“Can you stand?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

I nodded and edged my feet to the ground, stepping over Luke. I found my shoes and pulled them on, still shaking, then raced to Mace’s side.

“We need to get him to a hospital now,” Ben muttered. He placed Mace’s arm around his neck and hoisted him up, but he was too heavy, too out of it. “Shit.”

“The trolley,” I realised suddenly.

Ben’s head whipped in the direction of the table. “That might just work,” he muttered. He raced over, wiping the surface clean, and wheeled it over. “I’m going to have to lay him on his stomach,” he said.

I watched helplessly as he leaned over and threw Mace’s arm around his neck again, this time using all his energy to hoist him over the trolley.

“Okay, we’re going to have to move fast. Keep an eye behind me.” He reached into his belt and handed me the gun. I took it, shocked by the weight.

He wants me to shoot?

“I need you to have my back, Leet, okay?” Ben looked at me earnestly. I nodded. I could do it. I had to do it, for Mace.

“Let’s go.”

We moved slowly along the corridor, with no idea where the others were, or what the fuck was going on. Not much further. Just up here, and then we’re free. All we needed to do was get out, unharmed, and we were free. This nightmare would be over.

I sighed, tears springing my eyes as we pushed our way outside, and around to Ben’s car, which sat right out the front. Two other cars were along side his, with two men standing in front of them, smoking. God I hope they’re with Micky. They came running over, offering their help to carry Mace to the car.

I sighed, doubling over, trying to catch my breath. We were okay. We were safe.

#

“How did you even find us?” I asked Ben. We were waiting by the cars while Micky rang ahead to speak to a doctor at the emergency room who ‘wouldn’t ask questions’.

We watched as two of his men helped Mace into the back seat of the car, laying him down. He was starting to come around, but he still looked in bad shape.

“I tracked your phone,” he admitted sheepishly. “I can’t believe you guys just left me there,” he added, shaking his head. “I was taking a leak and then next thing you guys were gone.”

“We had to,” I protested. “If we’d waited for you, Luke would’ve been long gone.”

“Still. You could’ve texted me or something,” he muttered.

Shit! Why hadn’t that occurred to me?

He rolled his eyes and put his arm around me. “Don’t worry, I’ll get over it. I mean, it’s not the first time you’ve left me stranded.”

“Ben…” I hesitated. Things had just gotten really awkward. Just like that, our past was back out there like a bad smell.

“Leet, it’s fine. I get it. Come on. We need to get him out of here.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Mace

No. If I were dead, I wouldn’t be in this much fucking pain. I groaned and cracked my eyes open, the light almost blinding me. My hand felt like a dead weight as I lifted it to shield my eyes from that fucking light.

“Mace. Thank God you’re okay.”

Leet. Her hand slipped inside mine. I tried to squeeze it, but couldn’t. I groaned again, trying to get my mouth to work, but even moving my jaw hurt like fuck.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re in hospital. You were in a pretty bad way,” she said, stroking my head.

I tried to think back. My memory was fuzzy. I remembered leaving Leet in the car, but nothing after that. What the fuck had happened? I didn’t have the energy to ask, drifting back off to sleep.

#

Yawning, I opened my eyes. Leet sat, contorted into an odd position on the chair next to the bed, snoring softly. I smiled. Fuck, she’s so cute when she’s sleeping. I felt bad about waking her, so I didn't. Instead, I just lay there and watched her, drinking in every detail.

Sighing, I shifted in the bed. Everything hurt. My fucking toes hurt. My arm was killing like a motherfucker, and I felt like I’d been stabbed in the chest a couple of hundred times.

How long have I been here?

I struggled to remember what had happened. I was desperate for answers. What time was it? Glancing over at Leet again, I watched as she stirred. Her eyes opened and she stared at me, shocked. She blinked, as if she didn’t trust her own vision.

“You're awake,” she said, getting to her feet. Crouching at my side, she reached for my hand and held it between hers, tears springing in her eyes as she smothered me with kisses. I managed a smile. Hell, even that hurt.

“What happened?” I asked. Fuck, my throat is dry. I pointed to the water jug on the table beside my bed, rocking my wrist in a drinking motion.

“You don't remember anything?” she asked, her voice soft as she poured the water.

I shook my head. She tilted my head, placing the cup at my lips. The cold liquid felt strange against my cracked lips, but I swallowed. Anything to ease the burning pain in my throat.

“I remember leaving you in the car, and then it's only fuzzy after that,” I said, my voice scratchy.

“You were beat up pretty bad,” she said, her voice soft.

“You came after me?”

She shook her head. “No, he knew that I was with you. He—one of the other guys—came down to the car and got me. He took me up to the warehouse.”

I struggled to sit up. “Did they hurt you?”

She shook her head, her eyes not quite meeting mine. What wasn’t she telling me?

“You've got a broken collarbone, three broken ribs, and some pretty nasty bruises,” she explained, her fingers stroking my arm.

That explains the pain.

“I'm going to get a doctor, okay?”

I nodded, watching her as she walked out of the room. How badly had they hurt her? The bruising around her face was a soft pink, but her eye had still looked pretty swollen. God help me, if they touched her…I couldn’t even think about that at the moment.

Leets returned a few minutes later with a doctor at her heels. He smiled at me and walked over to the bed, checking my vitals on the screen that all the wires connected back to.

“Mr Jordan, good to see you’re finally awake. How are you feeling?”

“Like I have been hit by a truck.”

“Understandable.” He nodded. “Your injuries were pretty severe. “I'm aware that you don't wish to report this to the police, but I must advise you that this is an option for you.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m good, thanks.”

He nodded. “We will keep you in a few more days, just to monitor you. And then you can do the rest of your recuperating at home.” He smiled at Leeta and then walked out.

She took my hand again, sandwiching it between hers.

“You’re going to be staying with me. No argument.”

“I wasn't planning on arguing,” I chuckled. “So, what happened?” I asked again.

Her face darkened. “I don't even know where to begin. Luke? He wasn't lying, he was a cop. But I did some digging and found out the case he was working on had nothing to do with the live rapes. The ring was being investigated for a drug smuggling operation.”

“So he just decided to cut himself into the other half the business?” Bastard.

Leet nodded. “It doesn't matter now. He doesn’t matter. He’s dead.”

“Good,” I muttered, angry. “And the others?”

“Mickey took care of everything,” she assured me.

I chuckled. “Spoken like a true Jordan,” I teased her. She swatted my arm, her lips curving into a grin.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “No offence, but this is all way too much drama for me. I can't wait to go back to my day job—you know, following the law and all that?”

“I am all for that plan,” I agreed.

Leeta hesitated, as if she had something on in mind. “When I was…when Luke was…” She paused. “He said something about Anna. “He said he hoped I’d put up as much of a fight as she had.”