Page 62 of Haven

My breath got trapped in my lungs. “Did you find her?”

She shook her head. “No. We…We found her phone and we had to have our tech analyst unlock it. She received a couple of messages with pictures.” The phone was in her hand, and I stared at Widow. I already knew she wanted to be the first to look. Her facial expression gave her away. She didn’t have a poker face, especially where it concerned me.

Widow took the phone from Melisa and her demeanor changed instantly. “Rory, I don⁠—”

“Let me see.” I extended my hand, waiting. I read the text thread from an unknown number then saw the picture, my stomach churning. The edges of the photo blurred as my eyes started to burn and it made me recoil. “I’m going to be sick.”

Melisa grabbed a basin, placing it on my lap right before I heaved, stomach acid burning the back of my throat as I emptied what little contents were in my stomach. Widow stepped behind me, holding my hair back as sobs mixed with dry heaves. Blood pounded in my ears as my heart thudded in my chest. My hands were shaking uncontrollably; I was pulled into that room once more. I was Aurora June again, begging and pleading with Jude not to hurt me, but then…the boy’s face was more prominent.

I was there, feeling their calloused hands on my skin and hearing their wicked laughter at my misery. I couldn’t see his face, but his voice was like poison in my mind. His lips felt like a thousand razor blades as he kissed me, going lower and lower until…

“Rory!” Widow’s voice pulled me from my spiral and I heaved once more. “Breathe, phoenix.”

There were nurses and a doctor in the room with me now, spilling medical jargon about sedation, but I didn’t want anyone but Widow to touch me. Widow caught on instantly, stepping in front of me as the doctor inched closer. “Doc, I mean this respectfully, don’t touch her.”

He lifted her hands and stepped back. “Rory. What do you need?”

“Shower.” My voice was barely a whimper. His semen was on my chest, tainting me and making me filthy. “I need to get clean.” My fingers flexed, the urge to claw at my skin strong, but Widow saw the turmoil and grabbed my hands.

“I’m going to help her. Something to help her to sleep would be good. I want her to have a woman-only care team from here on out. I know Cher is on vacation, but try to get her back. Doc, what do I need to do to help her wounds?”

“The best option is to not get anything wet, but we can wrap her ankle. Don’t soak her head in water. I know it is pointless to suggest a sponge bath, so just be careful with her injuries.”

They continued to talk momentarily, but their voices started to muffle together. In my panicked state they mentioned a rape kit, but I didn’t feel like I needed one.

“It’s okay, phoenix. I got you.”

Fifty-Three

Widow

Iheld Rory in my arms until the water ran cold and she stopped crying. Showing her that photo was a terrible idea, but Rory was fucking pigheaded. The moment I saw it, fire raged in my soul demanding a man’s dick on a stake. I would find the bastard and make sure his death was prolonged and painful.

Whoever it was, he pulled her from the scene of the wreck to fulfill a sick fantasy, ejaculated on her chest, and then sent pictures to Cinder to draw her out and kidnap her. Rory kept muttering what I thought was a name, but I couldn’t make it out. It was gibberish, almost like she was in a child-like state of remembrance. Did Jude make her call him something else?

I helped her to the bed, but she clung to me like a helpless child when I went to pull away. She needed me, and I couldn't find it in me to break her heart again, not right now when I was the only thing keeping her afloat. I foolishly crawled into the hospital bed with her and dragged her to my chest. She nuzzled her face into me as her breathing started to settle. Eventually, she dozed off into a peaceful sleep, or at least I hoped it was peaceful.

We had a bigger issue on our hands. Cinder was still missing and someone had been able to take both her and Rory. To add fuel to the fire, we had our enemy's daughter at the clubhouse because she was with her. Our lives could never be normal.

Shortly after the nurse gave Rory a sedative, I untangled myself from her, careful not to wake her. She’d be released tomorrow afternoon if everything looked normal, and now I had to deal with Haven. Vesper said she wouldn’t talk until knowing if Rory was okay, but I didn’t play those games. There was a reason she was there, and if I found out she helped in any way or hurt Rory, I would kill her. A war meant nothing to me right when my best friend was missing and my…and Rory was being targeted.

Walking into the clubhouse, there was an odd tension in the air. Cinder was the glue that held this place together. It felt off without her here, and with the looming threat of her disappearance, tensions were high. Mal was her VP, but they had no idea what they were doing. I never wanted the title or the responsibility that followed. I liked being the lone wolf and getting my hands dirty when needed, but Mal looked like a chicken with its head cut off.

“Please tell me you know where Cin is,” they asked haphazardly.

I shook my head. “Get everyone gathered in church and I’ll be there to debrief after I talk to our guest.”

I walked down to the basement, removing my leather jacket. I popped my knuckles as Vesper came into view. Haven Morningstar was tied to a chair, looking less than enthused with the situation. She was still dressed with no visible wounds, which told me Vesper put her there for show until I arrived. She had been down here for a day, which meant her father would be looking for her soon.

I leaned against the door, folding my arms across my chest as I inspected her. “You’ve gone soft,” I muttered to Vesper. There was no hesitation in my voice. Vesper was quick to get answers by any means necessary. While I dealt with traitors and people who harmed innocents, she dealt with the others. Rats, enemies. And that’s what the woman in front of us was—our enemy. Regardless of her forbidden relationship with Rory.

“Ehh, she would have been a waste of good torture.”

“She’s the enemy,” I snapped, the last thread of my patience tearing. Vesper’s back straightened. “Cinder is missing, and Rory is in the goddamn hospital. I don’t have time for games, Vesper.”

“Hey, not to interrupt your little lovers’ quarrel, but I didn’t go to medical school to be a therapist.”

Vesper laughed, and I glared at Haven. “You think this is a game? I will kill you.”