Page 117 of Fracture

Vinnie shook his head. “No, but we saved a lot of lives. That’s what we need to focus on.”

“How’s everyone else?” Lorelei asked, remembering the massive team that went in, including her friends.

“Everyone is okay. A little beat up, but alive. We lost two cops.”

“Shit.”

Vinnie nodded. “Their lives weren’t in vain. There were seventeen women there, and we took some of the operators into custody. We will find answers.”

“When can I get out of here?”

“Soon,” Vinnie said.

“Good, because I’m ready to be anywhere but in a hospital.”

Vinnie kissed her softly and nodded. “Me, too.”

A few hours passed before the doctor told Lorelei she could leave. Her gunshot wounds grazed her skin and she would be in pain for a while, but there wasn’t much they could do for her. With the promise she would take it easy, Vinnie agreed to make sure she followed orders, and they left the hospital.

As soon as they were in his SUV, Lorelei called Adam to get a report.

“We’re at Stacey and Wray’s. Come over. We know we have work to do, but we’re celebrating bringing home so many innocent victims. People who get to have a life again thanks to you and what you remembered.” Adam sounded happy. Relieved.

Lorelei wasn’t sure, but Vinnie said they should go. Lorelei chewed her lip the entire time, anxious about ruining the mood. But she knew she needed to tell them everything she remembered.

No more keeping secrets. No more thinking she could do it alone. She was going to rely on her team, just like she did in that house.

Vinnie parked on the street and led the way to the Allen’s front door. Wray opened it for them, hugging both of them before welcoming them into the house.

“Where is everyone?” Lorelei asked.

“What’s going on? I thought we were celebrating,” Wray said as he led the way through the house.

“I remember everything. I need to tell everyone.”

Wray sucked in a breath, his face serious. He opened the back door and led them onto a deck surrounded by a wide yard. Kids ran in the yard, chased by Braden and Holden. The others were relaxing on or near the deck.

When they saw Lorelei, everyone came over to say hello. She greeted them all, hating that she was dragging down the mood. But it wasn’t over. Not until they took down the one in charge.

“What’s wrong?” Frannie asked. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”

“She remembers everything,” Wray provided.

“Everything?” Jessica asked.

Karli took her hand. “Oh, Lorelei, I’m so sorry.”

Tears popped into Lorelei’s eyes. She had fought so hard against the memories. The pain and fear she felt swamped her, and she ached to push it all away, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t let them win.

Which was exactly what would happen if she didn’t tell everyone what she remembered.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Stacey asked. As the therapist, it didn’t surprise Lorelei that Stacey asked the question.

What did surprise Lorelei was her nod. “I think that’s probably a good idea. But today, I need to tell you all the part that matters.”

“It all matters, Lorelei,” Adam said.

Lorelei nodded. “Yeah, but most of it is my own healing. I will get there. For now, I need you all to know who we’re after.”