Page 51 of Healing Conviction

Nora clasped Shanna’s bony shoulders and reassured her until the scared woman calmed down again. “Listen to me Shanna. Listen, listen, listen. We’re dropping you off down the street. What you do from there is up to you, got it? You have my number, but I’m not leaving you without giving you access to possible resources, okay?”

Shanna’s bottom lip quivered and pure, unadulterated fear shone in her glassy eyes. Anger flooded through him while guilt stabbed icy needles into his chest. By using the Rahab Foundation, MF7 could’ve caused the same fear in women, just like Shanna.

How the fuck can we fix this shit?

He parked down the street in a superstore parking lot and turned to untie the rope around Shanna’s wrists.

“Y-y’all won’t force me to go?” Shanna asked.

Nora shook her head while Draco unraveled the rope. Shanna rubbed her wrists, even though he hadn’t made the cuffs tight enough to cause any pain.

“Fine,” Shanna continued. “I-I’ll think about it. I got your number and I know where this place is. If I need it, I’ll use it.”

A huge exhale left Nora’s small body. “Good. Thank you. I know that’s a hard decision, but I also know you’re making the right one. Call me literally any time.” She turned toward the supermarket and flashed a grin back at him. “My associate here seems to be able to read my mind. Let’s go inside here. We’ll buy you some groceries, some clothes if they’ve got them, and a bag. Then you can be on your way and go wherever you need to go. Sound good?”

Shanna swallowed and nodded once more. “Th-thank you. I, um, I don’t have anything to give you, though.”

“Don’t worry about it. No need to thank me. Just love yourself, alright? That’s what I want from you.”

The woman’s voice was small, but had a hopeful tone as she nodded and spoke. “I’ll um, I’ll do my best.”

Nora’s genuine, wide smile made his chest squeeze as she spoke. “That’s all we can ever do, my friend.”

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Nora could tell by his easing posture when they’d left the small town that they’d stayed too long for his liking. They’d gotten their own essentials at the department store and sent Shanna on her way. The parting was brief, and Nora couldn’t help but hope that the girl would take her advice and get some help. That was all that they could do for her. Nora had learned at an early age you can’t force people to help themselves.

After they’d left Shanna, they’d stopped by a gas station with a truckers’ bathroom. Both of them had taken showers and Drake had kindly waited for her on a bench outside the restroom, which she waltzed out of in her new cheap department store dress. She hadn’t known which outfit would be best for questioning Jasmine, but cheerful Southern belle worked a good percentage of the time, so she’d rolled with it again.

“I feel like a brand-new woman,” she exclaimed as soon as she’d twirled out of the bathroom. Drake had his phone to his ear and a sour expression on his face, no doubt at her signature Southern girl sundress, purple heels, and cardigan. “Don’t give me that look, sir. I’m not dressing foryou. I’m dressing for the interview with Jasmine. Are we driving there first or staying somewhere around here?”

“Let’s talk about it in the truck. I’m on the phone with Snake now, so let’s go,” his low grumble made the butterflies dance in her belly. She crossed her arms, just in case her nipples decided to come out too, and followed behind Drake into the truck.

“Hold on, Snake.” Drake tucked his phone in his pocket and opened her door. Without a word, he picked her up and deposited her into the truck. He didn’t even seem to notice the epic scowl she was giving him after he’d manhandled heryet again.

Okay, so he probably already knows I sorta, kinda like it. But who the eff cares? Feminism is what I say it is, damnit.

“Hi, Nora.” Snake’s voice came out over the Bluetooth speaker, interrupting her inner tirade against the patriarchy.

“Superman! What’s going on, my friend.” Draco stiffened beside her.

“Draco was filling me in on what Shanna said. Poor woman, especially after her own family turned her away like that.”

“Yeah,” Nora replied with a grimace, her bubbly, fresh mood quickly deflating with the topic. “I-I think they sold her. That’s my initial theory, anyway.”

“Really?” Snake asked. The sound of typing on a keyboard began on the other end as Drake turned on the truck and began to drive. The veins underneath his dragon ouroboros tattoo moved while he turned the wheel, and she crossed her legs because apparently, her body was majorly sex deprived and couldn’t keep it together. Being alone with him for the first time since she’d had him in her mouth probably wasn’t helping, either.

“There’s a safe rest stop near Jasmine’s house. I looked it up while you were showering. I’m afraid to stay at a hotel since we don’t know who was in that SUV, and this way, we’ll have a quick getaway if we have to.”

“Makes sense. It’s too bad though.” She huffed, more than a little disappointed they wouldn’t be able to explore what they’d started on the beach in a bed. Her cheeks began to heat as her mind started to wander, and she tried to cover the one on Drake’s side with her hand.

She glanced at him, wondering if he’d noticed the hot blush, only to see the same desire she felt reflected in his eyes. Unbidden, her tongue darted out to lick her lips, and a rumble began in his chest.

Oh my goddesses, get a grip lady bits. Concentrate. This is important. Get this convo out and then we can do whatever it is the both of us are obviously thinking.

She imagined physically pushing away her lust to continue the conversation. Thankfully, Snake paused in whatever he was typing and asked another question.

“Why are you thinking her family sold her, Nora?”