Page 61 of Fought and Freed

There was a small living room with a couch, a loveseat, and chairs. Also, a six-seat dining room table. The far wall had a sliding glass door with a balcony. Four doors led to the bedrooms.

“Torr, you can get the first pick of the bedrooms,” Cody said.

“Thank you.” She headed toward the first room. “I’ll take this one.”

Maddy got a room to herself, and the guys split up to share the last two rooms.

Jace carried Maddy’s luggage to a room on the right.

“I’ll be right back,” Ryder said. “I’m going to find something for her to take for her head.”

Maddy walked into the room where Jace put her luggage. There was a king-size bed and a desk by the window. Before she unpacked, she sat down on the bed and texted Grant.

Maddy: Hi, I just want to let you know that we made it. I hope everything is going well.

She hit send and waited for those three little dots to appear, but they never did.

She understood Grant was worried about being alone, but he relied on her too much. With the way her life had been going, she couldn’t always guarantee she’d be around for him. She just hoped he wouldn’t do something stupid.

Maddy set her phone down and opened her suitcase to unpack.

She was halfway done when Ryder returned with some water and pills.

“Lie down and nap,” he told her. “When you wake up, you’ll feel better.”

Ryder moved her suitcase to the floor and lay down beside her, playing with her hair as she fell asleep.

* * *

Voices coming from the living room woke Maddy from her nap. Ryder was no longer in bed with her, and the pounding in her head was gone.

Her door opened, and Jace stepped in. “Good, you’re awake. Your brother and some of the team want to take us out to dinner.”

“Do I have time to get a shower?” she questioned.

“Go ahead. How are you feeling?” he probed.

“Better, thanks.” Maddy rubbed her ears. “I can hear again.”

“Glad the aspirin and nap worked. I’ll tell them you’re taking a quick shower.” He left the room.

After her shower, she dressed in fresh clothes and walked out to the living room.

Lucca and Torr sat on the loveseat, while Ryder, Cody, and Skylar sat on the couch, with Jace on Skylar’s lap. The rest of the team sat on the arms of the furniture or had pulled up chairs from the dining room.

“There she is.” A big smile spread over her brother’s face. “I heard you had some ear problems and a raging headache when you landed. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I can hear now.” She walked over to perch on the arm of the couch next to Cody. “And the marching band has stopped beating out their rhythm section on my brain.”

Lucca ran his hand up and down Torr’s back. “Well, I’m glad we came to take you out to dinner, then.”

“Are they letting you out of the building?” Skylar asked.

“No, but this place has great restaurants,” said a blond who Maddy thought was named Jeff.

Lucca tapped Torr’s thigh, and she stood up. “Maddy, you remember my friends, Jeff, Greg, Kirby, and Ace.” He pointed to each of them. “Guys, you remember Maddy, my sister.”

She waved.

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