Page 117 of Taken Off Camera
I blink in confusion. “But he took the earpiece.”
“We had a backup plan.” Sebastian’s fingers move to my temple, and he peels something from my hair. He holds his finger in front of my face, where a tiny tracker sits on the tip of his finger. “Gabriel put it there when he fit you for the earbud. Just in case.”
“Sneaky,” I breathe.
His thumb traces the outline of a bruise forming on my jaw. “Always have a backup plan.”
I sway on my feet, the events of the night catching up to me all at once. Sebastian’s arms openin silent invitation, and I fall into them, my body recognizing home.
His embrace envelops me, careful of my injuries. The steady thump of his heart beneath my ear confirms he’s alive, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill that’s settled in my bones. His scent surrounds me, washing away the lingering stench of Travis’s touch.
I clutch the torn fabric of his shirt. “You rescued me.”
“You rescued yourself,” Sebastian corrects, chest rumbling beneath my ear. “By the time we got here, you already had things handled.”
The words penetrate the fog of exhaustion and pain, reshaping my understanding of what’s happened.
Sebastian didn’t save me from Travis.
I saved myself.
“We need to move,” Saint announces, finishing with Travis’s restraints. “This place could have security. And we don’t know if his friend is coming back.”
Sebastian’s arms tighten around me before he pulls back to look at my face. “Can you walk? Or should I carry you?”
“I can walk.” I straighten despite the protestsfrom my battered body. “But I want different clothes first.”
Saint approaches, shrugging out of his jacket to drape it over my shoulders. The leather envelops me, warm from his body and smelling of pheromones and cheap cologne, familiar scents from a lifetime of friendship.
“Always said you had more fight in you than you thought,” Saint murmurs, squeezing my shoulder.
His eyes hold a new respect, acknowledging something that’s shifted between us. Not protector and protected anymore, but equals who face danger together.
Jade locates Travis’s gun, checks the chamber, and tucks it into his waistband. “We need to call this in. The trafficking connection makes it Rockford business.”
I turn to stare at Travis’s unconscious form. He represents more than personal vengeance. He’s a lead to the organization that has haunted the Rockfords, the same one that captured Jade and Phoenix, that hurt Milo, that destroyed lives across the city.
I pull Saint’s jacket tighter around my shoulders. “Will they come after us?”
“Let them try,” Saint growls.
“They’ll have to go through all of us first.”Sebastian gestures toward the door, where shadows move in the main warehouse space. “The cavalry has arrived.”
Footsteps approach from beyond the partition, multiple sets moving with military precision. Gabriel calls out, followed by Ezra’s calm commands, organizing the response team.
The Rockford machine has fully activated, bringing resources and power to bear against those who dared target one of their own.
Jade returns to Travis and kicks him before turning to Saint. “Help me put him in the trunk. I have some questions to ask him.”
Saint hauls the unconscious Alpha up and over his shoulder. “Mind if I join you? I’m curious to hear what this asshole has to say for himself.”
Jade’s eyes narrow in consideration. “You should see a doctor, too.”
“My hard head can take a few knocks, no problem.”
“He threatened to cut off your fingers,” I tell my best friend, shuddering at the memory. “Maybe start there with him.”
“Noted.” With a grin, Saint strides off through the wreckage. “I trust you to look after our boy, Sebastian.”
