by Autumn Reed
When he finished, he stood and cupped my face with his hands. “I love you.” He said it to me at least once a day since I’d returned.
“I love you, Knox.” I pressed my lips to his, needing his touch as much as I needed oxygen.
He quickly washed himself before stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist. Holding one out for me, he dried me off and then offered to grab some clothes from across the hall.
“How’s this?” he asked after returning to his bedroom with a pair of black leggings and a loose top, one of the few that I owned.
I sat on the bed, picking through the pile of clothes for my underwear, but Knox snatched them away. He knelt in front of me, helping me into them before pulling up my leggings with care. He wrapped his hands around my waist and held me, breathing me in. Finally, he pressed his lips to the bare skin of my stomach, peering up at me with desire swirling in his eyes.
As the king of self-control, if he hadn’t acted on it in the shower, he wasn’t going to do so now. What would it take to get the guys to see that I wasn’t breakable . . . or broken?
After we finished dressing, we ventured to the living room and found Theo bustling around the kitchen. “Good morning,” he called in a cheerful voice. “Take a seat. Breakfast will be ready shortly.”
Knox and I shared a concerned look. “Did you cook it yourself?” I asked.
“Don’t sound so skeptical. I can make bacon and eggs.”
“Since when?” Knox muttered, pulling out a chair for me at the table before pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Breakfast is served,” Theo said with a flourish as he delivered a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sliced fruit, stealing a kiss in the process.
I stared down at the meal, astonished. “This looks surprisingly delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled, clearly enjoying my praise.
“Wow,” Knox said after he’d taken a bite of eggs. “Are you sure you cooked this? It’s actually edible.”
“Thanks to the wonders of the internet and the microwave, I can cook.”
I nearly snorted orange juice across the table. “You made scrambled eggs in the microwave? How?”
“Easy. You mix them in a mug, cook for forty-five seconds, stir, and cook another thirty seconds. Did you know you can bake a mini cake in the microwave? Maybe we can make one tonight for dessert,” he said excitedly, and Knox just laughed.
After breakfast, the three of us hunkered down in the basement to catch up on Arrow. With Chase on campus, and Liam and Jackson at work, it was nice to have alone time with the Bennett brothers. Kara texted to see if she could visit later in the day, but until then, I was all theirs.
Theo sat on my good side, holding my hand, while Knox sat as close as possible on the other, careful to give a wide berth to my injured shoulder and sling. Despite his distance, he found ways to touch me, his hand resting on my thigh, his thumb stroking me over my leggings. I was glad they seemed to need the contact with me as much as I craved being touched by them.
I lost track of time, surprised when Knox suggested a break for lunch. He heated leftovers, so as to minimize the interruption to Arrow, and then we continued our marathon without interruption. When the doorbell rang a few hours later, I shifted to the edge of the couch so I could greet Kara at the door.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Theo glared playfully at me, but I knew he meant business. Since I’d returned, he and the other guys had been insistent that I do nothing but relax.
He sprinted up the stairs while Knox paused the show. I slid back to my spot on the couch, jarring my shoulder in the process. Pain shot down my arm, causing me to wince.
“Breathe, Haley.” Knox’s voice was soothing as he crouched before me, his hands on my thighs.
I took a few deep breaths, focusing on his emerald eyes, eyes I’d dreamt of during my captivity. Images of the photo shoot flashed through my mind unbidden, even as I tried to block them out. Despite my insistence that I was fine, I was still haunted by the memories.
“When was the last time you took something?”
I closed my eyes, calculating. “A few hours ago, I think.”
He grabbed a bottle from the coffee table, passing me two capsules before handing me a glass of water. Once I’d swallowed the pills, he crouched over me, placing a kiss on my forehead. “I’m going to check my e-mail, let you and Kara have some girl time. Text if you need anything.” I nodded, noticing Kara watching us from the foot of the stairs.
“I would hug you, but I think we both know that’s a terrible idea,” she joked, taking a seat at the end of the couch. “How are you?”
“Pretty good, all things considered.” I couldn’t complain too much, even if needing help with everything from getting dressed to slicing an apple was ridiculously annoying. Fortunately, I had many willing volunteers.
“I would’ve visited sooner, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get past your prowl.”
“My prowl?” I scrunched up my face. “Is that another code name?”
“Your guys are Team Jaguar, and the collective noun for jaguars is a prowl.” I laughed. Only Kara. “So, what do you want to do today? I’ll take you anywhere you want.”
“Anywhere?” I prodded.
“Yes, at least, within reason. Why?” She cocked her head to the side. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’d love to get out of the house, even for some ice cream.”
“I think I can manage that.” She grinned and hopped up from the couch. “Will we have to sneak out?”
“Maybe. Did you bring your cloak of invisibility?”
“Shoot. I knew I forgot something.”
When I reached the top of the stairs, I found Knox and Theo in the kitchen. From the expression on Theo’s face, I could only assume they were discussing a serious matter. They’d all been somewhat secretive the past few days, and I wondered what was going on. We still had yet to discuss DuBois or my father’s surveillance on him. So far, I hadn’t pushed the issue, content to just be.
