Page 89 of Beyond the Cage
“What do you wanna do, boss?”
I look up at ‘boss’ and there’s an evil smirk on his lips.
Mikhail issodead.
CHAPTER 23
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. – Sun Tzu
“My dear, sweet, baby girl!”
My mother rushes toward me, cheeks tearstained and arms outstretched. She pins me to her, squeezing the life out of me. She holds me at arm’s length and I see fresh tears running down her cheeks. My dad isn’t far behind, and he crushes me to him as soon as Mom lets go of me. He kisses my forehead and expels a sigh of relief.
“My turn,” he whispers.
Chels comes forward, and I’m transferred to her embrace. Between me, my mom, and Chels, it’s one big tear-fest in this room. Damon approaches and wraps his arms around us both.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Jas.”
“Thanks, Damon.”
“C’mon, baby. Sit.” Mom pulls me to the couch and kneels before me.
I don’t even know where we are right now because they didn’t want to risk going back to our hotel and being seen.
Mom looks down at the hospital scrubs I’m wearing, eyes widening. “You’re not hurt? They didn’t…touchyou, did they?”
I glance over at Cameron and terror creeps into his eyes. I hold his stare as I answer.
“No.” I turn back to my mom. “They didn’t. The doctor did athoroughexamination. They gave me something…had me unconscious most of the time…so I had the doctor make sure.”
A collective sigh of relief fills the room.
“You know,” Jared says, “it was your comment about feeling at home that led us in the right direction. I was trying to track the signal from the call, but I was getting nowhere. Once K.O. realized, we started looking for abandoned warehouses. Not too many of those in the area. That was very smart.”
“Thanks.”
“Why don’t I make you some hot chocolate, sweetie?”
“I really just need a shower, Mom.”
“Okay, after your shower.”
“I brought your stuff. It’s in the bedroom,” Chels states.
“Thanks, Chels.”
As I stand under the shower, I remember the sickening feeling of Dragon Tat’s hands on my skin, his tongue trailing across my breasts. At the time, I was distracted by Cameron, so I guess it didn’t really register. I grab the soap and washcloth, scrubbing my body from head to toe. By the time I’m done, my skin feels raw. I repeat the process with my hair. I think the full gravity of the situation just hit me. Who knows what they would have done to me if Cameron hadn’t shown up when he did? They would have killed me. I notice the rope marks on my wrists and ankles and break down, sliding to the floor and hugging my knees against my chest. I stay that way for I don’t know how long …just trembling and staring into space. It’s only when Cameron sits next to me, fully clothed, that I notice his presence. He pulls me onto his lap and his strong arms envelop me. I lie there, both of us under the stream of the shower, and quietly cry into his shoulder.
“Thank you.” I sit up and look into his eyes. “Thank you for saving me.”
While brushing my tears away with his thumbs, he gazes at me with such care and tenderness. How can he look at me like that? Like I’m the only woman in the world…when, the other night, he was about to…
“You got your clothes all wet.”
I extricate myself from his arms and leave him in the walk-in shower. After toweling down, I brush my teeth and head to the bedroom. He doesn’t emerge until I’m fully dressed. As I put my hair in a loose braid, I sit and watch him move around the room. What am I going to do? One thing I know Ican’tdo is stay with him. He betrayed me.
Once he’s dressed, he extends his hand to me. I place mine in his and he pulls me to my feet. I close my eyes as he tenderly strokes my cheek. Then, his lips are on mine – a soft, gentle caress. My first instinct is to lose myself in him and feast on his lips, but I fight it. I step back and walk past him, back to the living room.
