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“I fought hard,” she mumbled a second before launching into his arms. He caught her, landing on his ass with his arms full of a hysterical Brenna.
“I know you did, baby. You’re so fucking brave. So strong.” She shuddered and choked a sob. “I’ve got you, Brenna. You’re safe.” He held her as tight as he dared, without knowing the extent of her injuries, rocking back and forth to soothe himself as much as her. She felt fucking incredible, safe in his arms. “It’s over. No one will hurt you ever again.”
He prayed it hadn’t gotten as far as he feared, but that was a conversation for later.
“You came,” she said again, as though needing to remind herself this was real.
“Always.”
He had no idea how much time they sat on the floor in that damn room or what was happening with his brothers in the rest of the club, but they gave him and Brenna privacy. He needed to check her for physical injuries, but for now, their emotional state was more important.
Eventually, Brenna lifted her matted head off his chest and gazed at him. He brushed hair off her face and winced when he found the primary source of the blood—a nasty gash near her left eye. It would require stitches and had made a fucking mess of her face and clothes. As soon as Pulse found them, he’d make sure that wound was his top priority.
“Always?” Brenna asked in a tiny voice that broke his heart all over again.
By the time this nightmare of a day ended, she’d never doubt how he felt about her. He’d tell her every goddamn chance he got. “Always,” he said with firm conviction. “Forever, Brenna. Every second from now until I take my last breath, you are mine. I love you. Christ, I love you so fucking much.”
Her breath hitched, and finally, his beautiful woman smiled. “I love you too, Lock,” she whispered. “The way I’ve always dreamed of. It’s intense, powerful, and a little scary, but I lov—”
He kissed her, blood be damned, cradling her face between his hands. Brenna half laughed, half cried, but kissed him back with so much fucking sweetness. Finally, after hours and hours of anguish, he was whole again.
“Yo, we got captives down here,” Ty hollered from down the hallway.
Brenna gasped as she pulled back. “Kelsie,” she whispered as her eyes widened. “I need to help her.” She tried to scramble to her feet but cried out in pain, clutching her side.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Lock steadied her and then eased her back to the ground. “Stay still. You’re hurt. I want Pulse to check you over before we move you.”
Her head shook back and forth with near-violent jerks. “No, you don’t understand. I was held with another woman. Younger than me. She…” Brenna swallowed as she shook her head. “She’s been hurt. More than once. She might not respond well to a man coming for her.” She grabbed his cut and shook with weak desperation. “Please, Lock. I’m okay, but I need to help her.”
“Shit,” he spat. “Okay, fine, but you let me help you up.” Of course, she’d taken another under her wing. His woman was too damn good to do anything else. “But then you are going to the hospital.”
“I don’t need—”
He cut her off with a severe look, but instead of agreeing, she chuckled.
“I love you too,” she said as though she fully understood his growling came from a place of deep love and concern.
He helped her up, clenching his jaw every time she winced or gasped in pain. Jinx had taken the man who’d assaulted her out of the room and did God knew what with him. Lucky for that fucker because Lock wouldn’t have been able to keep himself from stabbing the guy through the heart with the closest sharp object.
“Okay,” Brenna said, panting. She leaned heavily on him, making him want to wrap her in his arms and toss her in the back of a damn ambulance before she could do anything else. “I’m up.” She glanced at him and rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m okay.”
He grunted. Pulse would be the judge of that.
“What’s going to happen to all the… men here?” she asked as he helped her hobble into the hallway.
He kept an arm around her waist, unable to let go even though she seemed able to walk well enough. Touching her was imperative. Without it, he’d worry too much and wouldn’t be able to focus on the tasks at hand.
“They’ll get what they deserve, baby,” he answered.
Brenna met his gaze. Further explanation wasn’t necessary. She understood his meaning. The men here would suffer at the club’s hand and never be allowed to hurt another woman.
“Good,” she said with a nod. “Now let’s find Kelsie so we can get the fuck out of his horror show. I have a baby boy to hug, and then I want to spend the next week locked in your house with only you and Caleb.”
Christ, this woman was so goddamn perfect. She’d even thought of his son. His throat thickened as he gave her a gentle squeeze. “That sounds perfect.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
HIDING EXCRUCIATING PAIN from her man’s hawk-eyed stare was no easy feat. He was on her with a severe scowl and a mountain of concern whenever she flinched or huffed. She loved it but wished it would wait until she saw Kelsie. Then he could take her to be examined by Pulse and fuss all he wanted.
