Page 25 of Unlocked

I wave Kelvin over to get his attention. “What’s up?” he asks, dropping down next to us again. “Do you need something for Shelby?”

“Her out of this vest, like yesterday?” Kelvin gives me a sympathetic look. “Shelby is anxious with everyone standing around. Can you get those assholes loaded up and out of here?”

He nods. “Yeah, they have all regained consciousness. I’ll see if I can speed things up.” Kelvin stands, strolling over to Det.Atwood. They speak briefly. Atwood glances in our direction. He nods then sends the uniformed officers over with the rest of them to gather up the men and drag them away. Kelvin walks over to us. “I’ll be right back, brother. Just let us get these guys secured.”

“NO!” Shelby shouts, pushing against my chest. “You all need to l-leave, be-before it’s too late!”

“Go on,” I tell Kelvin, pulling Shelby closer despite her struggles. I turn my attention to her. “I’m not going anywhere without you, sweet girl, so stop fighting me. Please?” She sags against me, sobbing loudly. She is eviscerating me. I close my eyes and hold her because there is nothing else I can do for her.

Chapter 15

Shelby

Ican’t believe this is happening. I’m sitting in Bo’s lap waiting to be blown to bits, and he refuses to leave me. He keeps talking about me being his. If I weren’t freaking out over the fact that I’m about to die any moment, I might be overjoyed. I hadn’t want to believe that Bo is really interested in me.He wouldn’t be willing to die if he didn’t care about me, right?I had been afraid of having my heartbroken, again, but after all that’s happened in the last few days, I’ve come to see I haven’t been living at all. I’ve allowed fear to keep me from interacting with people, from living my life. What is life if you spend all your time alone? No one to talk to, to enjoy your life with?

I can’t keep from sobbing over how my life has been up to this point. For so many years, I had lived with the abuse of my father. I had no choice but to stay until I got old enough to get away. Since then, I’ve had a choice. Yet I once again allowed a man to take my joy and my freedom from me. No, Lance didn’t beat me, but he destroyed any self-confidence I’d managed to build in the two years I’d been away from my father with his actions. However I’m the one who allowed his actions to continue to dictate my life in the years since. I’ve hid myself away in myapartment, believing that I’m not worthy of love or happiness because of my physical appearance.

I’m going to die never having lived. I’ve never been truly kissed passionately. I’ve never experienced intimacy with a man. I’ll never have children or grow old. I don’t even have many happy memories to flash before my eyes in my last moments. Most of the ones I do have, have occurred in the last two weeks I’ve been with Bo, Marley, and their family. I don’t want to die this way, without knowing what it will feel like for Bo’s lips to be on mine.

Gathering all my courage, I lift my head to look up at him. “My sweet girl,” he says softly, as he brushes my tangled hair out of my face. I know I must look a terrible fright, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He is looking at me with the same interest I’ve seen in his eyes before. I lick my swollen, dry lips nervously as my gaze drops down to Bo’s. I lean toward him, but I’m uncertain. I glance up to see his reaction to my movements. He stares at me a beat, then his lips are on mine. Soft and sweet, he moves his lips over mine. He tilts my head to one side as his tongue swipes against my lips. I part them, letting him in. His tongue brushes against mine. I try to mimic the movement. He explores my mouth as our tongues dance. Despite the pain and trauma I’ve been through over the last four days, butterflies erupt in my stomach. Sensations I never knew were possible wash over me, nearly drowning me.

A throat clears loudly causing me to jerk back. Bo’s eyes are half closed as he gazes down at me. He ghosts his lips over mine briefly before he shifts our position to see who has interrupted us.

“I came to get that off her, but if you’re busy, I can come back later.” Dalton smirks at Bo who gives him a hand gesture. Dalton chuckles as he steps closer to us.

“I think we can make time for you but hurry up.” Bo turns back to look at me. “I’ve not nearly had enough.” He smiles down at me, and I can feel my face flushing even though I’m bruised and swollen.

