Page 97 of Grim

He dropped to his knees in front of the cage, hands shaking so violently he could barely grip the bars. His breath came in ragged gasps. His vision blurred.

“Sophia…” His voice cracked, breaking open like a wound. “Baby—God—Sophia—”

She crawled toward him, fingers trembling as she reached through the bars.

He grabbed her hand like it was the only thing keeping him alive.

Her skin was ice cold. Too cold.

Stone stood in the doorway, chest rising and falling, eyes burning, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t move. He knew this moment wasn’t his.

Grim pressed his forehead to the bars, breath shaking. “I’m here. I’m here. I’m so damn sorry. I should’ve— I wasn’t—”

Sophia touched his face, her thumb brushing the dirt and blood on his cheek.

“Maddox,” she whispered, voice trembling but sure. “You came.”

He broke. Completely.

A sound tore out of him, half sob and half growl, as he wrapped both hands around hers, pulling her as close as the cage would allow.

“I’ll never let them touch you again,” he choked. “Never. I swear it.”

Stone stepped forward, voice low. “Grim. Move.”

Grim didn’t let go of her hand as Stone cut the lock with bolt cutters. The door swung open with a metallic groan.

Grim was inside before it fully opened.

He gathered Sophia into his arms, lifting her gently, carefully, like she was made of something sacred. She clung to him instantly, burying her face in his neck, shaking. She weighed almost nothing. Fear hollowed her out.

Her breath hitched against his throat, a broken, desperate sound that carved him open.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered, voice breaking. “I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

Sophia’s fingers curled into his cut, gripping him like she was afraid he’d disappear.

She pressed her lips to his throat — a trembling, desperate touch — and whispered a Spanish prayer against his skin.

“Dios mío… gracias… por traerlo a mí…”

Grim closed his eyes, holding her tighter, the words sinking into him like salvation.

He carried her out of the cage room, out of the warehouse, out of hell, holding her against his chest like she was the only thing that mattered.

Because she was.

Stone covered their exit, Havoc and Rook clearing the path, the Saints forming a protective wall around them as they moved through the yard.

Sophia trembled in Grim’s arms, whispering broken prayers against his throat.

And Grim clung to every word like they were the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

Chapter 32

Sophia

Sophia didn’t remember the drive home.