Page 84 of Coerced

We all strapped on our backpacks, and Gigi and Travis took charge of their partner’s packs, too. I hefted Gemma’s and grabbed two others. John and Rome looked pretty rough by then, so Gigi agreed to pop back later with me or Travis to get everything else.

“Okay, Dragon.” I nodded at him. “Lead the way.”

#

The trek to the motel took nearly three hours. I coulda run there and back again in less than a third of that time, but my friends struggled with each step.

Travis, having already made the journey once and weighted down with extra packs, walked slower and slower. I had to remind myself that his bookworm self wasn’t used to so much physical work. I smirked a little at that, proud of how far I’d come with my own health.

Gigi limped along in silence and her tear-stained face was still pale. I wished I could ease her mind because it hurt to see her so upset, but I had no comfort to give her.

Rome and John worried me the most. Head wounds were tricky, and both of them were gray-faced and staggering by the time we reached the motel.

I left them all on the benches out front and went into the office, where I rented three rooms with connecting doors. I paid with a swipe of the black credit card Clem had given me, scrawled something that looked like a signature, and sorted out who went where.

I figured we should pair the healthy with those who weren’t. Travis was still wary of Rome, so I put him with John and told the kid to keep an eye on him. I wasn’t sure about bunking with Rome, either, since he couldn’t stand the smell of me, but that’s the way it played out. As I walked Gigi to the room between us, she teased me quietly about the perks of being the only girl, but I couldn’t smile.

I didn’t think I’d be smiling for a long, long time.

When I got back to my room, Rome was already stretched out on a bed, one arm cradling his ribs and out cold. Figuring sleep would do him the most good right now, I decided to ask about his ribs later. Then I went back to check on John, but Travis said he was in the shower, so I went to Gigi’s room and asked her to fetch food from the diner next door.

She gave me a strange look, and I sighed.

“Rome and John are injured, Travis is watching John, and I can’t go.” I rolled my shoulders. “I’m barely— I would— Look, I just can’t. I’m sorry, Gigi. I know I’m asking you to walk some more while I’m hanging out here, but—”

“It’s okay.” She smiled softly. “I understand. I’m not complaining. But Iamworried about you, Kerry.”

“Yeah.” I dropped my eyes. “Me, too.”

I glanced out the window, taking in the thick stands of Christmas trees across the parking lot.

How could I explain it to her?‘Hey, Gigi, I’m holding on by my fingertips here. When I lose it, I’ll probably kill you all. It’s nothing personal.’ Yeah, that’ll go over well.

“I think I should leave.” I kept it simple.

“Kerry, look at me.” I didn’t want to, but I did. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I know you’ll need time to forgive me, but please know I hate that I hurt you. And I’m as angry with myself as you are.”

“I’m not angry with you.” I was shocked. “I know what I am.Idon’t trust me. Why would any of you? ’Sides, something like me d—”

“Stop it! Don’t call yourself a thing!” Her dark blue eyes flashed with fire. “I am not your friend because I pity you, or because Gemma had to talk me into it, or any other self-depreciating reason you’ve concocted to explain it! You’re honest and tough and brave and kind. I trust you with my life, but even more, I trust you to help me save Jax’s life. And Gemma’s and the others.”

I’d never known her to lie, but I didn’t believe half of what she said. Kind?Me? But if this was how she thought, who was I to tell her different? Let her keep her daydreams.

“Be positive, Kerry, and stay calm. We’ll find them and rescue them.”

“I can’t be … civilized … right now.” I hung my head as I admitted it.

“Let me amend my statement.” Her voice turned to ice. “We’ll find them and rescue them, then kill every last one of those buzzards who took them. I don’t think we need to be civilized for that, do you?”

She reached out and let her fingertips hang over my clenched fist. In my agitation, I could crush her slender bones in a heartbeat. And she knew that. Was this her way of showing she trusted me?

“Gigi?” I flipped my wrist and drew her fingers into my hand with great care.

“Yeah?”

“Did I … Did I hurt her? In the woods. When she tried to touch me.” I sucked in air and dropped her hand. “I swear I was gentle! Even though I was mad, I swear I was! But she held her arm against her chest like it hurt.”

“You didn’t hurt her.”

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