Page 124 of Master of My Heart

She couldn’t turn her head to look at who was talking, but she didn’t want to turn away from Chase anyway. Everything hurt. God, everything hurt so much! Inside and out.

When the ropes were cut, her arms fell behind her head to the bed and Chase moved them forward. She whimpered, and he stopped. “I’m so sorry,” he rasped. Patiently, he brought them forward to rest next to her, then gently pulled her into a warm embrace.

“Let me cut the rest.” Someone appeared next to Chase and cut and tugged at the ropes until she was freed. It hurt, but she didn’t care.

She wanted to wrap her arms around Chase, to assure herself that he was really there, but she couldn’t control her limbs.

He hugged her tightly, kissing her head, her cheeks, her hair. She didn’t care that it hurt. Chase is here! He came for me!

“Here. Wrap her in this.”

Chase loosened his embrace long enough to wrap her in something soft and warm, then he picked her up and cradled her to his chest. “You’re safe, Sabrina,” he murmured against her hair. “You’re safe. Sleep if you can. I’m not leaving you. You’re safe.”

She melted into the warmth of his embrace and fell into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

Chapter Forty-One

Chase jerked awake and sat up in the dim room. A single lamp across the room cast a dull yellow glow. He’d been resting his head on the bed where Sabrina slept. She lay on her back, still sound asleep, her hand holding his in an iron grip. He wanted to reach out and caress her cheek, but it was badly bruised and he didn’t want to hurt her.

He had a crick in his neck and his foot felt as if it were on fire, but Sabrina was safe. That was all that mattered.

His men were all asleep, too. At least he hoped they were. They deserved it. He couldn’t leave Sabrina to check, though. The thought of leaving her alone made his heart ache. If only he could keep her by his side forever.

Remembering how Sabrina looked when he walked into that room—tied up, bruised, bloody, eyes blank and staring up at the ceiling, her body jerking with pain...

The man had turned as Chase broke down the door. In one smooth move, Chase had raised his rifle and shot him between the eyes, just as he’d promised himself he would. Though, now that he thought about it, he should have beat him to death with that fucking stick.

He shook his head. Sabrina was safe. That was what mattered. That was what counted. He should go sleep in his own bed, but he didn’t want to. And when he tried to free his hand, Sabrina’s grip on him tightened. Just like before.

He smiled, loving the thought that even in her sleep, she wanted him. Maybe that was the only place she wanted him right now. He should be content. But it was quickly nearing the end of the year. He had to figure out a way to win her over and help her overcome her fears and trust him. He couldn’t bear the thought of marrying someone else. Who would protect her if he didn’t?

A soft knock sounded at the door and Ethan walked in.

“Did you sleep?” Chase asked.

Ethan nodded. “Yup. You?”

He chuckled. “I think so.”

Ethan smiled. “Well, Richard and Tom want to see you. They’re in the living room.”

Chase looked back at Sabrina. “What time is it?”

“Seven.”

He looked up sharply. “Are you serious?’

Ethan nodded. “You’ve been in here all night.”

Chase rubbed his face with his free hand. “She won’t let go.”

His friend walked over and took Sabrina’s other hand. “Tell her you’ll be back. I’ll stay with her.”

Chase leaned over and kissed Sabrina’s forehead. “I’m not going far,” he said, trying to disentangle his hand from hers. “Ethan is here. He’ll watch over you.” He gave a gentle squeeze. To his surprise, she released him. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but he trusted Ethan with his life, so he let it go.

“They’re in the living room,” Ethan said, settling down in the chair Chase had just vacated. “Go. I’ll come get you if she wakes up.”

*****

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