Page 71 of Unmasking Her Shadow

Kioni’s fingers tremble against mine as she studies the nail in my palm. “I can’t get you down, love. We have to wait for the paramedics.” Her voice cracks, and I wish I could hold her. “Ryker called for them the second Nyx bolted back here. They should be here any minute.”

A humorless laugh escapes me. “We are in the woods behind my house, aren’t we?”

She clenches her jaw and gives me a quick nod.

That’s why he said nobody would ever look here.

“I love you,” I tell her, and a tear cascades down her nose.

“I love you, too. So fucking much.”

Her hand cups my cheek, and she gently rubs her thumb back and forth in soothing motions. “Nothing in this life matters if you are not in it. You are everything, Sam. My life, my oxygen, my heart, my joy, everything is tethered to you. You’ve marked me so deeply, I wouldn’t survive even a second without you.”

Her lips find mine in a slow, gentle kiss. Sirens and lights blare just outside the treeline. They must have driven through my backyard. Ryker leads them to us and then steps behind Ki, wrapping his arms around her while they free my hands. Her fingers go to her lips, covering her mouth when I show pain. It’s hurting her as much as it’s hurting me. Her other hand holds Nyx’s leash. She’s panicking watching people so close to her mommy and whines each time I hiss. They leave the nails in to be removed at the hospital.

“I’ll carry her,” Ki rushes out, slipping between the paramedics and carefully scooping me into her arms.

Police presence is heavy now, and cars are everywhere. Kioni and Ryker refuse to stay behind, driving me themselves to the hospital while I remain in Ki’s arms with Nyx in the backseat. She doesn’t ask me any questions. She just holds me close and keeps kissing my forehead, reassuring herself that I’m here.

My girls saved me.

42

Kioni

She’s still in my arms when we walk through the hospital doors, and I have to force myself to let her go when the nurses meet us to retrieve her.

“I love you,” I whisper, kissing her forehead and brushing my thumb across her cheek.

“To the moon,” she replies, reaching for me but pausing with a wince.

“To the moon, around every single star.”

She gives me a soft smile before the nurses take her away. Now that she’s safe, anger bubbles beneath the surface. Making a fist, I turn and swing, but instead of a hard wall, my fist hits flesh.

“Hey,” Ryker says, his voice calm despite holding my fist midair.

“This should never have happened,” I snap.

“No, it shouldn’t have. But the only person at fault is the corpse about to be rotting or turned to ash.” He tugs, motioning for me to sit with him. My back slides down the wall, and I drop my head, closing my eyes. “Ki, you knew something was wrong within minutes. Because of your quick reactions and decisions, we got her back faster than probably any other abductee. Nyx led us to her, but you led us to Nyx. You did good, friend. Very fucking good.”

I hear his words, and I know they are true, but the guilt remains heavy in the pit of my stomach. Something cold touches my cheek, and I look up to find Nyx. She presses her face into mine, and for once, she allows me to hug her. “Thank you,” I breathe. The longer I stroke my fingers through her fur, the more she grounds me. “Thank you,” I whisper again quietly.

She flops down in front of us, resting her chin on top of my boots. Now we wait. After a few minutes, Ryker meets another officer outside and comes back in with a K9 unit vest for Nyx. He kneels next to the black beast, who looks up at him with her eyes, not even attempting to move. She leans away from him until my legs block her from moving any further when he attempts to pet her. He forces the vest on despite her groans of annoyance and protest.

“She looks even more terrifying now,” he states, studying her in uniform. Ryker has his arms crossed over his chest with the floral leash in his hand, staring at her. I hurry and grab my phone for a picture before he moves.

“What do you say, Nyxie, baby? Want to be an officer, too?” I ask the black beast and hold up my phone for Ryker to look at the picture I took. He chuckles and tugs on the leash until she reluctantly follows. I don’t move from my spot until a nurse in tie-dye scrubs is walking down the hall pushing Sam in a wheelchair. My heart races when I see her, as it always does. I jump up and jog to them. The nurse hands me her discharge papers, goes over her aftercare and prescriptions. I’m listening, but I need her in my arms now. Finally, she locks the wheelchair, and I help Sam up, careful not to touch her wrapped hands. A full breath of air enters my lungs when she’s pressed against me.

“I can walk,” she assures me.

“I know you can walk, Sam. I’m the one that needs you close.”

“Baby,” she coos, and I look back to see Ryker and Nyx walking our way. Watching Sam awkwardly pet her with her bandaged hands makes my jaw clench. I want to kill him all over again. I stoop and wrap my arm behind her knees and lift her into my arms. She squeals, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“I know you’re strong enough to walk out of here on your own, but I’m too weak to let you. I need you in my arms to hold myself together.”

She presses her lips to my cheek and rests her head on my shoulder as we walk out of the hospital.