Page 43 of Guarded from Corruption

“But you’ll be safe here.” Touching Jade’s chin, I tilt her head up to look at me. “Nothing will happen to you. I promise.”

“But what about the women?” Her face collapses. “Niall. I left them there. I saw those women, and I just kept going. And now they’re being sold, touched, maybe hurt?—”

“Jade, no?—”

“I can’t ignore them again.” Jaw lifting, chin jutting out, Jade swallows hard and says, “I could help you find them.”

What?

“I could. If they still want me…” A little hitch of her breath. “I could go back to my apartment. Let them… take me. And you could track me.” Her gaze sweeps toward Matt and Dante. “Niall said you have trackers. You could follow me and find this place. Close it down.”

Fuck! Why did I tell her about the damn trackers?

I wanted her to feel safe. That’s why. But I didn’t think Jade would get the idea to offer herself up as bait.

“No. Absolutely not.” Fear balloons in my chest. “It’s not safe. I won’t let you put yourself at risk.”

“Niall.” She captures my hand between hers. “I know what you guys do. I’ve heard the stories about how Blade and Arrow has rescued people after they’ve been abducted. And those weren’t planned, like this would be. Do you think I’d even bring this up if I didn’t believe you’d keep me safe?”

Turning back to Matt, she asks, “Could you track me the entire time? Use cameras to make sure… they’re not doing anything to me?”

Fuck.

“We could.” Matt flashes a worried glance at me. “We have a subcutaneous tracker we could use. And the cameras?—”

“No.” I’m dangerously close to losing it. All I can think about is Jade; drugged, touched by those men, restrained, terrified, and I’m not there…

“Niall…” Shit. Now Jade’s crying and I feel even worse.

Dante stands up. “This doesn’t need to be decided now. We can talk about this again later.”

Matt follows suit with an added, “I’ll get back on the computer. Look into the new leads.”

Then they make a hasty exit, with Dante throwing me a sympathetic glance on his way out the door.

Once the door shuts, I pull a still-crying Jade into my arms. Fear clutches at me, cold terror making it hard to breathe. My heart wrenches at the sight of her tears.

Pressing my lips against her hair, I murmur, “Jade, please. Don’t cry.”

“I keep seeing them.” It’s an agonized whisper. “I feel so guilty. I just left them.”

“Ah, sweetheart. No. You couldn’t have done anything. You did the right thing.” As I rub her back in slow circles, I continue, “You got out and went for help. That was the best thing to do. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”

She lifts her head from my shoulder, leaving a damp spot behind. “I’m terrified to do it. But I think… it might work. And if there’s a chance, how can I not?”

“We’ll figure it out,” I reply quickly. “You don’t have to—” My lungs clutch with fear again. “Jade. I can’t… I swore I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you. I can’t just watch…”

Gaze steady on mine, bright blue and shiny with tears, Jade says quietly, “If not for you, I wouldn’t even consider it. I know you won’t let anyone hurt me.”

Ah, shit.

My heart. It’s never felt like this before.

Am I falling for her? Is that what this desperate feeling is? Like if anything happened to Jade, I’d be beyond devastated. I’d be broken.

“I can’t lose you.” My voice is rough with emotion. “Not now.”

“I know.” Jade climbs into my lap and strokes my cheek. Even though she looks scared, there’s a determination in her gaze. “You won’t. After waiting so long, there’s no way I’m losing you now.”

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