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Sammy nodded. “I’m an open book, pet.”

I inched closer to him, needing his strength to get through thisnext little bit because if I knew Sammy at all, he wasn’t going to react wellto what I was about to tell him.

His hand that was resting on top of mine, squeezed.

Blowing out another slow breath, I continued. “The guys knewAaron. They were in his crew. They were the ones who had hit on me that he didnothing about. They were egging him on, saying shit and Aaron being the man hewas, let his temper get in the way. I tried stopping him. I tried preventing itfrom going further but they were bigger than him and the one had him on theground and the second guy…he…attacked me.”

“Fuck,” Sammy growled.

“I never experienced pain like that before. The guys took turns,using every inch of me. They beat me and…” Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Theyknew I was pregnant because Aaron had been gloating about it. There was a thirdguy who used me last, but I didn’t get a good look at him. They took turnskicking me in the stomach. I don’t remember much after that. But I watched Aarondie. He saw the whole thing. He was on the ground, dying, while the men hethought he knew, raped and beat his wife, and killed his unborn baby.”

***

(Sammy)

Ihad seen shit. I had seen men treat women like they were nothing but mereobjects but never once in my life, did I see or hear something as horrible aswhat Amber was telling me.

Something inside of me snapped. I pulled away from her and slidout from under the covers. Leaving the safety of her warmth, I went to my cutand grabbed my pack of smokes. Sticking one in my mouth, I pulled on my jeans.

“Sam.”

“I need a smoke.” That much was obvious. Going to the window, Ipushed it open and lit up the much-needed therapy between my lips. After a deepinhale, I blew the smoke out the window. Staring outside, I wasn’t even surewhat I was looking for. Something I could hit. Someone I could beat. Someone Icould kill.

A warm body suddenly wrapped around me.

Without even looking down at Amber, I slid my arm around hershoulders, holding her tight. I didn’t know what to say after what she told me.I had so many questions, but I knew that my words would come out rough.Accusatory. Not at her. It wasn’t her fault. But the shit I wanted to say abouther late husband would be far from nice.

“What happened after that?” I heard myself ask.

“Another SUV showed up. I thought it was the same guys and thatthey wanted to finish me off or take me somewhere, but it wasn’t. I vaguelyremember crawling to Aaron. He…he said something to me before he died.” Amber releasedme and moved in front of me. She was wearing my hoodie and if it were any othertime, I would have slid my hands up her bare legs until I reached what laidbeneath it. I would check to see what else she was wearing. But this was notthe right time. “He…he told me he was sorry and then I watched the life leavehim.” Her jaw clenched but much to my surprise, no other emotion displayed onher face.

“You were pissed,” I ground out. “Weren’t you?”

“Yes.” Her eyes shot to mine, hard and determined. “I was pissedbecause he never gave me a chance to divorce him. I was pissed that he broughton the attack. He knew those men wanted me, but he laughed it off and said theywere only playing. But I’m not stupid and it wasn’t me being paranoid. It was afeeling. And that feeling was right. I was pissed because Aaron apologized. Hewasn’t supposed to apologize. He was supposed to die not saying anything at allso I could stay mad at him, but instead he made me feel guilty. Guilty, Sammy.I felt guilty. Even after all the shit he had done to me. I still feel guiltyfor wanting to leave him.” She hugged her arms around herself. “I hate him.”

“Come with me.” I walked past her and left her bedroom. Making myway out to her balcony, I didn’t wait for her to follow because I knew shewould. There was something she needed. I was sure alcohol would make her feelbetter even if it was just for a little bit, but she obviously couldn’t have adrink for the next several months. So, we would have to improvise.

“Sammy, what are you doing?” she asked, following me out onto thebalcony.

“Who saved you?” I asked instead, walking to the patio set andsitting. I pulled her into my arms and lowered her to my lap.

“There were three guys in that SUV. I think there were threeanyway. I can’t remember much but I do remember seeing one of them. He lookedlike Spencer Reid fromCriminal Minds. Have you seen that show? Iremember telling him that before I passed out. The next thing I knew, I woke upin a hospital, surrounded by police and hospital staff. It was awful but I wasalive.”

As she spoke her truths, I couldn’t help but focus on one specificthing she said. “The guy who looked like Spencer from that show…”

She frowned. “Yeah? What about him?”

“Did you happen to get his name?”

“No.” Her frown deepened. “I wish I could see them again, so I canthank them.”

I didn’t know this guy she was talking about who was almost like atwin to that actor, but I remembered Piper mentioning something briefly aboutit.

“What happened with Aaron’s body?” I asked Amber gently, runningmy hand up and down her arm while I smoked the fuck out of that cigarette. Iwas careful not to let the smoke hit her directly and finished it fast beforebutting it out in the ashtray Amber had purchased for me.

“Tiny told me that they called him up and he came to collectAaron, but with everything that’s happened, I don’t know what to believe. Ihaven’t really thought about it until now. Especially since Will seems to betrying to get something from me, even though I don’t know what exactly hewants.”

“He wants to fuck you, Amber. He probably wants more than thattoo, but he definitely wants sex, your body, your fucking soul.” And it pissedme off. No, it left me furious and filled with rage. It was a deep-seated angerI had never felt before.