Page 122 of Dark Endures

Jacko pulls out of the parking garage but doesn’t floor it. “Because on Sunday, we rescued thirty kids and five adult women who were delivered to The Nest.”

“That was you. I got a notification, but no details.” Knight leans forward.

“That was us. Maddox was with us all day. There wasn’t a moment he was alone that evening. What we do know is Canyon dropped Mindy off at the apartment she shares with the pretty boy, and Dahlia Steele visited her until a little after ten.”

The time stamps. “He was lying.”

“Who?” Jacko asks.

“The pretty boy. He said he kissed Dahlia for twenty-five minutes. But she left a couple of minutes after ten. There wasn’t time. He lied.” I turn around and face Knight. “Did he rape her?”

“You know I can’t give you details like that.”

“Tell me!” Before I go out of my mind. “I need to know what I’m walking into. Did he rape her?”

Knight stays silent.

“You should know that Maddox is in love with Mindy.”

“Then why didn’t she go to him? Or call him?”

“Because they’re in the middle of a fight. And…she doesn’t know it yet.”

Knight shakes his head. “This is insane. You know that, right?”

“Just tell me.” Whatever he says, you can handle it. You will handle it for her sake. You can explode later.

“There were no signs of rape.” Knight leans back. “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t bad. It took two doctors five hours to pick all the glass out of her.”

My vision blurs.

Breathe.

You will handle this.

“Tell me the rest.”

***

Jacko pulls to a stop at the door.

We all jump out, and Jacko throws the keys to security.

Knight leads us towards the medical center they have.

Barb works here on occasion as a fill-in doctor.

Did she know the whole time?

She wouldn’t have known to tell me anyway. Most of her time is spent working for Vex.

We dash through hallways. Knight only slows down enough to unlock doors.

As we step into the medical center, the reality of what I have to do hits me.

I need to be calm, controlled…rational. Mindy needs to know she can rely on me. That I’m there for her.

She needs to see the man who loves her.

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