Page 77 of Rescuing Tobias

His face …

It was familiar.

And it wasn't because it belonged to one of the guards.

“I know you,” she murmured.

“Yeah, you do, little firecracker,” Tobias said as he dropped down to his knees at her side. “It’s Rex. He was one of the guys who was with me when we rescued you last time.”

“Can't believe that’s two for two, dude,” another of the men gathering around them snickered.

“Bubba,” Tobias filled in for her benefit.

“Ava took you down, got your weapon, and ran, and now Isabella took you down, too,” Bubba continued, clearly amused.

“Not taken down, still standing,” Rex corrected.

“Not standing straight,” Bubba said with a snicker.

It was true. Rex was hunched over, his hands covering the spot no guy wanted to be hit, and she shot him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry. I thought you were one of them.” She nodded at the man who had used her as a shield, now lying dead a couple of feet away, a hole in the middle of his forehead.

“You did great, Isabella,” Rex assured her. “Exactly the right thing. You didn't know that I wasn't a threat so you acted accordingly.”

“You did amazing, little firecracker,” Tobias agreed.

His voice was worried, though, and there was concern in his dark eyes as they raked over her. She knew she must look a mess. There was the lump and gash on her head from when she’d beenabducted, and then fresher bruises all over her face. Her hair was no doubt a mess, and her arms were still bound. She looked like she’d been through hell, and she had.

“Here, let me get these off you,” Tobias murmured. One of his arms slipped around her shoulders, and he lifted her, tilting her upper body forward, supporting it with his other arm, while he cut off the zip ties binding her. “This is going to hurt.”

“I know. I remember.” This was eerily similar to when they’d saved her the first time. “You guys had good timing again,” she murmured as blood flow returned to her limbs, bringing with it excruciating pain as her deadened limbs came back to life.

So very gently, Tobias shifted her once again so she was resting against his propped-up leg, and he took one of her arms, massaging it with warm, steady strokes to help get the blood flowing quicker.

“I'm sorry,” he murmured as one of his fingertips traced along next to the raw wounds on her wrists.

“For what? Saving me?”

“For letting you get taken in the first place. Hell, Isabella, my worst nightmare came true. I was a burden who failed you. I understand if you no longer want me to be part of your life. You and the baby’s.”

He was completely serious. She got that. His expression was earnest, and there was real fear in his eyes. Which made the burst of laughter that bubbled out of her totally inappropriate. It was just that was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.

“You're laughing.” Tobias’ brow furrowed, and he looked so adorably confused that she laughed again.

“You leaving is the last thing I want,” she assured him.

“You're not angry that I failed you because of my back?”

“I'm not angry with you about anything. So don’t you even think about walking away from us,” she told him. Then shesobered as she realized what she’d just said. “If there even still is an us. They hit me a few times and used the shock collar.”

A man she recognized as Rocco appeared beside her, holding a piece of medical equipment and a couple of EMTs behind him. “We knew that would be your first concern so we brought something to check you out immediately,” Rocco explained as he knelt on her other side. Shooting Rex a quick glance, he grinned as he took in the man’s hunched stature then looked back at her. “You?”

“Umm, yeah. I didn't know he was one of you guys and I may have grabbed his uh … you know.”

When Rocco held out his fist, she couldn’t help but laugh even with the fear for her baby amping up. Fist bumping him, she then watched as the medics moved closer, one setting up the machine while the other met her gaze.

“Can I?” he asked, nodding at the top of the scrubs she’d been given to wear.

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