Page 33 of Stiletto's Savior

She nods, but the tremble in her body tells me she isn’t convinced.

She moves her hands and chains rattle.

Glancing down, I realize she has chains on. I have to get her out of these.

Fumbling in my pocket, I produce a small lock pick set.

“Hold still,” I tell her, my voice barely above a whisper.

Carefully, methodically, I go to work on the locks.

Each click of the tumblers is another step toward freedom.

The chains finally fall away, clattering loudly on the concrete floor.

She sucks in a sharp breath.

I shush her gently, worried that the noise might have alerted someone to our presence. “We need to move.”

“Yes,” she agrees, her voice shaking nearly as much as her body.

I help her to her feet but she stumbles, legs buckling under her weight.

“Easy,” I murmur gently, catching her before she can collapse.

Tears spill from her eyes, glistening like shattered glass. She bawls, the sound raw and heart-wrenching.

It cuts through the chaos around us.

“Please don’t leave me,” she sobs, burying her face against my chest.

“Never,” I promise, holding her tighter.

The warmth of my body is a stark contrast to hers.

I can feel how small she is, like holding a bird that’s lost its way home.

“Hold on,” I murmur, wishing I could erase every bruise, every mark left on her.

“Let’s get you out of this hell.”

She lifts her gaze, hazel green eyes locking onto mine.

They’re filled with gratitude, but also something deeper, something I’ve long buried.

“Thank you for coming to find me,” she says, her voice steady now.

“You don’t need to thank me for that shit,” I reply, searching her eyes for any sign of hope. “I’ll always come for you.”

She blinks, tear-streaked face glistening in the harsh light. “Always?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper.

“Until the end of time,” I confirm, gripping her tighter to me. “I swear on my life.”

She nods against my chest.

Her hot tears seep through the fabric of my shirt but I couldn’t care less. The only thing that matters to me right now is her being here, safe in my arms.

Her small, trembling hands wipe away the tears on her cheeks before she takes a deep breath, as if trying to muster up every drop of strength within her.

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