Page 89 of Her Devoted HERO

They took off.

It was a small house, only one-bedroom window to look in, and it was empty, so was the kitchen, dining room and living room. He could see Hunter peering in through the plate glass window at the front of the house. When Dex tried to open the sliding glass door, it was locked. The only place left was the garage. He could see the door to the garage from where he stood. He didn’t want to break any glass because he was afraid they’d be heard.

He looked up to see Hunter striding across the living room towards him. He’d gotten the front door open. Probably picked the lock. He’d forgotten Hunter’s wayward past. When they were both inside the house, they went to the door leading to the garage and listened. They heard a muffled noise.

Dex nodded as his hand turned the knob.

In an instant, he took in the scene. It was the same room where the woman had been whipped to death. Kenna was slumped forward in the same chair. A man in a mask was kicking another man on the floor. He looked up at Hunter and Dex.

“Stop right there.” He held up the remote control device for a shock collar. He could see it connected around Kenna’s neck. “I’ve got it ramped up to the highest level. I’ll kill her.”

Dex looked at him and looked at Kenna. Her eyes were looking up at him. She was pissed. He loved her. He turned back to Lyle and shot him between the eyes.

His eyes quickly swept the big room, there was no one else. Just the victim on the floor, the killer, and Kenna. He was at the chair in an instant. She was trying to look up.

“Hold on, Baby,” he crooned gently as he cupped her jaw and tilted her head so he could see how the collar was attached. It was so goddamned tight. His fingers went to work to get it undone, and she whimpered.

“I know it hurts, I’m so sorry.”

“Doesn’t matter,” she croaked. “Buddy?” He looked over his head and saw Hunter attending to him.

“He’s going to be fine.” Dex hoped he wasn’t lying.

“Is Austin okay?”

She squeaked with pain as he pressed in to unclasp the collar. “It’s off.”

“How’s Austin?” she asked, undeterred. She couldn’t even lift her head on her own, and she was in mama bear mode.

“He’s fine, Kenna. He’s at the base.”

She slumped forward in the ropes. Dex was horrified by what he saw on her neck.

“Did you call an ambulance?” he shouted to Hunter.

“They’re on their way, so are the cops.”

“Let me see to Buddy. Get these ropes off me.” She struggled.

“Kenna, stop! You’re making it worse.” He had his knife out and was cutting the ropes off her feet. “If you keep trying to kick, I might cut you.”

“You’d never cut me. Now hurry up.” Her voice sounded like a frog’s, but she was giving him shit.

He got the last rope off her body, and she slid into his arms, she was too weak to do anything else but rest.

“I’m a nurse, I need to get to Buddy. He saved me.” Her voice was filled with tears.

“You saved me,” Buddy whispered from across the room.

She shuddered in his arms.

See he’s talking. He’s going to be all right,” Dex assured her.

Dex heard the sirens.

***

She hung up the hospital room phone. She’d finally gotten Rosalie to laugh. It had taken a lot. Now she was exhausted. Dex was glowering at her.