Chapter 9

Marnie Benson shivered in the cold stone room. She had no idea how the other girls lasted so long if they’d been there long at all. She wrapped the holey sheet around herself, trying to fight off the cold. She was worried about the one who got away. She was sure she’d never forget the sound of the alarm or the gunshots that rung out shortly after the alarm was silenced.

She could only hope the girl got away and was safe with the cops and that her Uncle Justin was already on his way. She pulled the sheet tighter as another shiver racked her body. She wanted to go home and be in her nice, warm, and safe bed.

~

Justin did as he had promised, he never left her side while at the hospital. After waiting about half an hour after all the bloodwork was drawn, she eventually fell asleep against him.

He caught Iris staring at him again, “What, Iris?”

“I just want you to be careful with her little brother, she’s probably nothing like you’re used to, you know.” She whispered.

“Oh, and what am I used to? And hell, I just met the poor thing today, she needs to be looked after, and I plan to do that, I’ve arranged for one of my employees to come to look at her also, and I’m not going to leave her alone until she asks me to.”

“I know, you’re a good man, Justin, I just hope you won’t get hurt in the process.”

"I’m a big boy, Iris, I can take care of myself, do you think Clay would object to letting her stay at the house?”

“Probably not, but I can call him and find out.”

“Thank you, sis.” Justin watched his sister walk out of the room. Why would she think he’d get hurt? This girl was a victim, not some hussy who was in on all the kidnappings. She wouldn’t be so terrified of some people if she was, nor look as beat up as she did.

His head snapped up when the doctor walked in. Her green shined with sympathy as her gaze analyzed his darlin’ slowly. The doctor cleared her throat, “Well, she’s healthy for the most part, Mr. Mathers, except for being malnourished, as for her memory, it may never come back, or it may come in spurts, we’re thinking blunt force trauma to the head is the cause, there’s no other explanation.” The doctor explained.

“Okay, we’re going to try hypnosis, I know a very good one, and already made arrangements for them to come here.” Justin glanced over at the petite girl. He wanted to give the poor thing her life back, he just hoped it had been a good life and could be good again.

He felt his darlin’ jerk against him, and she moved, sitting rigidly. He tightened his hand on her, “Hey, it’s okay.”

“Sorry.” She sighed out.

“It’s okay, babe, the doc gave you a clean bill of health, for the most part, Iris and I will get weight on you pretty quickly, I also arranged for someone to come check you out, we’ll try to get your memory back.” He brushed his lips against her temple.

She looked up at him, “Have you heard anything about Marnie and the others yet?”

“No, not yet,” Justin sighed, running a hand over his mouth. “But I’m sure we will soon.”

She let out a sigh and hung her head.

Justin tilted her head up and ran his fingers through her short hair. Their eyes locked for what seemed an eternity. He desperately wanted to kiss her. She was definitely attractive beneath the bruises and somewhat sunken in cheeks.

He heard a throat clear, and he turned to the doorway and saw Iris standing there, “Clay said okay, we’re going to let her stay in Marnie’s room.”

His darlin’ practically jumped off the bed, “That’s okay, I don’t have to stay there, I’d take the couch or something, that would do well enough, compared to what I used to sleep on.”

Iris moved closer to his darlin’ and laid a hand on her arm, “You’re not there anymore, so you can have more luxury now, it’s okay.”

She let out a sigh and hugged her head a little more.

Justin got off the bed and pulled the fragile creature against him, “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

“Okay,” she mumbled.

He scooped her up into his arms and followed Iris out of the room and the hospital. He sat her on the car seat, “Iris, can you drop me off at the station so that I can get my bike?” he asked as he sat beside his darlin’, he felt her grasp his hand tightly.

He looked down into those wide, scared violet eyes, “Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you, on the bike, I promise.”

She nodded her head but didn’t let go of his hand.

Iris pulled into the station, before he got out of the car, he kissed his darlin’s forehead and headed over to his bike. He reeved the engine and followed Iris home.

She sat there, staring out the window. How was she supposed to sleep in Marnie’s bed, while she wasn’t safe and in some real trouble? Tears filled her eyes, and she let them fall. Why did she leave them there? Why weren’t the cops finding them? She got away so easily, but she supposed if she hadn’t run into the sexy cop uncle of Marnie’s, she would have been caught again.

Maybe she could lead the cops to where the compound that held her was. But Justin promised she wouldn’t be taken back to her prison. But if that was the only way to get them safe, then maybe that’s what she had to do.

She rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of the tears as they pulled up to a beautiful one-story house. She took in a shaky breath as she stared at the white house with black shutters. Was this the kind of home she came from?

So many stupid questions she wanted answers to but doubted she would ever get them. She heard the door open, she glanced over to see Justin.

“Come on, babe, how about we get you a shower then my friend will be here.”

“The redhead again?” she groaned a little.

“No, darlin’, she’s staying at the station to help search.”

“What is she to you?” she tilted her head to the side a little as she got out of the car.

“A mistake of a business partner, no need to be jealous.”

She frowned a little, what did that feeling feel like? “Is that what I felt?”

“I don’t know. I was just teasing.”

“Oh.” She tightened her mouth into a thin line as she stared at the ground, she let out a yelp when she felt arms around her and was swung off the ground. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

“We’ve got to go shopping for you.”

She glanced at him, “Why?”

“So you have shoes, your own clothes, things that will fit you properly and won’t be swallowed up by Marnie’s clothes, she’s taller than you.”

“I guess so.”