Page 26 of Stone
“Don’t look back, buddy,” Kage called. “You won’t like what you see.”
I sensed Dani lifting her head. “No. No! Run!”
She didn’t need to tell me twice. I put everything I had into sprinting the last hundred yards, bolting up from the enclosure and lunging forward by several feet.
The powerful explosion as the flames hit the cool air knocked us to the ground. I covered her immediately, holding her head down and wrapping one leg over her entire body.
She remained shaking like a leaf under me, her soft cries reminiscent of ones that had haunted me for years after leaving Virginia.
The fire continued to roar, but as with some combustible fires of that nature, the air was sucked from its power. I lifted my head, studying the area. Some foliage was burning, but not enough to worry about. The entire scene was chaotic, but we were alive.
“Well, that was fucking fun,” Kage snorted.
I eased my weight from Dani, both of us gasping for air. “Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
As I pulled her into my arms, Maddox clapped me on the back.
She was safe and in my arms, but at this point, I had no way of knowing what or if it would mean anything.
CHAPTER 7
Daniella
Memories ripped at my mind, my thoughts all over the place.
How was Stone here? How had he managed to save me?
Every nerve ending was on fire, the ache behind my eyes nothing compared to the anguish I felt in my heart. So much time had gone by. So many emotions were keeping me on edge. But I was safe.
Freedom.
I had no idea how amazing it could feel after experiencing such a horrible few days. I’d thought for certain I would be killed. The bastards who’d kidnapped me hadn’t worried about what I’d overheard, which had given me a clear indication that even if my father paid the ransom, I’d be disposed of.
Even now as I stood in front of the mirror wrapped in a nice, warm towel after taking a long, hot shower, I couldn’t believethat I’d been rescued. As startling and amazing as the realization was, the fact Stone had risked his life to save me after twenty years of not seeing each other and nineteen of not talking was unbelievable.
Yet the ugly truth was that I wasn’t free. Seeing him again reminded me that freedom came with a price.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I battled memories from the past. They were wonderful and ugly, terrifying and irreplaceable. As a single tear rolled down my cheek, I wasn’t entirely certain I could live through any more memories. It had taken me a very long time to drive the nightmares away, the sense of being a failure haunting.
Stone had changed, not only becoming even more handsome, but also in the light in his eyes. Once, they’d reflected eagerness and joy. Now, they projected sadness and uncertainty. However, he’d come to my rescue and I just couldn’t understand how or why. Another electric shiver skated down my spine as I furiously brushed the tear away. Now wasn’t the time to break down.
I’d clung to him as his friend Kage had driven us to a small house nestled in some woods. They’d called it a safehouse and although I shouldn’t feel safe under the circumstances, with three muscular men guarding me, I felt completely protected.
And thoroughly overwhelmed.
Plus, I’d seen and heard what they’d done in their efforts to act on the rescue attempt. They’d killed more than a dozen men bearing guns. I should be appalled, but knew they were all Navy SEALs doing their jobs, something obviously orchestrated by my father.
But how had my dad managed to convince Stone to come find me? Not only because of the years, but because of the way we’d left our relationship. I’d all but burned the bridge between us, but only after getting the letter from him that had broken my heart. He didn’t know why I’d stopped contacting him and I doubted he’d ever trust me enough again to believe my story. I’d seen the hurt in his eyes when he’d walked into the room where the men were holding me.
Just for a split second, but it was enough to rip at what was left of my heart.
Plus, there were secrets that I couldn’t imagine revealing. I’d never thought I’d need to. Now decisions weighed heavily on my mind.
I rubbed my hand across the steamy mirror and instantly my eye caught the ring that I hadn’t taken off in twenty years. I studied the small diamond, flicking the gold band back and forth before fisting my hand.
A promise made and then broken.
