Page 66 of A Raven Revived

She nodded nervously.

“I know it’s hard to believe that. I was terrified of Ash once, too. But he really is kind and will see that you’re taken care of.”

“Michael was nice to me. I like him.”

Daisy smiled. “They’re all nice. I promise.”

“Do you think Ash is going to send me back to my brother?”

“I don’t know, but since your brother is the one who left you at that awful place, I doubt it. You’re under the protection of the men here now. Not just Ash, but Michael, Patrick, and Giles. They will protect you, even from your own brother if necessary.”

“I don’t need protecting from my brother. He’s a good man. He didn’t send me there as a punishment. He really was trying to keep me safe.”

“Well, I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I do know you’re safe here.”

“I’m not sure I really understand what this place is. Gwen has been very kind, but no one has told me what I’m supposed to do.”

Daisy squeezed her hand again. “Well, I’ve spent the last three years of my life here, so I can tell you all about it. First of all, it’s nothing like Auburn Ridge. There is no quiet time. No one will tell you when you can speak or how you should act. There are rules, of course, but they’re for your safety, not to break your spirit and force your obedience.”

Samantha nodded.

“There are no cold baths or jackets or drugs. Everyone here will welcome you with kindness, and even if I’m not living here, I’ll be close, and I’ll try to help you adjust.”

“But what is the routine? What is expected of me?”

“For now, you just need to settle in and get comfortable. Get to know the other ladies and Ash. Eventually, you’ll take on a daily chore and you’ll learn how to dance with the others.”

Samantha’s throat worked with a swallow. “When you say dance, you mean for men?”

Daisy shrugged. “Sort of. It’s not the way it sounds, though. The men are never allowed to touch you, and in many ways, it’s liberating. You’ll bond with the others and there’s a sense of camaraderie.”

Daisy was going to have to give that up now that she was marrying Fitz. It was something she was willing to sacrifice to be with him, but she’d miss it, all the same.

“You’ll learn to love it here, Samantha. I promise.”

ChapterTwenty

Fitz sat in Ash’s office, in the familiar seat across the desk from him.

“So how is she really doing?” he asked.

It took Fitz a long time to decide how to respond. Eventually, he decided to just be honest. This was Ash, after all. He deserved that much. “She’s been through hell, both physically and emotionally.” He blew out a long breath and scrubbed his hands over his face, still seeing the bruises. They weren’t all self-inflicted. There was one on her bottom in the shape of someone’s hand. “I thought I’d treat her to a nice hot bath this morning, and when she laid eyes on the tub,”—he cursed under his breath—“the fear that came over her… I’ve never seen anything like it.” He blew out another breath, trying desperately to maintain his composure.

Ash’s eyes narrowed, but he simply nodded.

“I’m not like you and the others. I’m not generally a violent man.”

Ash chuckled. “I like to think I’m not generally a violent man, either.”

“You know what I mean. What happened with Litchfield isn’t the type of thing I’ve ever been involved with, but you three were far too relaxed for it to have been your first time.”

Ash gave a noncommittal shrug.

“But this morning, Daisy scuttled away from me because she was so frightened. She thought that I might hurt her. Me!” He pointed at his own chest. “I would never, ever do anything to hurt her.” He took a moment to breathe. “In that moment, I could have killed Litchfield with my bare hands.”

Ash nodded, considering his next words. “If he wasn’t… who he is,”—his gaze locked with Fitz’s—“he’d have been dead before we left his home.”

This was a different sort of world that Fitz was stepping into. These men would kill to protect or avenge those in their care, without even batting an eye. It was like a brotherhood, and he wanted, more than ever, to be a real part of it.

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