“You shouldn’t have done that,” Micah said once they were alone again.
“Why not?”
“Because now you're on their bad side.”
“I don’t care,” she said simply, and it was true. That moment had reminded her of her promise to herself after she was raped that she was never going to be a victim ever again.
While she couldn’t stop these people from taking her organs, and she was in a way a victim, being a victim was more than just having someone do something terrible to you, it was something that permeated your soul. She wasn't going to let these people do that to her.
They could take her body, but they couldn’t take her mind.
She was going to work with Micah, and they were going to find a way out of there. Then they were going to destroy the trafficking ring and make every one of those smug, sociopathic people pay.
May1st
8:20 A.M.
SeeingTeresa fight back was both the most terrifying thing he’d ever witnessed in his life, but also the most amazing.
His girl was a fighter. Whatever life threw at her, she found a way to take control of it and not let it beat her.
As much as he didn't want her to draw undue attention to herself, wanted her to fly under the radar for her own safety, he was so proud of her for not just holding her own but actually knocking the smarmy doctor down a few pegs.
“Don’t do that again,” he murmured as he glanced at the door the nurse had just departed through. While the doctor absolutely wanted to be there and was fully involved in the trafficking ring’s operation, the nurse was not.
Something they could possibly use if they could get the woman alone again.
“I told you I don’t care,” Teresa said with fire burning in her chocolate brown eyes, and a determination that told him she was going to survive this ordeal if he could just keep her alive long enough.
“I care.” More than he’d realized. For a decade he’d been positive that he’d moved on, that he hated Teresa for betraying him, that even if he ever saw her again, it wouldn't change anything.
But he’d been wrong.
It changed everything.
Seeing her reminded him of what they used to share, and he wanted that again. If he could let go of his anger, then he didn't see why he couldn’t learn to trust her again.
When it all boiled down to it, being confronted with her imminent death, he knew he’d rather find a way to have her in his life than hold onto his wounded pride.
“I don’t want them to hurt me, but more than that, I won't let anyone make me a victim ever again,” Teresa vowed fiercely.
“Not asking you to be a victim again, I'm just saying that you can't …” Micah trailed off, her words clicking. “Wait, what do you mean you don’t want to be a victim again? You mean after they almost abducted you the other day?” His gaze roamed the healing wound on her cheek and the bruise on her forehead. As much as he hated the marks marring her perfect skin, they were vivid reminders of her ability to fight.
She hadn't given up then, and he prayed she didn't give up now.
“You know I don’t, Micah,” Teresa answered, an edge to her voice that confused him. She sounded angry with him, but he had no idea why.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said honestly. Had she been hurt sometime within the last twelve years? Was that where she learned to harden her heart a little and distance herself from her emotions?
“Don’t do that,” Teresa snapped. “Don’t pretend anymore. I can't take it. You’ve spent the last few days acting like we didn't break up because you left without a word.”
Seemed like they were going to have this conversation now.
There couldn’t be worse timing. They had more important things they needed to focus on, only … was there really anything more important than clearing the air with the girl who had tangled herself up in his heart, and he wasn't sure it was possible to get her out?
They might die there.
Just because he would do anything he could to save her life, there were no guarantees. Prey would be looking for them, and while he believed in them, they weren't miracle workers. If they were going to die there, he didn't want anything left between them. No bad feelings, no anger, no hurt, no betrayal. He wanted to get rid of all the bad so only the good remained, and there had been so much good.
