comfort is always my priority. It outweighs my own.”
A choked sob comes from my lips before I can stop it; the night’s events hit me hard. I wrap my hands around his wrists, staring at the strongest, most protective man I’ve ever met. “Thank God for you.” My hands shake as I think how close Colin got to—I cut the thought off, not wanting to think about it. “You saved me, Will. You prevented the one thing I feared most in this world.”
His face changes, that weird look flashing in his eyes before it’s gone, as though I imagined it. “It shouldn’t have happened in the first damn place.” Bitterness drips from his tone, his jaw clenching. “I failed you.”
Horrified, my wide eyes blink rapidly, shocked at what I’m hearing. “What? No, Will. You didn’t fail me. At all.” I shake my head frantically as I say it, tightening my grip around his wrists. “No one could have prevented what happened tonight.” Blowing out a breath, I lean closer to him to ground myself, forcing myself to stay in the present moment and not drift back to that concrete hell. “You’re my hero,” I whisper.
His hands leave my face, and he tugs me into his chest, his arms wrapping around me, holding me so tightly that all the broken pieces of my heart stick together, resembling the way it was prior to Colin kidnapping me.
But when he steps back, the pieces of my heart break apart again, and sorrow wells inside me.
“We’ll get through this, love. Whatever you need. Whatever I have to do to ease your pain.”
Closing my eyes, I nod, letting his love and concern wash over me.
Opening my eyes, I whisper, “I love you, Will.”
“I love you, goddess.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, then we turn, heading towards the vehicles.
Will and I are in the backseat of Darin’s Jeep with Savannah at the wheel. Darin is behind us in Will’s BMW, since Savannah was afraid someone would hit her while driving Will’s car.
Silence fills the Jeep as I sit beside Will, the side of my legs pressed against his, holding onto his left hand. He stares out the window, lost in thought.
I feel that distance between us again, and it makes my stomach heavy, like a rock was dropped inside it.
Savannah locks eyes with me in the rearview mirror. But now is not the time to have a discussion about how I’m feeling. I hate all the uneasiness that swirls inside, the haunting memories that I have to keep forcing away.
“So, um, where is Bryan?” she finally says, trying to sound casual.
Will slowly turns his head my way, leveling me with a look, before he turns to her, his gaze locked on her eyes in the rearview mirror. “He had a few things to take care of. He’ll be back soon.”
She nods, not saying anything. I can tell she wants more information.
“Have you heard from Bryan?” I ask Will.
He raises his brows at me, the look he’s shooting me clearly indicating he thinks I’m meddling. “Yes, he texted me a few times. He plans to stop by our house once he’s finished. Probably in about an hour.”
