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“Also, Liam thinks that psychologically messing with him, making him think he’s safe when he isn’t, will soften him up a little and make him more likely to talk when the time comes.”
I nod my head slowly, almost on auto-pilot, as I try to take in what Miles is telling me. Jake leans in close to my ear, his breath fluttering across my cheek as he says, “But don’t worry, Baby, we will make sure his interrogation hurts. He’ll fucking regret the day he ever met you when we’re done with him.”
A chill shivers down my spine, and I’m not sure if it’s from the violence in his tone or his proximity and the way he always makes me feel. His possessive protectiveness is exactly what I need right now.
My breath catches in my throat, my voice cracking as I admit something that has caused me a lot of shame over the years. “Ican’t wait for him to die. I know that’s probably an awful thing to say, but I don’t think I’ll ever be free while he lives.”
I’ve never wanted another human being dead before, and I know it probably makes me a terrible person to say it now, but it’s true. I don’t think I’ll ever feel free, not constantly looking over my shoulder all the time, unless he’s gone.
My guys make me feel safer than I ever have before, but it’s still like there’s a giant ticking clock hanging over our heads, and I’m just waiting until he finds me and takes me away from the great life I have. It’s selfish to want him dead, but I can’t help it.
Miles rests his hand on my cheek again, his other continuing to grip my hand tight, and I let out a breath as I lean into his touch. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting him dead. Me and Jacob feel exactly the same way, and as soon as we can do that for you, we will.”
My eyes widen in shock, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “I thought Bree said we had to keep him alive.”
Miles’ smile turns dangerous, and I’m drawn to him. “Only until we have everything we need from him, and then we can end him, if she doesn’t do it herself first.”
I nod, my smile growing as I dare to hope for a time when I won’t be haunted by him. “And The Count?”
Jake growls beside me, his hold on me tightening. “We don’t have him…yet.”
Miles’ expression tightens, his brows pulling together. “We need Gregg to give him up, and then we can find him. Kellan has some ideas about where we might find him, but it’s a work in progress. As far as we can tell, he doesn’t know where you are, or that Gregg had found you.
“We believe Gregg was going to call him when he’d finished interrogating you, to find out what you knew and who you told about him, but we got there before he could do any of that.Kellan says there was nothing in his devices to suggest he let The Count know what he was doing.”
“Why?” I ask, struggling to understand why he wouldn’t just tell him he’d captured me.
Jake lets out a sigh that tickles my ear. “We think he knew someone was looking into him, though Kellan’s too good for him to know it was him. He probably knew you’d finally told someone about him, and we think he wanted to question you first to find out if you’d told anyone about The Count.
“It was most likely his way of covering his arse. He wanted to find out all the information before he told The Count, and that worked in our favour. I’m sure The Count wouldn’t have been too pleased to learn that the girl Gregg let go is the one who identified him, and might be responsible for his downfall.”
“We will get him though,” Miles adds on quickly, stroking his thumb over my bottom lip, pulling it from between my teeth. “No matter how long it takes, we won’t stop until we’ve destroyed him, too.”
I give him a small smile, even though it doesn’t quite reach my exhausted eyes. “I know. I trust the two of you will keep me safe.”
Miles’ face falls and Jake’s breath catches in his throat, sounding like a harsh huff. Miles sounds totally devastated as he says, “I’m sorry we didn’t get to you sooner. We promised to take care of you, and we failed.”
“I was supposed to be looking after you, and he took you from right under my nose. I’m so sorry, Baby. It never should have happened, and I hate myself so much, knowing what you went through was all my fault.” Jake lets out a small whimper, his voice breaking as the emotions hit him.
I don’t hesitate, I scramble to turn around, Miles dropping his hand from my cheek as I do. I turn until I’m facing Jake, and it’s only then that I see how truly devastated he looks.
There are dark circles under his eyes, and he looks absolutely exhausted, his chocolate eyes appearing dull and lifeless as he stares down at the bed.
I cup my hand under his cheek, noting the extra stubble that scratches against me as I lift his head, forcing him to meet my gaze. I let him see how serious I am, as I say, “It was not your fault. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Gregg took me. Gregg hurt me. He’s the only person to blame in this situation, not you. You shouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt, because as far as I’m concerned, you are not at fault.”
I then turn to look at Miles, shuffling until I can see them both.
“You have both made me feel safer than ever before, and that hasn’t changed. The whole time I was tied to that chair, I never once doubted that you’d find me. I knew you’d save me, and that you wouldn’t stop until you did.
“You both gave me the hope I needed to stay strong and survive the whole ordeal, and without you, I’m not sure I would have left that house alive. Don’t ever think you let me down, or that you didn’t protect me, because you did.”
Jake lets out a shuddered breath that turns into a sigh, his voice barely audible as he says, “You don’t hate me?”
I shake my head rapidly as I smile at him, knowing now is the perfect time. “I could never hate you, Jake. I love you.”
He blinks rapidly as his mouth falls open, looking like he’s not sure he can believe what he actually heard. “You…love…me?”
I let out a short laugh as I nod at him. “Of course, I love you. You’re kind of hard not to love.”