“Somewhere safe,” I offered, staring down at my feet.
“Do I really have a brother?”
I glanced up quickly, nodding. “Y-Yes,” I stammered. “He is a good friend of mine, and we have been worried about you for years.”
“Why can’t I remember?” she sniffled.
I shifted a little closer to her. “You’ve been through a lot. I bet it will all come back to you in time. Your mind and body just need a break.”
“Who are you?” she asked before dipping her head back to get her tangled, deep auburn locks wet.
“I’m Reese. I was in the Army with your brother a long time ago. Maccon is my friend who helped me get you. The other two guys are Bear and King. They’re here to help you too.”
“Why do you guys care about what happens to me?”
The frailness in her voice broke my heart as her words twisted the knife deeper.
“Because your brother saved my life and you’re special to him.”
“How?” she asked while the lathered shampoo dripped down the side of her neck.
“How are you special?”
She pursed her lips. “How did he save your life?”
I cleared my throat. “We were overseas and someone tried to hurt me. Your brother stopped him.”
“Is he coming here?”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. The last thing I wanted to do was lie to her, but I didn’t want her to lose hope either. “As soon as he can.”
“Where is he?” she asked, looking directly at me for the first time.
“He’s been detained but should be able to make his way here soon.”
Chapter 5
Katherine
As I sat in the warm bathwater, I tried to make sense of everything that was happening. All I had known for so long was pain, suffering, and a tiny room. I felt like I was completely messing up, like I was disobeying in the worst of ways. It was jarring. I felt I should have fought harder, yelled louder—something. I was sure Alastor would figure out I was taken, and the thought of what he might do when he found me was terrifying.
Reese sat on the floor, doing his best to be patient with my confusion. I wanted to trust him, wanted to thank him for pulling me out of that pit, but it felt way too wrong.
It was nice to bathe. It had been a while since I was afforded that privilege.
I love the feeling of suds coating my body and hair. It smelled like lilacs, a scent I remembered loving all those years ago, and there was more comfort in that memory trigger than I could express. Something as simple as the fresh scent of flowers was everything to me in that moment.
“I’m finished,” I muttered while raking my fingers through my soaking mane.
“Oh, okay. Here.” Reese scrambled to his feet, holding a towel out for me. “I’ll get you those clothes. Be right back.”
Toweling off, I eyed the small pills on the counter. The numbness they offered was alluring, but I didn’t want to slip off or lose control. I was too scared.
It only took Reese seconds to return with a clean shirt and a pair of boxers.
“Sorry,” he muttered, handing the garments to me. “This is all we have in the house. They’re mine. I promise they are clean. We’ll get you something more appropriate soon.”
It had been years since I’d had anything other than the old robe Alastor only gave me when I was being good.