Shit.
Moving forward, I slide my gun in the holster, I grab my knife from its sheath and cut the ropes holding her in place.
“P-Ple-Please make it stop,” she begs, arching her body into mine.
“Easy, baby, it’s Ranger. I’m gonna get you out of here and home where I can take care of you,” I murmur, sliding the knife back in its sheath and looking down at her to meet her glossy eyes.
“Ranger,” she whimpers my name like she didn’t really hear me. “Please, make it stop. I’ll do anything. I can’t take it anymore,” Her pleas come out on a pant as she reaches for me.
“Hold on, Harlow, baby,” I murmur into her hair as I wrap the sheet around her middle and lift her far too light body into my arms.
Harlow cries out in pain before going slump against my chest.
Motherfucker.
If it were not for needing to get Harlow the help she needs right now, I would be going for Ezra’s blood right about now; however, feeling his blood warm my fingers will have to wait. At least for the time being, he will pay for what he has done to my woman one way or another.
I will make sure he feels every ounce of fury I hold within me for what Harlow has been through and what it’ll take to get her to where she needs to be.
Chapter Eight
Harlow
The sense of my body burning with need. A need I can’t escape the grasp of. One where I feel as if I’ll combust from the need to have something. That something I’m not sure what it is but I know it has to do with taking control of my body.
“Need to get her somewhere safe.”
“Fuckin’ gonna kill the motherfucker.”
“Neither Lavina nor Ezra made it to the meeting with Grigory.”
More words are muttered around me; however, their muffled by the sensations firing my body. A moan vibrates in my throat and I burrow further into the heat holding me.
Wait that’s not any heat, it’s someone’s arms wrapped around me, holding me securely to them.
Opening my eyes, the first thing I notice I’m not in the room Ezra tied me up in anymore. Instead I’m in a room filled with men.
Tensing I try to fight the one holding me to him. “No. I won’t let you. I don’t care what you pump into my system I won’t do it,” I yell, thrashing my head around. “I’m not going to give in and let you fuck me.” The man holding me tightens his arms around me as they tense.
“Shh, baby, no one is going to hurt you. You’re safe. We’re taking you home where I can take care of you.” My eyes begin to burn as tears well causing my already blurred vision to grow fuzzier when I recognize the voice. A voice that even drugged I could never forget. It was his voice. The one I longed to hear for the past how many months.
Ranger.
Oh God.
He found me.
I’m safe.
Slumping against Ranger, knowing I was safe for the moment, I let out a sob as I bury my face into his chest, ignoring the fire my body was feeling, even when the feel of Ranger’s body against mine makes me want to beg him to take me here and now.
“I’ve got you, Harlow. Promise no one will hurt you again,” he murmurs soothingly, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
“Our ETA is a little over two hours before we hit ground again, brother.” My body tenses again at hearing another man’s voice.
“Please don’t,” muttering, I burrow deeper into Ranger as if he could somehow absorb me into him.
“Easy, baby. No one is going to touch you. Just relax for me,” Ranger states in a soft yet firm tone letting me know he’s not lying to me. “I’m going to give you something to help you until we get you home.” I begin to tense at Ranger’s words, but he continues, “I know it’s not something you want right now, but your body needs it. I don’t know what the fuck they put in you; however, I know it’s fuckin’ hurting you. I’m only giving you enough to get you through the next few hours.”
I take in what Ranger says. He doesn’t know but he does. My body makes its needs known again and I nod my head giving him the go ahead he needs. I don’t know how long this drug was going to last in my system. All I knew was it was killing me right now. “Just don’t leave me alone, Ranger.”
“Not letting you go, Harlow. Never fuckin’ letting you go again,” Ranger rasps, I could feel his voice vibrate within his chest.
“Thank you,” I whisper, letting myself relax in his arms.
Ranger doesn’t say another word but a moment later I feel a cool sensation rush through my veins. It’s then I realize I have an IV in my arm.
Slowly I drift off into the abyss without fighting whatever Ranger gave me.
“Angel, wake up, sweetheart,” I knew that voice. It was the voice I heard every night when he tucked me into bed at night. My daddy.
Opening my eyes, I find him staring down at me looking the way he always did with his shaggy hair. “Daddy,” I say his name in question more than anything.
“Yeah, my sweet angel. I need you to wake up sweetheart and start living. You have a man now who wants you for who you are. Let him in. Let him be the man you need in your life. Stop shutting everyone out.”
“I’m not shutting everyone out, Daddy. I just don’t want to be hurt anymore. Not by anyone ever again.”
“I know, Harlow, but you gotta understand in life things happen for a reason. Those reasons always come out good in the long run. It just may take some time to get there. However, angel, I can promise you this, it will be worth it in the end.”
“How do you know, Daddy? What if you’re wrong?” I ask lifting up to a sitting position.
Daddy grins at me as he reaches his hand to touch my cheek. “I know this ‘cause I’m always looking out for you and Lynch, sweetheart. A father’s job is never done and I’m fuckin’ proud of the both of you. I couldn’t ask for better men to raise you than your uncles. Fury did a good job with you and you going to Lark to learn to become who you were meant to be. Now that course has come to an end, it’s time to be someone new. Let the past go, sweetheart, allow your man to take the fury and wield it for you. He’s a good man and will do everything he can to make sure you live happy.”
Tears well in my eyes spilling over my cheeks as my daddy stands from his seat next to me. “Time for me to go, Harlow, but remember this. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and, sweetheart, you are the strongest woman there is but lean on Ranger. He’ll get you through the bad days.”
My eyes widen as he starts walking backwards to a light that hadn’t been there a moment ago.
“Wait, Daddy! Don’t leave. Please, don’t leave me. I need you,” I cry like I did the day I watched him be buried.
“Not going anywhere, Harlow. I’m always with you, sweetheart. Always. Remember you’re my sweet angel and I’ll look after you until the end of time. Now wake up and start living your life the way you need to. Live in the light with the man who loves you and leave the dark behind. Love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too, Daddy,” I whisper softly, wiping the tears away as I close my eyes. My daddy’s words swirl around in my head as I lay back down.