Page 18 of My Crazy Killers
“Gotcha!” he says, and I can practically hear the smile in his voice. “Can you come out of there, carefully? I don’t want you to hit your head.”
I try to remember the way I got in here and move toward his voice, unwilling to let his hand go as I maneuver out of my hiding place. When I know I’m free of the covered spot, I use his hand as support as I push to my feet.
He instantly pulls me to him in a hug, but that has me crying out in pain as I try to push him away. Elias curses as Pete grips my shoulders. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“Did… Did you see Jagger’s back?” I ask as I press my fingers into the front of his shirt.
“No.”
“Yes,” Pete and Elias answer together. Elias continues, “It was covered in blood, are you saying yours is, too?”
“We… We both received five lashes last night.”
“He fucking whipped you?” Elias hisses in shock.
“Can I hold you here?” Pete asks as he gently pulls me in and holds the back of my head and my butt.
“Uh-huh,” I nod into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist as a few tears escape. I’m glad for the darkness right now; it gives me some time to compose myself.
I’m not sure what happens next, but being here, in the arms of Pete, is enough for now. Answers can wait. Right now, all I want to do is hold each of my guys and see with my own eyes that they’re okay.
CHAPTER TEN
WREN
Pete leans back against a side wall as he holds me carefully. We all stay quiet as the truck moves through Moscow, which Elias told us is where we are. He also confirmed that Sly and Dex are up front and are currently finding a safe place for us to stop.
Knowing they are all here is a relief and keeps me from asking more questions for now. Elias said we could share stories once we’ve stopped and are all together. I cling to Pete tightly, using him as an anchor to help ground my worries and fears and remind myself of our reality.
They’re all here, and they came for us. I can’t believe I doubted them, but this isRussia!I still can’t imagine how hard it must have been for them to get here unnoticed by Ivan and the feds.
After what feels like a very long drive, the truck rolls to a stop, and the engine switches off.
“We’re here,” Elias says as I pull back from Pete, placing my hands on his chest while we wait. The loud noise of thedoor rolling up is accompanied by a stream of light, making me squint at the sudden brightness.
I blink quickly, and as my eyes adjust, I find Sly and Dex standing on the ground right outside the door. Tears of relief annoyingly break free as I quickly run to them.
“Don’t touch her back, she’s injured!” Pete yells, as I all but jump into Dex’s outstretched arms. He grips me under my arms and gently lowers me to the ground, and cups my face.
I sink my fingers into his chest, making sure he’s real. “You're here,” I whisper as a few more tears of happiness break free.
“So are you,” he whispers before dipping his head and kissing me. It’s too brief for my liking, but I know I have more people to greet properly.
He moves aside as Sly steps in, his eyes traveling up and down my body as if taking note of every part of me. “I missed you,” I tell him as I tilt my head up, hoping for a kiss. He doesn’t make me wait. He cups my jaw with one hand, the other moving to the back of my head as he holds me in place. His kiss is filled with passion and longing, and when he pulls back, I give him a small smile that I hope conveys that I’m okay.
“Wren?” I turn around and see Elias’s wide, horrified eyes.
“What the fuck did he do to you?” Sly barks out. And as I glance at him over my shoulder, I realize they’re looking at my back.
“He did it to Jagger, too,” I say, pointing in his direction as he watches me with a clenched jaw and fists. They all turn to him before Dex finally moves around behind him totake a look.
“Fuck. We need to get you two cleaned up.”
I take a look around us, as I rub my arms, finally noticing the cold. We’re in some sort of empty warehouse. “I guess no safe houses here, huh?” I ask, wondering where we can even use a bathroom, let alone clean up or sleep.
“No, but we can go to a hotel, the feds gave us some currency, and we’ve been living as cheaply as possible so far,” Elias says. Jagger and I turn to frown at him.
“Did you just say the feds gave you money?”
