Page 47 of Escape

I let out an exhale, my ribs thanking me as my body sagged with relief.

Huck stroked his thumb along my cheek and asked, “Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?”

Easing myself back onto the mattress again, I took a few breaths. Then I recounted what had just happened inside my head while I was sleeping. When I got to the end of it, I said, “I feel like I’m never going to get away from him, no matter what I do.”

Huck was as reassuring as ever. He kept one hand wrapped firmly around mine. “You will. You already have, because I’m not going to let you go back there. Your body has already gotten away from him, Josie. We’ll work on your mind next.”

He made it sound so simple. I thought he deserved to have a fair warning. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy.”

“That’s okay,” he returned. “We’ll take it one day at a time. I’ll do what I can for you, and we’ll get you some professional help, too. Whatever it takes, no matter how long, I’m going to make this right for you.”

More tension eased in my body. I’d always known Huck was a good guy, but this was on another level. He was looking after me the way Kurt should have looked after me. It made me realize, even in my current physical state, that I was lucky. Not every woman in a situation like me had someone like Huck to help them through. And though this was just the beginning, I didn’t doubt the lengths he’d go to just to ensure I healed both physically and emotionally.

“Thank you for being here with me, Huck. There’s likely a very long road ahead, and I can see that doesn’t scare you. I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you’ve already done for me. I couldn’t do this without you.”

Huck kept one hand on mine and brought the other up to my forehead. He moved his hand back into my hair several times before stopping and offering a light massage in my hair with his fingertips. It was such a sweet and tender gesture, and it made me feel absolutely treasured. “I haven’t done nearly enough for you. But you’re right, we’re just getting started on what’s bound to be a long, difficult road to recovery for you. I’m just glad you know I’m not going anywhere and that I intend to be right by your side.”

“I’m so lucky,” I whispered, feeling my throat get tight.

Huck continued to stroke his hand against the top of my head, the feel of his touch offering so much comfort. “Tired?” he asked.

That was the understatement of the century. “Yeah, a little bit. But I’m fighting it.”

“Don’t be afraid, Josie. It’s okay to sleep. I promise it’s going to get better.”

I tried to take him at his word. I knew he wasn’t lying to me, but it didn’t change the fact that my mind was so wound up. I needed something; I needed a distraction.

“Huck?”

“Right here, honey.”

“Will you talk to me?” I asked.

“Sure. What did you want to talk about?” he countered.

His fingers hadn’t stopped stroking my hair, which not only brought me the comfort I desperately needed, but it offered some encouragement. So, I answered, “I’d listen to you talk to me about anything. You could probably read the dictionary to me, and I’d enjoy it. I don’t know. Can you tell me about where you work? Do you like the people you work with?”

“I do,” Huck confirmed. “As I told you before, there are several different departments, if you will, within the company, and each is responsible for different tasks.”

My eyes were both closed, but I was hanging on to every word. “The private investigators and bodyguards, right?”

“Exactly. In the self-defense and tactical training unit, I’ve got quite a few other guys I work closely with on a regular basis. My closest friend, Greyson, is one of them.”

“That name sounds familiar.”

Huck was silent for a moment, longer than I had expected. I might have grown concerned by it, but he hadn’t stopped moving his hands in my hair. It was the best thing I’d felt in such a long time that I couldn’t just ignore it.

Eventually, Huck explained, “Greyson was with me when I got the call from you, and he was there with me when I came to get you.”

“I can’t remember much about him, but I recall the name. Does he think this is ludicrous?”

“Only in that he’s infuriated about what was done to you.”

“That surprises me.”

“Why is that?”

I didn’t know if he would think I was crazy for saying this. “I guess Harper Security Ops understands these kinds of things happen, but it’s probably not normal that it would hit so close to home.”