Page 132 of Master of My Heart

Sabrina looked up and gave them a nervous smile.

“Also, Ethan Marlow, an army buddy of Chase’s.”

Sabrina gave Ethan a slightly less nervous smile and studied him for a moment before her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open slightly. “I know you,” she said, then pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Never mind.”

“What do you mean?” Chase asked. When she shook her head again, he squeezed her hand gently. “Please, don’t be afraid to tell me.”

She looked up, making eye contact with him. He felt a rush of energy flow through his body. She was reading him. So she knew she had that ability, at least in some form. Interesting.

“I-I saw him. With you.” She looked away. “In the desert.”

Chase looked over at Ethan, eyebrows raised. She’d just confirmed that what had happened in Syria hadn’t been a dream. Ethan had seen her there, too. His friend’s eyes were wider than he’d ever seen them.

“You were really there?” Chase asked.

Sabrina looked down at their joined hands. “I remember you were really hurt.” She looked up. “You couldn’t breathe.”

“That’s right.”

She reached up slowly to trace his scar on the side of his face. “What happened?”

“Happened at the same time. Just crap flying through the air.”

“I didn’t see that,” she said sadly, looking like she felt guilty. She started to pull her hand away, but he grabbed it with his other hand.

“You saved my life, Sabrina.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ethan nodding. “My lungs had gotten really fu— er, messed up. If you hadn’t come, I would have died.”

Sabrina blinked several times. “Really?”

He nodded.

“He was in really bad shape, Sabrina,” Ethan added. “I know bad stuff when I see it.”

She looked between him and Ethan several times, then smiled. “I did something good?” she whispered, her eyes watering slightly.

The way she said it made it seem like she’d never done anything right in her life before and it took his breath away. Had those monsters really been so horrible as to make her feel like a complete failure? What kind of person does that? Physical abuse was bad enough, but to mess with someone’s mind like that? Psychological warfare was a nasty business.

He inhaled quickly, suddenly thinking he might understand what made Sabrina withdraw from him. Was it possible she thought she wasn’t good enough for him? Jayson had mentioned that she called herself a whore. He knew women who put themselves down, usually to garner attention, but if Sabrina truly felt like she was at fault for what happened to her... No wonder she freaked out when he told her he wanted to marry her.

It all made sense now.

Good job, Chase.

Chase looked up to see Theo in the doorway of the room, smiling sagely at him.

I’m right?

Theo gave a single nod. Yes. And now you know your battlefield. It will be a difficult war, but the most important one in your life.

Chase exhaled and looked back at Sabrina. “Yes, you did something very good.”

Hope lit in her eyes for a moment before she looked away.

One battle at a time. Give her time to absorb it.

Chase nodded and looked up at Richard, who he knew had a lot of questions for Sabrina.

“Sabrina, what do you remember about being taken this past weekend?” Richard asked.

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