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“I’ll kill him if he—”
“Don’t even go there,” Mac interrupted. He couldn’t let himself think of Crystal hurt.
After they searched the main floor and found it empty, they took to the stairs. When they reached the upper landing, Mac swiftly scanned the hallway. No one was around, or at least there didn’t appear to be anyone around. He noted several doors, all closed. They’d have to open each one to find Crystal. Maybe they’d get lucky and she’d be in the first room they came to.
Mac went to the closest door on the right and turned the knob. It opened easily, probably because it was empty. Completely empty. Not even a stick of furniture, just a white-walled room. The upstairs was just like the downstairs, all modern with solid marble flooring. There wasn’t a single hint of color; everything was either white or gray—lik
e a crypt. Jesus. He closed the door and went to the one to their immediate left. Like the first, this room was also devoid of life. Okay, so maybe they weren’t going to get lucky.
“This place is fucked up,” Trent gritted out. “I’m not getting a good vibe here.”
That was the understatement of the year. The house Richard had sent them to had very little furniture. There were piles of trash and empty beer bottles all over, and the smell of rotting meat made him gag. If this was the way Richard lived, it was weird as shit. Mac felt as if he’d just walked into the filthy den of a wild animal. Crystal had put up with a lot more than abuse during her marriage. Hell, the man wasn’t playing with a full deck. Jesus, no wonder she’d been so slow to trust.
Mac moved down the hall, passing door after door until he reached the last one on the left. He stopped and listened. He heard a rustling sound. “This is the one.” He could feel it in his bones. Please, God, let her be okay.
Without waiting another second, Mac turned the knob and the door opened easily. Inside he found Crystal tied to a chair, her mouth duct-taped shut. Her clothes were still intact, and he thanked the heavens for that much at least. The wild tangle of her hair hung around her face, and she was too damn pale. When she looked up, the fear and vulnerability in her gaze tore a hole in his heart. His rage boiled out of control.
With single-minded purpose, he and Trent practically leapt across the room. Trent yanked at the binds that held her to the chair, while Mac worked the tape loose. Mac looked around, but he didn’t see Richard anywhere. This setup was too easy. Why would Richard allow them to rescue Crystal without even the slightest resistance? “Where is he?”
Her eyes widened. “Behind you!”
Mac didn’t have time to think, only react. He swiveled around just as Richard jumped toward him, a machete in his hand. Mac ducked as Richard swung. Richard snarled like a rabid animal. Mac had never heard a human make such a crazed sound. Trent quickly moved behind Richard and wrapped his arms around him, giving Mac an opening. Mac knocked the machete out of Richard’s hands, then delivered an uppercut to the bastard’s jaw, sending him crumpling to the floor.
Trent picked up the ropes he’d removed from Crystal. “I’ve got him. Get Crystal.”
With Richard unconscious and Trent busy tying up his hands, Mac bent down and pulled Crystal into the cradled warmth of his arms. He got pissed all over again when he felt her body shaking like a leaf. He needed to get her out of there. He wanted her home, where she belonged. Safe.
He forced his voice to sound soft and soothing, belying the way his mind still screamed for vengeance. “Shh, it’s okay now. You’re safe.”
“Mac?”
The sound of her voice was all it took. Relief swamped him. “Yeah, angel, you’re safe now.”
She seemed to hesitate, as if trying desperately to comprehend his words, then she nodded. She wouldn’t look directly at him, and that bothered him. She just kept her face snuggled against the safe haven of his chest and held on tight. Mac was anxious to whisk her away from that horrid house.
“Good girl. Now just relax and soon we will be far away from this place,” he said in a soothing voice. She seemed to obey, albeit reluctantly. He speared Trent with a look that conveyed his sense of urgency.
The sounds of sirens rent the air. Soon the place was filled with police officers, and Richard was taken into custody, while Crystal was loaded into an ambulance.
Several hours later, Mac and Trent had Crystal safely tucked in bed. Their statements had seemed to take forever. The only thing on Mac’s mind now was the fact that he’d failed to keep her safe. Hell, he’d be lucky if she spared him a glance when this was all over.
When the doorbell rang, Mac rushed to answer it. Mollie stood on the doorstep, her gaze filled with worry. “She’s okay,” he murmured as he took her into his arms. “And Richard is in custody.”
Mac desperately wanted to be alone with Crystal and Trent, but Mollie needed to see her friend for herself—to see that Crystal was really safe. And he knew Crystal needed to see Mollie right now, too.
“Thank you for finding her,” Mollie said, her voice wobbly.
Mac put his finger under her chin and tipped her face up. Her sad expression hit him first, but underlying that was the love she had for Crystal. It went deeper than friendship. They were more like sisters. “She’ll be glad to see you.”
When they entered the bedroom, Trent was sitting on the side of the bed, his hand resting on Crystal’s blanket-covered thigh. Crystal looked over at Mollie, and while the two women stared at one another, something seemed to shift and change. Finally, Crystal smiled. Relief swept through Mac in an instant. It was the first smile he’d seen from her since her ordeal. It was a damn good sign.
As much as he wanted to be alone with the two people he loved most in the world, it was still his first priority to aid Crystal in any way he could. Mac was grateful for Mollie in that moment.
“Mac,” Mollie said, gaining his attention. “She’s going to need a few things if you’re up to getting them for her.”
He turned and nodded. “Anything, just name it.”
“I’m sure she’d be grateful for some of her own clothes, as well as a few toiletries.” Mollie crossed the room then and asked, “You okay, baby?”
