Page 63 of Mountain Defender

“Rory!”

But I can’t breathe.

I’m scared.

Will this work? Oh, please?—

“Rory!”

A shout shocks me back to reality. Not the evil, menacing voice, but one I recognize.

Strong arms are wrapped around me, hugging me to a firm chest.

“Rory, baby, talk to me. Please.”

The voice—Gage’s voice—is rough with worry.

Though the memories are still clinging and heavy, I drag myself back to the present. Back to Gage, who’s watching me with something close to panic in his eyes.

“Gage?” It’s barely a croak.

He exhales heavily. “Ror, baby. Are you back with me?”

I have to blink a few times to refocus. “Yes. I… what happened?”

He sits on the floor and pulls me into his lap. “Shit, baby. You woke me up, screaming. I didn’t know where you were at first. I thought… shit. I thought someone got in?—”

With a trembling hand, he strokes my hair. Kisses my forehead. “When I found you in here, you were still screaming. Then you started gasping. Like you couldn’t breathe.” His eyes close for a second. “You scared the crap out of me, Ror.”

I rest my head on his chest, taking in shuddering breaths as I try to calm myself down.

“What happened?” Gage asks gently. “Are you sick? Hurting? Did you?—”

Lifting my head, I meet his gaze. “I… I remember.”

“You remember?”

“That night. I got up and came in here to use the bathroom so I wouldn’t wake you up. Then I saw a light outside?—”

“A light outside?” Gage lifts me against his chest and stands, carrying me out of the bathroom. He hurries back to the bedroom and snatches up his phone while holding me with one arm, which I distractedly note is extremely sexy.

He taps the screen a few times, then barks, “Enzo. Rory saw a light outside. Not long ago. Was that you or—” Stopping, he listens for a few seconds. Then he says, “Okay. Thanks. We might have something to report. Rory says she remembers. But I need to talk to her. I’ll call you in the morning.”

Once the call ends, he tosses the phone aside and sits on the bed, cuddling me on his lap again. “Enzo was out with the dogs. It’s fine. Safe.” A beat, and then in a soothing tone, “What did you remember, baby?”

I huddle closer to him, letting his warmth seep into my chilled skin. “All of it. That night… I saw something outside. A light, like tonight. I thought it was someone leaving a dog. It’s happened before. So I went out to look. When I got to the barn, that’s when…”

Another shudder shakes me. Gage kisses my head. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

“It was the man. He lunged at me, knocked me down. But I hit him with my flashlight. It was enough to get away. At least… for a while. Then… he caught me again. I couldn’t get free. He started to choke me?—”

“Fuck.” It’s angry. Gritted through a clenched jaw.

“I didn’t know what to do. So… I held my breath. Pretended to be unconscious. I didn’t think it would work, but then… he left. And I just lay there, too scared to move. Finally, I tried to go home. But I was so dizzy and felt so sick, I tripped into a pile of leaves and I guess I passed out.”

“Rory.” Gage’s throat bobs. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. We’ll find him. I swear it.”

“Gage.” I raise my head. “After I hit him. He must have taken off his mask. And I… I saw him. I remember what he looked like.”

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