Page 145 of These White Lies

Her face is pale, streaked with blood where her lip’s split. Her cheek is swelling, with one bruise forming high along the bone. The zip ties have rubbed her wrists raw, leaving angry red stains against her skin,but her fingers…

My breathing becomes fast and shallow as I push down my rage and concentrate on her. I pull a blade from my boot and slice through the plastic ties.

“Brady…” she slurs. Her head falls forward, and her body sags.

I catch her before she slips from the chair. She’s cold, trembling, and feels so slight in my arms. Her fingers twitch against my chest.

“Do you need help?” Finn asks, and I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak yet.

I lift her carefully. She gasps, a small cry escaping with the movement.

“Easy. I’ve got you, baby.” I cradle her closer, pain splintering through me. I fold her injured hand over her stomach so that I don’t bump it. “I’ve got you.”

I carry her up the stairs, through the halls, out into the night.

Sera hops out of the SUV, rushing to open the back door for me, her worried gaze examining Elizabeth.

“Is she…”

“She’ll be okay.”

I can hear Anna Lindquist trying to bargain with Vincent and Rhodes at the van. “Please don’t kill me!” Her words spill out in a rush.

“We’re not the ones you have to worry about,” Rhodes says flatly. “If your people think you talked… maybe you’ll get lucky and end up in witness protection.”

Vincent opens the van door and manhandles her into the back next to Seth.

“She’ll cooperate with the police,” Finn says dispassionately, “because if she lands in general population, she’s done for. Isn’t that right, Anna?”

“I’ll call the Blooms,” Vincent adds. “Set up something to get the necklace to the appropriate authorities.”

I don’t care.

They can handle it.

All I care about is the woman in my arms. Climbing into the back of the SUV, I settle her on my lap, cradling her to my chest.

“I’m here,” I murmur, gently pushing the sweaty hair out of her face.

Her mouth is moving, but I can’t make out the words. I lean in closer as the engine roars to life, and Sera floors it.

That’s when I hear what she’s been saying.

“I love you…”

A broken whisper on loop.

“I love you… I love you… I love you.”

“I love you, too, Firefly” I say against her skin, kissing her forehead. “God, I fucking love you so much.”

Elite’s headquartersisn’t technically a home—but it’s fortified, controlled, and ours. After what she’s just been through, I don’t want Elizabeth anywhere near fluorescent lights and questions from people who don’t understand what has happened.

Sera’s already in contact with our private medical team before we pull up. Still nestled in my arms, wrapped in a blanket someone shoved at me, I carry Elizabeth inside.

The medics meet us in the common room upstairs.

“You can put her on the couch,” one says.