Page 21 of Corey
Once they were out of sight, Corey and Storm went back inside. He locked the door and pulled all the curtains shut. Then he moved the table aside, pushed the rug back and opened the trap door. “Sera? We need to talk.”
No answer.
He frowned. “Sera?”
When she didn’t respond, he immediately began climbing down the ladder. Stepping off the last rung, he turned and lifted his phone, shining the flashlight over the hidden cellar. His heart lurched when he saw her huddled in the corner, arms wrapped around her legs, shaking uncontrollably.
“Fuck,” he hissed, hurrying over and dropping down beside her. “What’s wrong?”
She looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I-I don’t do very well in small, dark places. I’m sorry.”
Sorry?For what? He’s the one who should be sorry for making her go down there by herself when she was obviously claustrophobic. Feeling like an asshole, he reached over and flipped on the flashlight in her hands. She’d kept it off because he’d asked her to, even though she was terrified.
“The light’s on. You’re okay.” Her chest was rising and falling hard, and it seemed like she was on the verge of a full-on panic attack. “Sera, take my hand.”
His voice was firm, a little sharp, and it snapped her out of whatever memory or ghost had her in its clutches. She reached out, catching hold of his hand, and he stood, pulling her up into his arms. Wrapping her in his embrace, he lifted her up and carried her over to the ladder.
“Can you climb up? Or I can carry you,” he murmured gently. Her face was buried against his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck—as though she never wanted to let go. No one had ever held onto him like that before. At least not since Cassidy.
Fuck.Looking down at her dark blonde hair, his stomach roiled, and for a terrible moment, he was transported back to the past.
But, no, this wasn’t Cassidy, and they weren’t trying to escape some Afghan hellhole.We’re in my cellar,he reminded himself.A place I built. I’m safe, she’s safe. It’s Sera, not Cassidy.
“I can climb,” she whispered.
With a nod, he gently lowered her back to her feet, and she turned, grabbing onto the ladder, but still clutching the small flashlight like a lifeline. “I’m right behind you. Take your time.”
He stayed close, ready to catch her if she slipped, but also just to give her comfort as they climbed up. Once they were both back in the living room, he closed the trap door, covered it with the rug and dragged the coffee table back into position. Sinking down onto the edge of the table, he softly said, “I bought us some time, but those men will be back.”
Her eyes widened in terror and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Let’s talk,” he suggested gently, and she gave him a jerky nod.
???
A few minutes later, Sera found herself on the couch beside Corey, spilling her story. She confided every terrifying detail, from the moment she saw Joel fire the gun to fleeing San Diego with Loki and then running into the men at the rest stop.
“I was beginning to believe I’d panicked over nothing until I realized they’d followed me,” she said.
“You were smart to run.” Corey studied her intently. The man was so serious, and she could tell his gears were turning. “If they tracked you this far, it can’t mean anything good. They probably had a tracker on your car.”
“Oh, God.” She ran a hand through her hair. What the hell was she going to do? “I don’t want to lead them to my sister and drag her into this mess. Same with you. This isn’t your problem and you don’t owe me anything. I should leave.”
“How? Your car is buried under a foot of snow, might not even start, and those men are looking for you.”
She pressed her lips together and frowned. A terrifying thought occurred to her. “What if they come back here with more men?”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Those ice-blue eyes of his clouded over and he seemed to be struggling with a decision.Oh, God. He’s going to tell me to leave.Could she blame him, though? All she’d done was arrive on his doorstepwith trouble pursuing her. Why would he want to get more involved in her shitstorm?
“If it’s not asking too much, maybe you could drop me off at the nearest mechanic?” she said quietly.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “How about I help you instead?”
Her heart sped up. “You’re sure?”
“The way I see it, those men are dangerous. I don’t think they’re just going to give up. And you helped me when I was lying outside half frozen. I don’t think I thanked you yet.” His piercing gaze, so electric blue, locked onto hers. “Thank you, Sera.”
Her stomach tumbled at the way he said her name—deep, almost melodic—and she couldn’t remember the last man who’d made her feel butterflies. “You’re welcome.”
