Page 60 of His Obsession

“She’s shaking. Wrap her up,” a familiar voice says.

“I can’t keep her still,” a man says.

“Well, fucking make her,” they shout. “She’s going to give us away screaming like that.”

“She’s scared, Bradley,” he says.

Hearing that name suddenly focuses my brain. I abruptly stop screaming and thrashing, finally hearing a voice that is like fucking heaven.

“Luci?” I say through sudden sobs.

“Yeah, baby. I’ve got you,” he says, wrapping a blanket around me. I curl up in his lap when I see that we are in the safety of his SUV. Blankets are being piled on me as Lucian holds me close.

“Take off your shirt. Skin to skin will help,” I hear Carol say. I am moved back some by someone so he can pull his jacket and shirt off. When he wraps me in a hug, I melt into him. Blankets are piled back on us. I am still shaking, but I finally feel safe.

“I knew you’d come,” I cry. “I kept faith in my destiny. I prayed that you’d save me.”

“You’re safe now, my love. He won’t ever hurt you again. No one will ever hurt you again,” he says, holding me tightly.

We are driving and I am still running on adrenaline, so I stay awake for the duration of the drive. No one says a word, and I focus on the beating of Lucian’s heart and match my breathing with his.

When the SUV stops, someone opens the doors next to us. “I’ve got her,” Bradley says softly.

“I’ll…”

“Lucian… I’ve got her. You just carried her nearly a mile while she fought you,” he says. “I’ll take her upstairs. Laura, Carol, and Erika are also coming up. You can dote on her when I get her laid down.”

“Okay,” Lucian sighs. “Elise, baby. Bradley is going to carry you upstairs. Is that okay?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I trust him.”

“Come here, sweet girl,” Bradley says as he scoops me up. Lucian jumps up and adjusts the blankets that I am wrapped in before gently kissing my temple. Bradley carries me inside and I turn into him. He is so fucking warm, just like Lucian was. It is soothing in a way I cannot describe.

“You’re warm,” I mutter.

“You’re like a little popsicle,” he jokes.

“I am a very sore popsicle.”

“How much pain are you in? For real?” he asks as he carries me through the house.

“Almost more than I can handle,” I admit. “I wanted to give up… I was about to give up.”

“You didn’t though,” he says. “You fought hard, and now you’re home. Don’t ever forget how fucking strong you are, Elise.”

“I won’t…”

“I’m going to lay you on your belly so they can look at your back, okay? They have a heated blanket on the bed, and we will keep you as covered up as we can.”

“Thank you, Bradley,” I say.

“You are welcome, sweet girl. We are all right here. No one is leaving you alone,” he says as he gently lays me on the bed. I groan as I relax into the mattress.

“Oh, honey,” Carol says softly when she uncovers my back.

“That son of a bitch,” Lucian growls.

“Lucian, I love you,” Carol says. “Sit with your wife and shut up. Please. You need to relax too. Getting worked up won’t help either of you, and the last thing we need is for you to give yourself higher blood pressure than you already have.”

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