Page 58 of Radiant Exception
Vaughn was here.
He’d come for me.
“Vaughn!” I began screeching his name over and over again. “I’m in here! Vaughn!”
The noises moved down the hall, until the door shuddered as he banged against it. “Vaughn!” I called out again.
“I’m coming, Trouble!” he yelled, just on the other side.
My heart was pounding in my chest.
He was here.
The door slid open suddenly, again bathing the dark room in light. And silhouetted against the light was Captain Damian Vaughn, my exception, my salvation.
His expression was fathomless, but the moment his eyes met mine, his shoulders sagged in relief, while his chest still heaved from the exertion of his battle to get to me, a prostrate body lying in the hallway behind him evidence of the conflict.
“Vaughn,” I cried out, a sob tearing through my chest as I tugged on my arms, showing him I couldn’t come to him.
But I didn’t need to. He raced to me, slamming down on his knees in front of me, whipping out a pocketknife to cut through the ties holding me to the rail.
The moment my hands came free, he pulled me into the tightest embrace, burying his head in my hair as I nuzzled into his chest, unable to refrain from openly weeping, knowing I was safe in his arms.
“You came for me,” I whimpered through my sobs.
“I’ll always come for you, Trouble.” He squeezed me tighter.
I’d known before Cassidy had come into my office and messed everything up that I was already too far gone with Vaughn, but I hadn’t felt like this in anyone’s hold before. Because when he heldme like he wouldn’t be able to breathe without me, I felt the same. Being with Vaughn was like finally coming home.
“I’m all in.” I sniffled against him, craning my neck to peer up at him.
A small smile caressed his lips. “Next time, don’t get yourself kidnapped to have that revelation.”
“I knew before,” I argued.
His smile broadened. “Did you?” Vaughn seemed to be amused at the thought.
“Cap?” a familiar voice came from the doorway. Both of us turned to regard Ethan. “Authorities aren’t far. I’ve disabled the ship and just have this guy”—he nodded to the body on the ground outside the door—“to lock up with the others, but we’ve gotta get out of here fast if we don’t want to be detained for questioning.”
“They’ll trace the ship,” I piped up.
Ethan gave me his signature big, toothy grin. “Not if theRadiantwas equipped with an illegal cloaking device.”
I barked a laugh.
Ethan moved to grab the ankles of the body, before dragging it down the hallway and out of view.
“What about all of them?” I asked, looking around at the captives who were still knocked out.
“Best to leave them as is and let the authorities sort it out.” He got to his feet before reaching down to help me. But my legs were much more unstable than I’d predicted, and when they wouldn’t cooperate, Vaughn simply swept me up into his arms.
“I can walk,” I squawked.
He drew me closer. “Not fast enough.”
It had taken too damn long to catch up to the trafficking ship. Each moment, I became more frantic than the last. Spiraling for hours, wondering if I’d find Lark dead or alive, or at all, kept me in the midst of a panic attack for the entire span of the chase.
Hearing her calling out to me was a feeling only surpassed by finding her whole when I made it through the door. When I held Lark in my arms, I could finally breathe again.
