Page 212 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

The ropes had done more damage than I'd realised. Her wrists weren't just bruised. They were shredded. The coarse rope had sawn through the top layers of skin until raw flesh stared back at me. Blood mixed with deep purple bruising that wrapped completely around both wrists. Her fingers trembled violently, swollen from the circulation being cut off for God knew how long.

My stomach turned. I reached into my pocket, pulled out my folding knife and nearly dropped the damn thing. My hands were shaking not from adrenaline. From seeing what they'd done to her. It took me two attempts to get the blade open.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not even sure what I was apologising for anymore.

Carefully God, so carefully I slid the blade beneath the remaining loops of rope and cut them away without letting the steel touch her skin. The last strand fell to the concrete. She didn't hesitate.

The second she was free she threw herself against me. Not a hug. Not really. She clung.

Both arms wrapped around me so tightly I could barely breathe, her fingers fisting into the back of my vest as though if she loosened her grip for even a second, I'd disappear.

Her entire body shook against mine. Violently. Like she'd been holding herself together purely because she hadn't been allowed to fall apart until now.

"I've got you," I whispered into her hair, wrapping both arms around her as tightly as I dared.

"I've got you, baby. You're safe. I've got you."

She buried her face against my neck and broke. Not crying. Breaking. The sound that came out of her wasn't something I'd ever forget for the rest of my life. It wasn't fear. It was a relief. I closed my eyes and rested my cheek against the top of her head, pressing the smallest kiss into her dark hair.

"I've got you," I whispered again.

"I'm not letting you go."

Bzzzt.

The radio on my shoulder crackled. I almost ignored it. Almost. Keeping one hand against the back of her head, I pressed the transmit button with the other.

"Eagle One. Go."

Static hissed. Then Mason spoke.

"...Collins isn't here."

Everything inside me tightened.

"What?"

"We've got thirty-four accounted for."

A pause.

"Not thirty-five."

I stared past Seraphina's shoulder into the smoke-filled warehouse.

"He slipped the perimeter while we were engaged."

Another pause. Longer this time. Long enough that I already knew I wasn't going to like what came next.

"And Walker..."

Mason exhaled.

"...Walker is gone."

I felt Seraphina tighten her grip around me. Or maybe it was me tightening mine around her.

"His cruiser isn't at the perimeter."