Page 52

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M aggie was exhausted.

But at least she was no longer in pain. Jameson had given her something for that. He’d examined her just enough to make sure that she didn’t have to go to the hospital. He’d touched her with such care and reverence, trying to be as gentle as possible.

As though he was worried she might break.

He should worry. She could feel herself starting to shatter. She’d made it through the interview with Caleb and the police. Jack, Ian, and Jameson had stayed with her.

Jack had paced back and forth while she’d sat tucked up against Ian.

The trickiest part of the conversation was about her rescuer. Everyone was confused about who she was. Maggie gave them a description, but it wasn’t much to go on.

Maggie was glad she didn’t have many more details as she had the feeling the other woman didn’t want to be found just yet.

But after promising to work with a sketch artist to describe the Nureel and Rufus, they’d all left.

And now she was alone with her men.

Well, and Jameson, who was still frowning.

“Come on, Little girl,” Ian said quietly. “We need to get you cleaned up and into bed.”

“I want to do a better check on her ribs,” Jameson said as Ian lifted her, carrying her upstairs.

Ian lifted her carefully, carrying her upstairs to the bathroom where Jack was already stripping off, not seeming to care who saw him naked. Then he turned on the shower.

She let out a whimper as Ian set her down on the counter so he could strip her.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Ian asked, his voice sounding raw.

“I just . . . I don’t know. I guess I don’t want you to see me while I’m like this.”

He cupped her face between his hands after a beat of silence. “You listen to me. You are beautiful, do you understand me? No matter what has happened, you will always be beautiful. My sweet, gorgeous girl.”

“Ours,” Jack said from behind her. “You’re our girl. And we’re going to keep you. And nothing could ever make us not want you.”

She let out a small sob of relief.

Ian and Jack gently stripped her before Jack stepped into the shower with her, followed by Ian. Thank God it was such a large shower.

Ian held her carefully while Jack gently ran a cloth over her, washing her. There was nothing sexual in their touch. Just care.

It was just what she needed. Tears ran down her cheeks as she held her face up under the water.

When they were done, Ian climbed out and dried off. Jack carried her out of the shower and Ian got her dry. Ian placed kisses on each of her bruises as Jack carefully dressed her in one of Ian’s T-shirts and a pair of her own knickers.

Once they were ready, Jack carried her out into the bedroom, where Jameson waited. He had an IV hooked up, ready to go.

“Where did you get that?” she asked as Ian sat on the bed, his back against the headboard, her hairbrush in his hand. Jack settled her between his legs and Ian started brushing her hair. It was tangled and awful but he was patient.

“I had it delivered. I’m sorry about this, precious girl,” Jameson said. “But you’re very dehydrated and it’s worrying me.”

“It’s all right.”

Jack held her free hand and she turned her head away at the prick of the needle. A small whimper escaped her and Jameson started apologizing.

Turning back, she gave him a surprised look. “It’s all right, Jameson.”

Why was he apologizing so much?

He looked almost traumatized. All of them did. And it was then that Maggie realized that she wasn’t the only one who had suffered.

“I’m all right, guys. A bit bruised and broken, but I’ll be all right.”

Jack let out a grunt that sounded almost like pain as Ian mumbled something under his breath.

They didn’t believe her. But she’d show them.

Jack watched her sleep.

She was frowning in her sleep. The IV was hooked up to her arm while her hair was back in a braid, thanks to Ian. The bruises on her face stood out against the paleness of her skin.

He’d failed to protect her. He wouldn’t fail again.

Ian stepped out of the bathroom behind him.

“Jack, fuck. I was hoping you’d stop doing this once she got home.”

Ian had caught him several times just staring at her bed in the middle of the night.

“I was doing this long before she was taken.”

There was a beat of silence followed by Ian swearing. “Fuck.”

“I’m fine,” Jack insisted.

“You’re obsessed with her.”

“And you’re not?”

Ian let out a long sigh. “No, I am. You’re right, I am.”

“She’s ours. Our girl.” Jack ran his fingers lightly over her arm. So delicate.

“Come on, get into bed with us. She needs us both tonight.”

“I should stay up. Keep watch.”

“No one is going to get to her again, Jack.”

No. Because he’d be watching. He’d keep her safe.

“Just eat a few bites, Little girl,” Ian coaxed.

She just shook her head at him, smiling slightly. “I’m all right, thanks.”

Frustration bit at Ian. But it all came from a place of worry. It felt like she was fading away from them.

Two days had passed since they’d gotten her back, and the most she’d talked to them had been that first night. Since then, she’d started drawing away from them.

He could feel it. But it felt like there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t force her to eat, to talk, to fucking live. She’d just been fucking kidnapped.

Ian would never do anything that might remind her of her kidnappers.

So all he could do was gently coax her. Try to convince her to let them care for her.

She’d asked about her uncle once, but they’d managed to distract her. He guessed she knew something was wrong and that she also knew she wasn’t strong enough to cope with it. She spent most of her time daydreaming.

Even Ziggy didn’t garner much interest.

She was slipping away from him and it felt like there was nothing he could do.

Turning, he glanced over at Jack, who was sitting on the corner. Just watching. Waiting for something. Jack hadn’t really left her side since she had been returned to them. He was completely obsessed and it wasn’t healthy.

“If she doesn’t want to eat, then she doesn’t have to eat,” Jack told him.

Fucking hell.

Jack was in uber-protective mode. But what he didn’t realize was that he needed to protect Maggie from herself.

“She needs to eat, Jack.” Jameson had removed the IV, but he’d kept the needle in her hand and had been threatening to hook it back up if she didn’t start eating and drinking properly.

“She can do what she likes,” Jack said.

“I’m fine, Ian,” Maggie said. “Stop worrying so much. I’m just . . . really tired. I think I’ll go to sleep.”

He didn’t point out that it was ten in the morning and she’d only just woken up.

Instead, he sat there and fucking prayed that they were all going to get through this.