Page 178 of Reaper
“You guys were next door?” she asks.
“Yeah, we got lucky in that aspect. It wasn’t until Python got into their system that we found out you were so close. We got in a little bit ago. The fucking storm slowed us down, but Chris saw them take you and called me. Python started tracking you. We left as soon as we were geared up.”
I set her down on the bed and Doc sets his kit down next to her. Speaking of Chris, I pull out my phone and shoot a quick text off in the group chat Lark made with Emma, Lottie, and us letting them know that we found Lark and that she’s safe. I also add that we’ll have to wait for the roads to be cleared to head back so they don’t worry. It was risky that last hour of drivingbut knowing that Lark was in those assholes’ clutches kept us going.
“Let me see your wrists, Lark,” Doc asks her as I pocket my phone.
She twists her wrists, showing him the bruises that are already turning deep purple, but thankfully it doesn’t seem like the skin has broken.
“I haven’t looked at my ankles yet, but I’m assuming they’re similar. Then again, my socks could have helped protect me some.” She bends down, taking off her socks when she stops and looks back up at me. “My purse was in the room. Not sure if my boots were too, but I woke up to them already being gone.” She pauses as she snarls. “My engagement ring was in his pocket last I saw.”
I look over at Devil who gives me a chin lift and goes into the adjoining room. I’m not ready to leave her just yet. I can’t.
“Well, it’s good that the ties didn’t break your skin, but they’re probably going to be getting worse judging by how purple they already are.” He reaches up and gently turns her head side to side. “You already have some slight swelling by your left eye. Use this to help keep it from swelling further,” he tells her as he digs a cold compress out of his bag, cracks it to activate the cooling gel shit inside, and hands it to her.
Devil comes back into the room carrying the rest of Lark’s things. I take her engagement ring back from him and am about to hand it back to Lark when a thought occurs.
“Python, can you check this out to make sure they didn’t add anything to this?” I ask him and Lark’s jaw clenches as she catches on.
Python digs around in his computer bag before pulling out a portable scanner and he takes the ring from me. He sets it down on the dresser and waves the wand over it.
“It’s clear,” he tells us and hands me back the ring. He frowns and turns back to Lark. “Can I scan you, too, Lark? Just remembering what Stephan did to Mary, so I’d like to make sure they didn’t do anything to you while you were out.”
Lark’s mouth drops in an ‘o’, no doubt remembering what Mary had told her, and I fight not to grind my molars at the reminder. Stephan had a tracker implanted in Mary without her approval and it wasn’t realized until almost a month after Patch and the rest of the Forest Creek club rescued her.
Lark takes off all of her jewelry so there won’t be any doubt and stands when Doc steps back from where he was kneeled in front of her. She raises her arms and Python waves the scanner all over her.
“Nothing,” he tells us, and I swear we all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
“Thank fuck,” Lark mutters as she puts her jewelry back on. My gut twists when I notice she’s desperately trying to hide the fact that her hands are trembling slightly.
“I would like to go through your phone though before we leave. Provided it’s still in your purse.”
Lark frowns and rummages through her purse that Devil hands her and, after a moment, hands Python her phone. He takes it, crosses the room to the desk, and hooks her phone up to his computer.
“Mama Astrid also packed you a bag before we left. She said she figured you’d want to wash everything off of you or at the very least, change your clothes,” Loki says as he sets a backpack down on the bed.
Larks shoulders slump in relief, relief that is also mirrored on her face. “A shower sounds divine right now.”
Reaching over, I squeeze her shoulder and she places her hand over mine. “Then that’s what you’re getting.”
Loki steps forward, his arms out and Lark stands, stepping into his hug. He murmurs something in her ear that has her eagerly nodding and she gives him a watery smile when she steps back. Each of the guys step forward, hugging her as they each say something quietly to her. Thankfully none of them say anything about the tears that start gently trailing down her cheeks. If I didn’t know they were tears of gratitude, I’d be kicking their asses for making her cry after all this.
They go into the other room, gently shutting the adjoining door behind them and I pull Lark into my arms. She turns and buries her face in my chest, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist.
After a few moments, her shoulders start to shake. Grasping her waist, I lift her and turn, sitting down on the bed then situating her so that she straddles my lap. She raises her arms, wrapping them around my neck as she buries her face in the crook of my neck.
“I was so worried you wouldn’t get there in time, especially when he…” her voice cracks as it trails off and a tremor runs through her.
“I’ve got you now, Darlin’. You’re safe,” I repeat over and over to her as she cries.
After a few minutes, her tears subside and her body slumps against mine.
“Let’s get you that shower, Darlin’. Then you can rest.”
She nods weakly and I steady her as she slides off my lap. I grab the backpack off the bed and follow her into the bathroom, setting it down on the counter. I hover, not wanting to let her out of my sight, but always knowing I should give her space if she wants it.
Lark places a hand on my arm and my gaze snaps up to meet hers. Her eyes are puffy and bloodshot from crying, and I can tell she’s not far off from passing out from exhaustion.
