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Extending my hand, “Yes, can you help me?” She comes over and damn near pulls my arm out of its socket trying to haul me up into the box. Together we manage to lug my hulking form into the truck bed, and I crawl over to the toolbox in the back, retrieving a sleeping bag.

“Nox, why are we here?” she huffs.

“Come…sit.” I pat the space beside me and pout again.

“That won’t work on me a second time.” She narrows her eyes, waiting for me to answer her.

“I just want to watch the sunrise with you,” I admit.

Her face softens and flushes as she sinks down next to me. “Okay, we can watch the sunrise.” she concedes, curling into me.

“I think I want to go back to work,” Mal says from the kitchen. It’s been a few days since I injured my feet, and things have been good, aside from her nightmares. “Do you think they’d hire me back?” She makes her way over to me, handing me a steaming mug of coffee and a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage.

She plunks her cute little ass down next to me, sipping a coffee of her own. “I’ll arrest them if they don’t take you back.” I smile around my fork as she laughs.

“You can’t do that!”

“Watch me.” I stare into her eyes, proving my devotion.

“Stop it,” she breathes.

“Why?” This is what I love, watching her melt for me. Guaranteed her pussy is dripping and clenching around nothing, begging to be filled.

“You know why.” She breaks our eye contact and it thrills me. I’m desperate for that dominant side of her to pop out again. Every small touch, gentle kiss, and lingering eye contact is driving her wild for me.

Clearing my throat, I say, “You don’t think it’s too soon to go back?”

“Maybe, but I need something to do.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you may become something of a spectacle. I kept the fact you were kidnapped from everyone except my uncle, but Carla found out, which means Rita probably knows.” Her eyes drop as she worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “I can have Greyson swing by the hotel and talk to Rita if you’d like? Maybe find out if she told anyone else? I don’t want you to become a show pony, that’s all. It’s not that I don’t want you working.”

“No, I get it. Thank you. Maybe I can call Rita myself.” She looks up at me then back down to her coffee. I know what she wants to ask me, but is too ashamed to since they aren’t talking. “Umm…”

“No, Victoria hasn’t gone back to work yet. She has no reason to since I’m not charging her rent.”

“Oh… Is she doing okay?”

“I’m honestly not sure. Grey is worried about her.” Her entire being deflates against the corner of thecouch as that far away look takes hold.She’s remembering it.

Placing my hand on her knee, she jumps. “It’s me,” I whisper, waiting until recognition takes hold.

Smiling pitifully after she floats back to me, I ask, “Have you two talked since the hospital?” Mallory shakes her head. “Why don’t you give her a call? I can drop you off and swing into the station for a bit. I should make an appearance.” She shakes her head again, digging her teeth into her bottom lip, using the physical pain to distract her from the emotional anguish.

“Baby.” I thumb her lip from between her teeth. “She needs you.”

“She ignored me!” she snaps.

“Oh, I didn’t?—”

“Of course you don’t know. I didn’t tell you. She probably fucking hates me. I do. If I had killed him when he handed me that knife, he wouldn’t have been able to take her. Did he hurt her too, Nox?” she cries.

He handed her a knife? When? I’ll be circling back to that later, although there will never be a right time to broach any subject involving her abduction.

My mouth is a grim line as I choose not to answer her question. She breaks apart anyway, sobbing and throwing herself against me.

No answer is still an answer, dumbass,I chastise myself.

Coffee spills as I catch her in my arms. Stretching to place the plate and mug on the side table without disrupting her. I soothe her the best I can, rubbing her back, playing with her hair, and trying to be whatever the fuck she needs in this moment. “I have to tell yousomething. It may not make you feel better, but you need to know. Also…it doesn’t paint me in the best light, so try not to get too mad at me.”