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Lifting my hand, I feel for it. It’s still there.
Leaning into JD, I whisper, “Who’s he talking to?”
“Ellis, I think. They hacked the security system so we could get inside.”
As if he knows we’re talking about him, Reid turns our way.
My heart jumps the second his eyes lock with mine. Gratitude like I’ve never felt before rushes through my system.
He did this.
He did this for me.
‘Thank you,’ I mouth.
He shakes his head, one side of his mouth lifting.
‘Anything,’ he replies, making my heart rate increase.
A warm hand slips into my free one and the second Reid is pulled back into whatever conversation he’s having, I turn to look at Mav.
“You okay?” he whispers.
For the first time since walking into that place, I’m allowed a moment to think.
There are so many reasons why I should answer no to his question. The main one is lying on my legs right now. But while I’m surrounded by the three of them, experiencing firsthand the levels they’d go to to help me, to protect me, there really is only one answer.
“Yeah, I think I’m good.”
26
MAVERICK
She’s lying. There isn’t one single bit about her that’s okay right now.
But I don’t point that out because she’s barely holding it together.
Instead, I shuffle closer and wrap my arm around her shoulders while she gently strokes Kristie’s matted, dirty hair.
With a sigh, she lets her head lower, resting on my shoulder.
“I pulled the needle from her arm,” she confesses quietly.
“We know, babe. We saw it.”
“I thought the all-consuming hate I felt for our father before this was as bad as it got. But the second I saw her there, I realized it was nowhere near.
“He did this.
“He sold his precious, innocent little girl to those monsters.
“He reduced her to shooting up in a dirty shower in an attempt to get through the night.
“What those men were doing to the girls in there… It—” Her words are cut off as she retches.
“We’ve got you, Dove,” JD says, reaching out and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“I’ve got a doctor meeting us at the hotel,” Aubrey says, although her eyes never leave her cell. “Reid has security covered.”
