Page 55 of Loving Lex

“Of course, I did.” I kissed her temple. “Are you okay, baby?”

“I am now.” She clung tighter.

I rose, keeping her tucked under my arm, and watched as Nicki made her way in to help tend to the rest of the women. They seemed to come alive once they realized all their captors were dead, including Viktor, who’d just taken one of my bullets to the brain.

Lucky glanced at us. “Go, man. We’ve got this.”

I looked down at Shay, who was obviously trying her best to stay strong in my embrace but was clearly exhausted in every way. “You sure?”

“I’m sure. We’ll get all these women to someplace safe, then we’re gonna make sure there’s enough evidence left so everyone involved gets nailed for this. Including that bastard Sloan.” He softened his voice. “We’re just glad you’re alright, Shay.”

She turned her face up toward him. “Thank you. For everything.”

He nodded in acknowledgment, then clasped me on the shoulder as JD handed me a set of keys. “Now get out of here.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. “You good to walk, baby?” I asked her.

She nodded against my chest. “Yeah.”

We moved slowly outside and into the quiet night. It was a bit surreal, thinking about everything that had happened, but I was just thankful to have her back in my arms. I wasn’t sure if she knew about what had gone down with her dad and Sloan, or if she had any idea the Russians were involved in taking her for sex trafficking, but I would explain everything when she was ready.

I pointed to the black road. “JD left a truck about a quarter of a mile that way. Think you can make it?”

She nodded. “I think so.”

We made it to the gate and Humvee, and she paused, glancing around, taking in the scenery, which under any other circumstances would be beautiful.

“Where are we, anyway?” she asked.

“Just outside Red Rock Canyon.”

She nodded and faced me. “So, how’d you find me?”

“I had a little help from friends.”

I saw the tears quiver in her eyes, but she held them back. “Thank them for me.”

Unable to help myself, I traced her jaw. “Shay...”

She seemed to understand what I was unable to say and swayed into my arms. I leaned against the Hummer with her in my embrace as we held each other for a long moment in the moonlight, her arms tight around my waist, her head buried deep in my neck.

Once we gathered ourselves, I led her down the dark path to JD’s waiting truck and helped her inside. I could tell she was wilting, but she was holding herself together like a champ.

I got us on the road and glanced over. “You sure you won’t let me take you to the hospital? I’d feel better if you got checked out.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No. No hospitals. I’m fine. I just need a bath and a meal and a bed.” She glanced over. “And you. That’s it. I promise, if I don’t feel better after that, you can take me to a doctor.” I knew she sensed my unease, so she explained. “Nicki was forced to keep us in line with the drugs—” She held up a hand when my head whipped around toward her. “But she was helping them fake it. I think I was the only one drugged in that room, and that happened long before Nicki got involved. I don’t remember anything between Viktor kidnapping me and waking up in a room by myself.”

I fought back the growl that bubbled in my chest as she squeezed my hand. “It’s wearing off,” she said. “I think I’m just exhausted and shaken now. It could’ve been so much worse. Especially if you’d been any later... they were talking about taking us to auction.” Tears clogged her voice. “My own father was going to let me be sold to the highest bidder.”

So, she did know.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” I squeezed her hand back.

She nodded, glancing down at her lap as the tears fell. “But I guess there’s one positive thing that came from this nightmare.”

I frowned. “What’s that?”

“Because of you and your friends, all those women will be free and safe.” Her emotion was palpable in the air. “Because of you,I’msafe.”

---