They stopped talking when they spotted me, and Theo turned to me with a smile. “What’s up, buttercup?”
“Kara’s taking me for ice cream. We’ll be back later.”
“Can I go?” he asked before Knox elbowed him in the side, and he grunted. “On second thought, I’m still pretty full from lunch.” He patted his washboard stomach.
Knox’s eyes searched mine as he approached, crowding my space while Kara and Theo debated the best ice cream flavors. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
I nodded. I’d barely left the loft since returning from the hospital and never without at least one of the guys by my side. I needed to do this, to prove to myself that someone wasn’t always waiting in the shadows to get me. Besides, it was mid-afternoon and we were going to a public place. I’d be fine.
Ice cream in hand a short while later, Kara and I found a bench outside overlooking the ocean. It was so calm, so peaceful, so normal.
“Thank you again for stepping up to help when I went missing. My dad told me how impressed he was by you, and I know he and the guys appreciate everything you did.”
“Aww, I love your dad. I’m honestly not sure whether he or the guys are more protective of you. And, if there was ever a question in your mind about their devotion, there shouldn’t be. Those boys would follow you to the ends of the earth.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “Thank goodness they did, even after I pushed them away.”
“They really love you, Haley. All of them.”
“Tell me the truth. How bad was it?”
She sighed, and I knew that even if she didn’t want to tell me, she would. “I’ve never seen Jackson so unhinged. I was positive the guys were going to come to blows several times, and even Chase almost lost his shit.”
“I figured as much.” I fell silent, savoring the flavor of ripe strawberries swirled through my ice cream. Finally, I said, “They’ve been very secretiv
e lately. There’s something they’re not telling me. I just wish I knew what it was.”
“Try not to worry, and enjoy being home. Besides,” she continued with a grin, “I’m sure they’re waiting on you hand and foot. You should milk that for all it’s worth.”
“The only time I’m alone is when I go to the bathroom. They won’t let me get dressed without help, and you should’ve seen Knox trying to blow dry my hair. It’s a good thing I didn’t break the right side of my collarbone, because they’d insist on brushing my teeth for me too.”
Kara laughed so hard she nearly lost her ice cream, which made her laugh harder. “You know you love it.”
Giving in, I grinned. “Okay, you’re right, but I can’t keep all five of them with me twenty-four seven.” Even if I wanted to.
They were needed at Zenith, and I’d practically had to force Jackson—a self-professed workaholic—to go into the office. If the fallout after Ethangate and The Elites was bad, it was nothing compared to the current scandal—one of the regional directors, and a Zenith founder, was behind The Elites. Plus, he’d endangered a trainee’s life in the reckless pursuit of his agenda.
I was still trying to come to grips with Kenneth’s role in my abduction. It was difficult to believe that someone I’d once admired, even pitied to some extent, had willingly sent me into such a perilous situation. While I could sympathize with his desire for vengeance, he had used me like a pawn without regard for my safety.
Perhaps sensing my serious turn of thought, Kara placed her hand on my leg. “You know I’m always here if you need to talk. And, if you don’t want to talk to me, at least consider speaking with one of the counselors at Zenith.”
“Thanks, Kara. I’ll think about it.”
A few hours later, I returned to the loft and found Knox, Theo, Chase, Liam, and Jackson huddled around the table. Suddenly, all conversation stopped, and Theo fumbled with his iPad while Jackson marched over to me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. All of the guys had been more affectionate since my return, but Jackson especially so. Showering me with attention, touching me at any opportunity . . . he hadn’t shied away from doing so even when the others were present.
“You went shopping without me?” Theo pouted, noticing my bags.
“I needed a few loose tunics I can slip on easily, so I don’t always have to ask for help.”
Before he could respond, the doorbell rang and Chase went to answer it. He returned with a large yellow smiley face vase with candy bars arranged like flowers. “Special delivery.”
He placed it on the table and handed me the attached card. Feel better soon, Starburst. It wasn’t signed, but there was no doubt as to the sender. Who—other than Ethan—would send such an elaborate candy bouquet? I smiled, appreciating the gesture and the fond memories the nickname generated. Though our relationship would never be the same, it was nice to know he cared.
Jackson swept my hair away from my face, careful not to touch my shoulder. “Do you feel up to discussing something?”
“Am I in trouble?” I teased, noticing the crease between his brows.
His shoulders relaxed, and he chuckled. “Of course not. You should know by now that when it comes to us, you can do almost anything you want.”
He helped me to a seat at the table, returning with a glass of water before joining us. He was always doing nice things for me without being asked, and I knew it was because he loved me. Of all the guys, Jackson was the only one who had yet to say the words, but I had no doubt that he felt them.
Everyone was silent, giving Jackson the floor. “I’ve been putting this conversation off, but we need to discuss DuBois.”
My stomach dropped. “What about him?”
“As you suspected, he was behind the human trafficking, although his son ran the operation.” With sudden clarity, I realized why the man with expensive leather shoes and slicked-backed hair looked familiar—he was the spitting image of his father. I kicked myself for not recognizing the relation.
