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All three women ended up in a group hug, and Skyla had never felt more loved or accepted than she did in this very moment. Except for when she was in Blake’s arms.
They spent the next hour laughing, talking, and eating. “A toast,” Hallie said, holding up her glass of sparkling water. She couldn’t drink because of her pain meds, so Orly and Skyla quickly announced they wouldn’t drink either. It gave Skyla the perfect out this time, but it wouldn’t be long before she’d have to announce her pregnancy. And she was excited to share it with her friends, but right now, she was just enjoying their company.
“To us,” Caden said.
“To friends,” Martin added.
“To new love,” Garrett said, eyeing her and Blake. Skyla froze for a moment, but no one even blinked an eye, except to gift her with their biggest, brightest smiles.
“We have so much more to talk about,” Orly said, almost giddily.
“I can’t wait to hear all about it,” Hallie added, squeezing Skyla’s hand.
“I love you guys so much.” Skyla had the most incredible friends, and she was on the verge of tears, again.
“To happily ever after.” Blake pressed a kiss to her temple, and warmth bloomed in her chest. He’d told her all about how he never thought he’d get one. But standing here now with him and all their friends, she knew he’d gotten it, and she happy to see that he knew it, too.
“To happily ever after,” she repeated. They clinked glasses, and Skyla couldn’t wait for her future with Blake and their baby.
Epilogue
“Did you hear that?” Garrett asked. He and Tanner had cleared the area, but they hadn’t checked the couple of rooms with locked doors.
“No, hear what?” Blake’s voice was clogged with so much emotion, it was a wonder the man hadn’t broken down yet.
“I don’t think we’re alone.” Garrettwas honestly just looking for an excuse to give Blake and Skyla a few minutes of privacy. He couldn’t bear watching the pain and suffering of his friends.
He stepped out of the room and Tanner raised an eyebrow when Garrett pulled out his weapon. “What’s up?” Tanner asked.
“I think I heard something. It’s probably nothing. Stay here.” Garrett eyed the perp handcuffed to a pole. He was the Feds’ problem, but Garrett hoped they threw the book at him and made sure he never saw the outside of a prison cell again.
Turning his back on the piece of shit who dared to smirk in his direction, Garrett drew in a ragged breath. He inhaled the fresh air deep into his lungs, needing a second to ground himself. He’d had a lot of hard days on the job, but this one would go down in the top three.
He walked down the outdoor pathway, pressing his ear to each door until he heard the sound again. A soft clanging noise. It was irregular, both in volume and frequency.
“What is it?”
Garrett swung around, nearly knocking Tanner off his feet. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on a guy.”
“I didn’t. What’s got you creeping around these doors?”
Garrett sighed. “I think there might be an animal trapped in there.”
Tanner raised an eyebrow again. “Do you want back up?”
Garrett shook his head. “Back up.” Tanner did, and Garrett kicked in the door. It didn’t take much for the whole thing to come crashing down. Early morning light poured into the room, revealing partly decayed walls, rotting carpet, an awful stench likely coming from the bucket next to the bed with a metal frame. A small form moved on the mattress, and Garrett and Tanner both raised their weapons. Then Garrett threw his arm out in front of Tanner. “Stand down. That’s not an animal.” Disgust and horror filled his voice as he holstered his weapon.
“What the…” Tanner started to say, but then bolted from the room. A gagging noise quickly followed from behind Garrett, and he had to admit, he was about ten seconds from losing his own dinner.
He stood frozen in the dank room, staring at the form on the bed. A woman. Vivian had another prisoner. For how long? The smell suggested she’d been here for a while.
The poor thing was chained to the metal bed frame. Her small wrists bound by handcuffs, her ankles chafed by thick ropes. Whoever had left her there, definitely wanted something from her and didn’t care how they got it.
“What the hell?” Tanner muttered under his breath. Garrett hadn’t even heard him come back.
Just like the room they’d found Hallie and Skyla in, a tripod stood at the foot of the bed with a blinking camera pointed at the woman. It was obviously still recording. “I’m Texas Ranger Garrett Cooper. This is Dallas Police Detective Tanner Rhodes.” Garrett found and clicked the power button off before turning to face her again. “Don’t be afraid. We’re here to help. What’s your name? How long have you been here?”
Her long brown hair lay limp and greasy. Some strands covered her face, others were splayed out on the pillow. She watched him cautiously, followed his every movement, but as soon as he tried to meet her gaze, she averted her eyes.
