"Emily, I need you to focus on my voice," Dion said, his tone shifting to something firmer, more commanding. " I need you to breathe with me. In through your nose for four counts, hold for seven, out through your mouth for seven."
The direct instruction was something I could latch onto. I followed his breathing pattern, the tight band around my chest gradually loosening as we drove through the darkened streets.
"Where are we going?" I finally asked when I could speak without gasping.
"My place," Dion replied, his eyes briefly meeting mine. "It's secure.”
I should have protested. But where could I go? I was too exhausted, too terrified to argue. The thought that it could have happened again was enough to make me want to vomit. All I knew was that Dion had saved me, and right now, that was enough.
Twenty minutes later, after going through a security gate, we pulled up to a sprawling ranch-style house set back from the road, surrounded by tall trees. I could see lights from another two houses a little distance away, but the area seemed very exclusive and private. Security lights illuminated the perimeter, and I could see cameras positioned strategically around the property.
"Home sweet home," Dion said, killing the engine. "Wait there."
He circled around to my door, scanning the surroundings before helping me out. His arm around my waist was the only thing keeping me upright as we approached the front door.
A deep barking erupted from inside the house.
"Stand down," Dion called out as he unlocked the door, and immediately the barking ceased.
Two massive black dogs greeted us, their intelligent eyes assessing me with uncanny focus. Despite their intimidating size, they remained perfectly still at Dion's command.
"Hades, Anubis, meet Emily. She's a friend." The dogs' ears perked up at their names.
As if understanding every word, both dogs relaxed their posture, one of them even wagging its tail slightly.
"They won't hurt you," Dion assured me, guiding me inside and locking the door behind us. The security system beeped as he punched in a code.
The interior of the house surprised me. I'd expected something more like a show home, designer billionaire-worthy, but the space was warm and cozy. Comfortable furniture, soft lighting, and a stone fireplace that dominated one wall of the living room. A couple of dog beds were in the corner, and no sign that anyone else lived here.
"Sit," Dion said, guiding me to a plush couch. "I'll get you something warm to drink."
I sank into the cushions, my body suddenly feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds. The dogs settled nearby, watchful guardians keeping a respectful distance. I gazed at them, and feeling brave because I adored dogs no matter how scary they looked, I held out a trembling hand. The one on the left stood, and slowly padded toward me, sniffing my hand and leaning in. “You’re beautiful,” I murmured, then flung my arms around the massive dog and buried my face in his coat, wetting it thoroughly. The dog didn’t move, just let me cry all over him.
Dion returned with a steaming mug that smelled of chocolate and something else—cinnamon, maybe—and the dog licked my hand gently when I sat back, then went back to lie next to the other one. "Hot chocolate," he explained, placing it in my still-trembling hands. "With a little something extra to help with the shock."
The warmth of the mug seeped into my cold fingers as I took a tentative sip. The chocolate was rich and sweet, with a hint of spice and the burn of what I guessed was some sort of whisky.
"Thank you," I whispered, the words wholly inadequate for what he'd done.
“You made friends quickly,” he said nodding to where both dogs had inched nearer to me.
I tried to smile but it was hard when I wanted to bawl. Another tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. "What would I have done if you hadn’t been there?”
Although I wouldn't have risked going in the first place.
"And who was the other man?"
Dion's jaw tightened, and he knelt in front of me, taking the mug from my hands and setting it on the coffee table. "A friend. Don't think about that. You're safe now."
"But I'm not safe, am I?" My voice cracked. "They found me. How did they find me? Why did they find me? Didn’t you stop them? Kill them all at the compound?"
"We'll figure that out," he promised, his blue eyes intense. "But right now, you need to rest. You're in shock."
"I had to go back to work, and I've been trying to get back to normal—"
And I'd buried it.All the thoughts. All the memories.
Dion reached up and gently brushed another tear away with his thumb, his touch feather-light against my skin.
