Chapter 274
“You did good back there,” Cara said, glancing over at me. “Real good. Most people would have frozen up.”
“Kiara taught me well” I said.
“Kiara has always been good at that,” she said making us smile.
She was right, Kiara was good.
We drove for about fifteen minutes before pulling up to a small house on the outskirts of town. It was surrounded by trees and looked
peaceful and normal.
The house was cozy and warm, with comfortable furniture and soft lighting. Nothing like what I’d expected from someone who could fight the way Kiara had.
Sarah settled the kids on the couch. They were both exhausted and confused, but at least they seemed to feel safe here.
“I’ll make some tea,” Leah said, heading to the kitchen.
Kiara brought out a first aid kit and started tending to our injuries, she cleaned and bandaged the cut on Sarah’s arm, which was deeper than I’d realized.
“You might need stitches for this,” Kiara said, examining it.
“It’s fine,” Sarah said. “Just wrap it tight.”
Kiara didn’t look happy about it but did as Sarah asked.
Then she turned to me. “Let me see your neck.”
I tilted my head back and she examined the bruises forming there, I could see concern in her eyes.
“He got you good,” she said gently. “Does it hurt to breathe?”
“A little,” I admitted. “But I don’t think anything’s crushed.”
“Still,” she said. “You should see a doctor, just to be safe.”
I nodded, though I was already planning to see Mara as soon as possible. Not just for my throat, but to make sure the baby was okay after everything that had happened.
Kiara also checked my ribs, pressing gently until I winced.
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“Definitely bruised,” she said. ‘But probably not broken. You need to rest and ice them.”
“I will,” I said.
She moved to check my shoulder next, her fingers probing the bruised area. I tried not to wince but couldn’t help it.
“Nothing broken here either,” she said. “You got lucky.”
“Doesn’t feel lucky,” I said, echoing what I’d thought earlier.
“Trust me,” she said, her eyes serious. “It could have been much worse. If we’d gotten there even a few minutes later…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, she didn’t need to.
My phone buzzed and I grabbed it instantly.
It was Tristan.
“Thank god you’re safe. We’re still dealing with the situation here but it’s almost over. Stay with Leah and her girls. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll come get you as soon as I can. I love you. Both of you.”
Both of you.
He meant me and the baby.
Tears sprang to my eyes and I had to blink them away before anyone noticed.
Another text came through, this one from Orion to Sarah’s phone.
“Everyone’s okay. We won. The threat is neutralized. Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you. I love you.”
Sarah let out a sob of relief and I felt my own tears start to fall.
They were okay. They were alive. They were coming back.
“They’re okay,” I said to the room, my voice breaking. “They’re all okay.”
Kiara smiled. “See? I told you they’d be fine.”
Lily had fallen asleep on the couch, curled up with Liam. Sarah and I just sat there, watching them sleep, waiting for our men to
come home.
I looked around at the room, Kiara, Leah, Cara, Maya, and the other lady. I was grateful they’d come to save us.
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Leah was here even though she was supposed to be with her husband.
They all had important things to do but they came for us. Tears gathered in my eyes, but I held it back.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” I said. “All of you. You saved our lives tonight.”
“You don’t need to thank us,” Kiara said. “That’s what we do. We look out for each other.”
“Still,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Come on Ath, stop that. You know we’ll always be here whenever you need us.”
Leah said coming out from the kitchen, with cups of tea in her hands.
