Page 79 of Hear Me Roar

“Apparently, Dimitri wanted to have a word withKnox.”

“About?”

“I have no idea.” He shrugged. “They literally dragged me out before he camein.”

My stomach roiled around at the mere thought of how this story looked through their eyes. It was cringe-worthy from all angles, some better than the others, but still distressing in their ownways.

“I'm not even going to ask how he knew who you guys were. I just wanna know how Knox got here so fast,” I admitted, because the time frame wasn’t adding up in myhead.

“He was already in the air when all this shitstarted.”

“Wow…” There was no mistaking the shock in my voice. “I was not expecting to hearthat.”

“Why?” Manny arched abrow.

“We got into it last night, about Brie and work. I hung up on him. The last place I'd imagine he'd be right now ishere.”

“But he is, baby girl.” His arm came around my shoulders, giving them a squeeze as he tipped his chin. “The man loves you, even through the badtimes...”

I gasped as I caught sight of Knox just twenty feet away. My knight in steel and inked armor. He stood stock still, regarding me with an expression I hadn’t even seen the night Jason kidnapped him; one that tugged at my heartstrings in more ways thanone.

I bounded up to him faster than I had Manny, jumping into his arms with a squeal I’m sure could be heard from the city ofMiami.

“Baby…” he choked out, threading a shaky hand into my dirty hair. I sighed contentedly, feeling like I could finallybreathe.

“I can't believe you'rehere.”

“Well, believe it, cause it’s me and I’m never letting you goagain.”

It was a promise unlike any other, and as he kissed me with a fierce amount of relief and passion, I vowed to do the very same. Sure, we were going to have to sit down and talk about what happened, this nightmare included, but for right now, I just wanted to relish the fact my man was here, and we were alive. Pulling away, I observed his face; how his brows worried, the desolate swirl in his eyes, droplets of blood spattered on his temple. He'd dealt with Dimitri head on and I wasn't sure I wanted to know exactly whathappened.

“Are you okay?” I asked him, running my thumb along hischeek.

“I'm fine, it's you I'm worriedabout.”

“I'll be okay, but I need to seeMaya.”

“I'm right here,” her soft voice said, and my breath hitched as I all but jumped off Knox to get to her, wrapping my arms around her in a tighthug.

“Jesus, Ithought…”

“I know, I know.” She hushed me, rocking us side to side. “But I fought back, Hazel. Dimitri left me with those men at one point and I foughtback.”

“And you said you weren't afighter.”

“I am now, because ofyou.”

“I'll take that over a win any day,” I said, smiling into herneck.

The Coast Guard buzzed around us, preparing to take us all back to land. I heard one of them say Dimitri and his men has already been taken away, bringing a closing sense of relief to this nightmare. Judging by everything around me, I’d say they weren’t going to be a problemanymore.

“Group hug,” Manny called out suddenly as he and Knox came around us, each of us taking a moment to regard one another with a lot more gratification than justyesterday.

“Can we get the hell off this ship now?” Maya asked, and we all couldn't help butlaugh.

God, it felt good tolaugh.

To laugh, to breathe, to be surrounded by love. These were my people, some of my dearest at that, and even when the darkness consumed us all in one way or another, we fought our ways back to thelight.

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