Jackson went on to describe my father’s surveillance and the information they had uncovered last week. His demeanor was calm, but I sensed anxiety flowing beneath the surface. “The good news is that we have enough evidence to hand over to the FBI. DuBois will finally be brought to justice.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a done deal, and I wouldn’t be truly satisfied until DuBois was behind bars, but it was enough for now. Just knowing that we had the evidence for the government to build a case against him was huge.
“I’m sensing a but,” I said.
“Not a but, per se. Rather, a decision that needs to be made. Since DuBois and his organization remains unaware of your identity, they won’t look for you, they wouldn’t even know to. We can hand everything over to the FBI with the agreement that your name will never be mentioned.”
Ahh, so now we got to the crux of the matter—my role in the trial. Since discovering that DuBois was responsible for my mother’s death, for my life in hiding, I’d often contemplated what I’d do given the chance to confront him. Would I continue to run, or would I fight? I already knew the answer, and seeing the conditions of the women last week only strengthened my conviction.
“I’m done living in hiding. He needs to be held accountable for what he did to my family and for what he did to those women. I will do whatever it takes to put him behind bars for the rest of his life,” I said in an unwavering tone, meeting each and every one of their gazes.
“We figured you might say that.” Jackson sighed, and I could tell this was weighing on him. “So, we have another option. You can tell the FBI everything you know, but you’ll be held back as a secret witness until right before the trial. You can testify against DuBois, but you won’t have to worry about going into hiding.”
“What about my dad? Can he get the same agreement?”
Jackson shook his head, his expression solemn. “His options are more limited, and it’s something you should discuss with him.”
“Haley,” Chase said from the other end of the table, “don’t feel rushed to decide. If you need to think it over, you can.”
“No.” I shook my head, hoping my tone conveyed my certainty. “There’s nothing to consider. I vowed that if I escaped that wretched house, I would make DuBois pay.”
There was a murmur of agreement from the table, and Liam was the one who spoke first. “It’s your decision, gorgeous. We will support it one-hundred percent.”
Although I was positive I’d be nervous when the time actually came, at the moment, I was elated. I was home, I was surrounded by my guys, and DuBois would finally get what he deserved. If I had to survive the kidnapping and over a decade of seclusion just to get to this point, it was all worth it.
29
Acceptance
Haley
With Jackson at my side, I walked out of the nondescript office building in downtown San Jose, relieved I wouldn’t have to speak with the FBI agent again for the foreseeable future. This was our third meeting since my rescue a little over a week ago, and I was officially done talking about what happened in that house . . . at least until the trial.
Even though I’d insisted on testifying against the men in Vincent DuBois’s employ who held me captive, the thought of facing them again was daunting. But then I remembered the photo shoot and what those photos were used for, and my resolve returned full force. When the guys mentioned infiltrating Rendezvous, I had sensed there was something they weren’t telling me, so I pushed. I could still picture Liam’s expression when he described the portfolio he’d procured. He hadn’t wanted to tell me, but he relented in order to satisfy my need to understand the depth of evil I was helping put behind bars.
As humiliating as it was to imagine unscrupulous men pouring over photos of my mostly-naked body, I was overwhelmingly thankful that I’d been rescued before the auction. And Chase assured me that all physical and digital copies had been destroyed. I didn’t need, or even want, to know how the guys had accomplished i
t. I was just relieved to know the photos no longer existed.
“How about some gelato?” Jackson asked when we reached his Jeep.
“I’m not hungry.” It was rare for me to turn down a frozen treat, but recounting the worst days of my life for the third time had taken a toll.
“Guess you’ll just have to watch me eat, then.”
“I don’t mind.”
He helped me into the passenger seat, which wasn’t necessary, but I’d stopped bothering to argue. Instead of closing the door, he rested an arm on the roof and leaned into me. “You’re incredible. You know that, right?”
“All I did was state what happened.”
“That’s not what I meant. The way you went on the offensive . . . sacrificing yourself to ensure the other women escaped . . .”
“Knox is pissed at me for that.” It was an exaggeration, but he’d made it clear that I made the wrong choice by staying behind to distract Scarface.
“He can’t stomach the thought of you in danger. It’ll take time for him to stop imagining it over and over in his head.”
It seemed that we all needed time to heal, in one way or another.
At the gelato shop, I let Jackson talk me into a small cup of sea salt caramel. As the first bite melted in my mouth, I had to admit that the dessert drastically improved my mood. Who had time to care about despicable criminal organizations while being tempted by the richest of ice creams?
He led me to a table in the corner, and I froze when I spotted who was already seated there. Carmen, wearing a ball cap pulled low over her face, was digging into the biggest scoop of gelato I’d ever seen while Patrick watched on with amusement. Her delighted expression told me she’d never tasted anything so delicious.
Catching sight of us, she hopped up and ran over, skidding to a halt just inches in front of me. She moved to my right side and pulled me into a tight hug, carefully avoiding my sling.