Page 140 of Master of My Heart

“Did you think we wouldn’t let you go home?” he asked. She nodded and he hugged her. “Let Ethan do his job and you can go anywhere you want.”

“One last thing before you go, Sabrina,” Richard said, standing. “I’d like you to come to one of the Gatherings, preferably soon, so you can see what it’s like. You and Chase can talk it over and figure out when.”

Sabrina nodded, and Chase ushered her out of the room.

Chapter Forty-Six

The sun had set by the time Chase parked in front of Sabrina’s building and walked with her and Ethan up to her apartment. Even though she had slept for twenty-four hours, she was still exhausted. Then again, she had spent the last few days being tortured and raped, and then, after she felt better, a couple hours learning about stuff that made her think her brain was going to explode.

When she had been taken, she’d dropped her purse and didn’t have her key, so she knocked on the apartment door. It opened a minute later, Jayson immediately engulfing her in a bear hug.

“Oh, Sabrina, we were so worried!” Liz exclaimed as she pulled Sabrina away from her brother and hugged her.

When Liz let go, Sabrina looked between her two dear friends, remembering that Neil had threatened them if she didn’t cooperate. She nodded and gave them a small smile, but didn’t know what to say.

“She’s had a rough couple of days,” Chase said from behind her. “I think she needs to rest.”

“Oh, of course!” Liz said, backing up so the three newcomers could walk into the apartment.

Ethan dropped his backpack near the door, then greeted Jayson with a handshake and Liz with a hug. “You sure you two don’t mind me hanging around?”

“Not at all,” Jayson said. “As long as you’re okay with the couch.”

Ethan shrugged. “I’ve slept on worse.”

Sabrina walked slowly to her room and looked around. It felt like it had been ages since she’d been in here, even though it had only been a few days. When she’d left here the last time, she’d been excited to go out on her first date with Chase. Now? She wasn’t sure about anything. Chase seemed to think she’d be more comfortable being with Richard. After all, he said “her kind” often were.

She sat down on her bed and stared at the quilted pattern on the covers. Why did things have to be so complicated? She’d only wanted to get away from Ramon and Khyan, to get to Boston, dance, and see Chase again. Yes, she had escaped and was dancing, but her dreams of Chase, which had reignited when he’d returned, seemed to be slipping away again.

She should just be thankful she wasn’t still with Neil, being tortured and raped. And she was. She would forever be grateful to Chase for rescuing her.

Now two paths lay before her. Well, were there really two? If one path involved someone who didn’t really want her, was that an option? Maybe Chase was the type to keep his promise, even if he truly didn’t want to. No, he was that type. It really wasn’t fair to him, though, was it?

When someone knocked on the door, she looked up to see Chase standing there. “You okay?”

Sabrina shrugged. “It’s weird being here again. It seems a lifetime ago, but it was really only a few days, wasn’t it?”

He walked in and sat on the bed next to her. “I imagine being in the situation you were in kind of distorts time, doesn’t it?”

Sabrina nodded. “Time doesn’t exist in hell,” she said softly. “When I was... back home, I’d lose track of time. They didn’t like that I’d be confused as to what day it was. Ramon would come in and expect me to be ready to go to dance class because several days had passed, but I had no idea.”

Chase reached out and put his large hand on hers. So warm...”I’m glad you’re safe now,” he said in a quiet voice. “We’ll do whatever we need to in order to keep you safe, Sabrina.”

“I know.”

They sat together quietly. Sabrina loved the feeling of him next to her, holding her hand, but knew it wouldn’t last. “Neil threatened Jayson and Liz while he had me,” she said softly.

Chase stiffened. “How?”

“He said he’d hurt them if I didn’t do as he said. He knows who they are. They’re not safe, either.” She turned to face Chase. “What if he takes them because he can’t get to me?”

He reached out and stroked her cheek. “I won’t let that happen.”

“How?”

Chase smiled. “Remember what I do? I’m pretty good at it. I’ll take care of them. They’re my friends, too.”

*****

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