Blade sighed. "They found one of Tim's fingers at the clubhouse this morning. With a note. 'She’s next.'"
He expected her to panic, to cry, to break down again. Instead, she straightened her spine, her expression hardening. "They won't stop, will they? Not until they find me."
"No," he confirmed. "They won't."
She nodded, as if coming to a decision. "Then we can't just hide. We need to fight back."
Blade studied her, impressed by her resolve despite the gravity of their situation. "That's the plan. But you need to be prepared for what that means."
"I am," she said firmly. Then, more softly, "I have to be."
He moved closer to her, drawn by something in her expression. The vulnerability beneath the determination, a need for reassurance.
"You're not alone in this," he reminded her. "I'm not going anywhere."
She looked up at him, searching his face as if trying to determine if he meant it. Whatever she saw there must have satisfied her, because she nodded once, decisively.
"Thank you," she said. In that moment, with her eyes blazing and her chin lifted in defiance, she was the most beautiful thing Blade had ever seen. And the most dangerous to his carefully constructed walls.
Rampage was right. He was getting attached. And that could get them both killed if he wasn't careful.
But as he looked down at Lily, this small, fierce woman who'd endured so much and still found the strength to stand tall, he knew it was already too late to guard his heart.
God help them both.
CHAPTER 4
Lily sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by her new treasures. The coloring books, the colored pencils, the soft purple unicorn stuffie. Flopsy and Uni sat together, having made fast friends already. Her fingers traced the outline of the pacifier still in its packaging, a war of emotions raging within her.
Part of her, the adult part, the survivor part, recoiled at the idea of allowing herself this vulnerability. Especially now, with danger lurking outside the cabin walls. People were hunting her. Tim had lost a finger and who knew what else, because of her. This was no time for her to regress into her little persona, for childish comforts.
But another part of her, the little girl inside who'd been bruised and battered by life's cruelties, yearned for the soothing escape these items promised. The chance to let go, even for a little while. To feel safe and protected and cared for. To stop thinking about adult things and simply relax.
But you're not safe, she reminded herself harshly. And you can't afford to be vulnerable right now. Not when it could get you both killed.
With a sigh, she gathered the items and moved to tuck them into the nightstand drawer, out of sight. But as she pushed the drawer closed, her eyes caught on the two stuffies, still sitting on the pillow where she'd left them.
She picked up the worn rabbit, running her thumb over his threadbare ear. The only constant in her life for the past twenty years. The only one who'd never left her, never hurt her, never asked for more than she could give.
"What should I do, Mr. Flopsy?" she whispered, feeling foolish even as the words left her mouth.
The stuffed rabbit stared back with his mismatched button eyes, offering no answers.
A soft knock on the door startled her. She quickly shoved Mr. Flopsy and Ms. Uni under the pillow before calling, "Come in."
Blade filled the doorway, his large frame blocking out the hallway light. He'd changed into a fresh t-shirt, this one tight enough to reveal the defined muscles of his chest and arms. God, he has fucking sexy. She definitely felt safer with him around.
"Just checking on you," he said, his dark eyes scanning her face. "It's been a long day."
Lily nodded, suddenly aware of her exhaustion. The adrenaline from earlier had faded, leaving her drained. "I'm okay."
"Liar," he said, but there was no heat in the accusation. "Your ankle's bothering you. You've been crying. And you're still processing everything that happened today."
Was she that transparent? Or was he just that perceptive?
"I'm tired," she admitted. "But I don't think I can sleep."
He studied her for a moment, then asked, "Would it help to have company? Or would you rather be alone?"
