Page 8 of Shrouded Past

It was summer. That much she knew. She’d marked off each of the passing seasons. Still, the rain had dropped the temperature outside drastically.

“Give me a second to start the fire.” Bryce went to work arranging paper, kindling, and then stacking larger pieces of wood into the fireplace. The fire caught, flames licking all around. It reminded Piper of the small woodstove that had been in her basement room.

Soon, warmth filled the space around her. Some of the tension melted from her aching body. Piper closed her eyes and tried to purge the horrendous two days—not three years from her memory.

“Let me get my first aid kit and I’ll take a look at your injuries.”

She didn’t respond. Piper let the warmth seep into her bones and the relief she felt at being away from her kidnapper wash over her.

Bryce’s footsteps faded as he left the room.

She was so tired. Nothing about what happened to her made sense.

Piper closed her eyes and swallowed back tears. The emotional roller coaster she’d been on for the past three years and the fear she’d experienced at her kidnapper’s attacks were catching up with her. All her emotions were on the surface.

“Here we go.”

She startled at Bryce’s voice, her eyes flying open.

Piper looked up into the concern on Bryce’s face and couldn’t imagine what he must be thinking about her.

“Let me take a look at your face first. That’s a nasty cut.”

She swallowed back terror that seemed to be her permanent companion and let him examine the wound that ran the length of her face.

I need to get you to him alive.Skeleton Man’s unspoken threat came after they’d fought over the knife. He was angry. She could see it in his eyes. At that point, alive would be subjective in his mind.

Piper winced as Bryce cleaned the wound, doing his best to be as gentle as he could.

“Sorry. It doesn’t look as deep as I initially thought. It might leave a scar, but I think it will fade some in time. I’ll apply some ointment to keep infection away and dress it then I’ll see to your hand.” Bryce paused for her response.

She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”

Once her hand was bandaged, he examined the slash on her arm. Those stunning blue eyes latched onto hers, seeing things she wished she could hide. Wished she could erase from her brain permanently.

Piper lowered her gaze as he did his best to be gentle.

“I don’t like the looks of this one. How’d you get it?”

She cringed and did her best to explain what happened.

Bryce sat down beside her. “Did you get a good look at this man?”

She shook her head. She’d never forget those dark, dead eyes. For two days she’d been so afraid she’d die. Piper had prayed to a God she didn’t know existed for help.

There was no need for an answer. The truth was there on her face. “You can’t identify him?”

Piper tensed when she believed Bryce was going to bring up going to the police again. She couldn’t risk it. If Protector was telling the truth, there were men out there actively looking for her. Men she might not escape from next time.

“Why don’t you let me have a look at the rest of your injuries?” His chin jutted toward her bloody T-shirt.

She tentatively lifted the hem to reveal half a dozen slash marks. While he cleaned the wounds, she clamped down on her bottom lip to keep from showing the pain.

Once Bryce finished cleaning the cuts, she lowered her shirt. “Thank you. That feels much better.” Piper braced for the questions she believed were coming.

“Are you hungry?” he said instead.

Startled, Piper whipped her head his way.

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