Page 87 of The Twins
“That’s…that’s appalling.” I swallowed down a bitter taste. Goodness only knew what future these three women would have had if we hadn’t turned up…if Reg hadn’t taken me.
I shuddered, and Finn tightened his hold on me.
“I guess it’s a silver lining,” I said. “That I ended up there and then so did you, it means these three women are free now.”
“That’s very positive of you.” Finn pressed his lips to my head. “I’m so proud of you, how you’ve handled this.”
I shivered again. “I just want to get as far away as possible, and then shower. I can still smell him on me.” My guts clenched.
“He really didn’t touch you, though?” Finn ran the back of his thumb down my cheek.
“No, you turned up just in time.” I felt the color drain from my cheeks at the thought of what would have happened.
“Won’t be long till we’re back at the house. And Dalton will check you out.”
Dalton studied me over his shoulder. “Did he drug you when he followed you into the car?”
“Yes, with a needle in my neck, paralyzed my body yet I could still hear. I was awake, just, but couldn’t move, and my thoughts were fuddled, you know, a struggle to keep together.”
His brow furrowed.
“What do you think it was?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, some kind of anesthetic perhaps. We’ll do a full toxicology, but it’s good that it’s worn off so quickly, it means there are unlikely to be long-lasting effects.”
“Yeah, that’s good.” Cillian squeezed my leg. “’Cause it’s too late to make him suffer some more.”
Thankfully the road surface improved, and we were driving back into the city. The buildings and road signs were comforting. At one point I’d thought I might never see them again.
We drove along a dappled avenue, tall houses basking in the sunshine, and soon arrived back at the Rose Cottage.
“I wonder if Andrew is here?” Phil commented. “He’ll need briefing.”
“Depends how easily he can win Chelsea over,” Dalton said. “She was pretty mad at him.”
“And not the kind of woman who can have the wool pulled over her eyes,” Finn added and opened the door. He stepped down and held his hand out for me to take.
I stood, on shaky legs. Cillian was close behind me with his big hands spanning my waist to make sure I didn’t fall. Their close attentiveness was reassuring, and I felt my strength returning.
Jamie was quick to help Sorenna from the van, and then assisted the other girls.
“What is this place?” Sorenna asked.
“We own it, it’s a safe place for women to work, heal, get themselves out of sticky situations.”
“Really?” She raised her dark glossy eyebrows. “That kind of place exists?”
“Yes, and you’ll be well cared for, I promise.” He pointed at her bare feet on the gravel. “Can you walk okay?”
“Yes, thank you.” She managed a tiny smile. “Thank you for coming.”
“I’m just glad we did.”
Dalton and Phil were quick to help the other two girls who followed Sorenna, their feet sinking into the tiny stones as they clung to one another.
“What is happening?” A girl in a bright-purple dress exclaimed when we all piled into the kitchen.
I remembered her name was Trixie.