Dalton kneels next to me. “Hey, Shelby. Let me take a look.” He glances up at me. “I’m sorry, but I have to lift up your top.” I nod, because at this point, I don’t care who sees my naked flesh as long as I live to see the sun rise tomorrow. “Yes!” he exclaims, causing me to jump. “Forgive me”—he gives me an apologetic look—“I’m just pleased they made them both the same. I’ll have this off in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

Minutes later, Bo and Dalton pull the device from my torso. Dalton turns away as Bo slips the horrible shirt back over my head. I feel lightheaded from relief. It nearly overwhelms over me. Before I have time to process what’s happening, Bo scoops me up in his arms to stride out from under the boardwalk. I try to protest, but he shushes me.

We are joined by Rosco who is grinning from ear to ear at us as we approach. I can’t see well, with only one eye, but it seems the beach is almost empty. I want to argue that Bo should put me down before he gives himself a hernia, but he has such a determined look on his face I’m afraid to speak. He carries me to a waiting ambulance. A couple of paramedics pull out a stretcher where Bo gently lays me down but never leaves my side. He takes my left hand after he places me on the stretcher, holding on tightly. His other hand is stroking my hair as if he needs to be touching me as much as I need him to. I’ve never felt safer than when he is with me.

The medics take my vital signs, checking me over from head to toe. They shine a light in my eyes, well the one they can get open, and move my joints, checking for fractures and other injuries. Bo insists they check my blood sugar. It is on the lower side of normal range, but nothing to worry about according tothe paramedic. I wince several times during their exam, but I haven’t forgotten the valuable lesson I learned years ago. Keep silent, if at all possible, don’t show your pain. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the medic says when he is trying to look into my swollen eye. “This is going to hurt, but I need to see what we are dealing with.” I give a single nod and brace for the pain. Bo’s hand tightens on mine in silent support.

“How is she?” Bo’s question startles me. He’s been quiet by my side since he placed me on the stretcher. The medic looks up at him and then me.

“Who are you?” the medic asks, his tone cautious. “We aren’t supposed to disclose patient information without permission. HIPAA, you know?”

“I’m her husband.” My breath catches in my chest. The medic looks at me. My head again gives a single nod.

“I’m not finding any serious injuries,” the man says, “but she should be seen in the ER. A head CT can rule out any traumatic brain injuries, although I’m not finding any physical signs of one.” Bo’s posture relaxes, and he lets out a heavy breath.

“So she’ll be going to the hospital?” Bo asks, reaching into his back pocket, pulling out a phone.

“No!” I exclaim as dread feels me once more. “Please, I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Bo kneels down next to me.

“Sweet girl, you’ve been through a lot,” Bo speaks softly like I’m a frightened child. “We need to make sure you don’t have any serious injuries.” He brushes the hair from my forehead.

“Please, Bo, I’m fine,” I plead. “I’m not hurt. I’ve had much worse in the past and not gone to the hospital. I’ll be healed in a few days.” The medic glances back and forth between us as we argue. His face a mask of concern. Bo looks angry at my words. He leans closer to me, though I don’t know how when he’s practically on top of me already.

“What do you mean you’ve had worse before?” he practically growls at me. The medic moves to get between us. Bo stands, pushing the medic back, but Rosco is there, quickly defusing the situation before it can escalate farther.

“Calm the fuck down, Bo,” Rosco demands as he turns toward the medic. “Bo would never hurt, Shelby. I know what you are thinking, but Bo isn’t the one who did this to her. He got her away from the ones who did, and now they are in police custody.” Rosco jerks his head in the direction of several police vehicles where I see the men who took me are being loaded into the backseat of the cars.

Bo is back at my side. “Shelby, my sweet girl, we will talk about you being injured worse in the past later, but right now, I need you to let them take you to the hospital so we can be sure you’re okay.” I shiver as I think about being in a hospital. The smell of antiseptic always makes me nauseated. It brings back way too many memories that I don’t want. I see them enough in my nightmares.

“Please, Bo,” I beg, tears running down my face. “Take me home.” I stare at him with my one good eye. I can see him warring with what he wants and needs me to do and his desire to do as I’ve asked. At long last he reaches a decision. Never breaking eye contact with me, he reaches in his pocket to pull out a set of keys and tosses them away.

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