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I followed the other officers down the dank, narrow stone steps and paused as Martinez pulled the skeleton key from the bag and inserted it into the lock. The click of the lock disengaging seemed to echo in the narrow space, and I held my breath as the door swung open.
Inside the room, it was completely dark. I don’t know what I was expecting. Even the warehouse had been dimly lit. Here, though, there was nothing, no indication of life whatsoever. The air seemed thick and stale, and the tiny kernel of hope I’d harbored began to dissipate.
Beams from the mens’ flashlights bobbed and weaved as they swept the room. Golden light washed over the wall as one of them lit an ancient looking lantern suspended in a holder on the wall. I froze on the bottom step as I quickly scanned my surroundings. A roughhewn workbench stood against the wall to my right, various implements scattered over its surface. But that wasn’t what made my heart stop.
In the middle of the room sat a pinewood box. It was the only thing of substance in the room—and it could only be here for one reason.
The room went deathly silent, so quiet I swore I could hear the beating of my heart echoing off the stone walls as the men tossed uneasy glances at one other.
I looked at SSA Martinez. “What the fuck is that?”
“Donahue, maybe—”
I shook my head, one hard, fast shake, and the agent’s lips pressed into a firm line. He shot a quick look at Jack, who stood next to me. I didn’t look at him; I couldn’t take my eyes off that Godforsaken box. What the hell was inside? Deep down I knew, and my gut clenched into a tight knot.
In my peripheral vision, I watched Jack give a terse nod.
As if realizing I wasn’t going anywhere, Martinez moved to the far end of the box and accepted the crowbar one of his men extended to him. Two agents stood at the ready, pistols trained on the box, prepared for the worst. Martinez slid the narrow end under the lid and levered upward. The nails screeched loudly as they pulled free of the wood, and I cringed at the sound. Martinez set aside the crowbar and swore softly as he lifted the lid.
My heart clenched and my hands curled into fists as pale skin was revealed an inch at a time. I wavered on my feet, suddenly lightheaded, and I locked my knees to keep from falling. Even from here I could see the dark brown stains on the inside of the lid. Claw marks. My body turned numb, dense as cement, and the light in the room grew intensely bright before fading once more.
I quickly blinked and fought for control as my heart thudded against my ribcage. Everything bottled up inside me felt like it would shatter at any second, and I drew a deep breath, forcing oxygen into my lungs. I had to stay strong.
The two agents holstered their weapons as Martinez dropped to one knee and dipped a hand inside the box. He placed his fingers on Jules’s neck, then looked up at me. I stood frozen, not daring to breathe until he gave me a slight nod. Then my feet were moving of their own volition, and I found myself in front of the box.
I hit my knees, tears of fury burning my eyes. Jules lay inside, curled into the fetal position, one arm tucked protectively over her head. Her skin was riddled with cuts and bruises, stained various shades of red and brown from the blood that had encrusted her skin along with the new wounds that still seeped liquid.
A steel band constricted around my chest as I stared down at her. I felt helpless, so furious that I wanted to rip something apart with my hands. I regretted that Matteo was already dead, because he deserved so much worse for what he’d done to Jules.
“Jules?” I spoke softly. “It’s me, baby—Eric.”
I didn’t dare move her arm; I had no idea what she’d been through, and I didn’t want to risk her trying to fight back. Instead, I gently pressed two fingers to her throat so I could feel her pulse myself. It was there—barely.
My gaze swept over her, and I blinked the moisture from my eyes as I took in the full extent of the damage done to her body. Lacerations and welts riddled her body, from her lower calves to the top of her shoulders. Dressed only in her underwear, there hadn’t even been a fabric buffer between her delicate flesh and whatever implement of torture Capaldi had used. I swallowed hard, wondering if he’d inflicted damage where I couldn’t see. Had she been raped and left for dead? Christ, I couldn’t fathom the thought.
Using my large frame, I turned slightly to block the others’ view of her, though I knew they’d moved away to give us space. I’d heard Martinez call for the medic, so I only had a few more moments with her before they would come take her away.
“I don’t know if you can hear me, sweetheart”—I gently touched her hand where it rested over her head—“but it’s over now. He won’t hurt you anymore.”
I stroked one finger over the back of her hand, taking in the ragged, blood-stained nails. The sight made me physically ill. There wasn’t a single inch of her that wasn’t battered and bruised, and it fucking broke me that I couldn’t even hold her to comfort her. I was furious with myself for not looking harder, finding her sooner. How could I have ever believed, even for a single second, that she would leave me? Had my hesitation done this to her? While I’d been cursing her for her betrayal, she’d been tortured at Capaldi’s hands. What if even those few hours could have made a difference? God, I couldn’t bear to think of it.
“We’re going to take you to the hospital, honey, and get you all fixed up.” I slid my fingers around hers. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.”
For several heartbeats I just waited.
Nothing.
Panic welled up, and I ruthlessly pushed it down. I wouldn’t lose her now; I refused to let her give up. Not when we were so close. “Come on, baby. Squeeze my hand. Let me know you’re still in there.”
Nine heartbeats. Ten.
My breathing increased. “Come on, Jules. Fight for me, baby! Squeeze my hand!”
Jack laid a hand on my shoulder. “Donahue—”
I shrugged him off. “No, I—”
Then it happened. So light I almost missed it, her fingers curled around mine.
“Jules!” A relieved breath rushed from my lungs, and I gave her a gentle squeeze back. “Hang in there, sweetheart. I’m here now.”
She’d withdrawn completely, and she was in shock—but she was in there. A shudder rolled through my body. God. How close had I come to losing her? I didn’t even want to contemplate it.
“Sheriff?”
One of Martinez’s men stood off to the side, crowbar in hand. He lifted it toward me. “We’ll need to disassemble the box so we can transport her.”
I nodded but didn’t move. They could work around me; I refused to leave her side. As the man went to work loosening the nails that held the walls together, I spoke quietly to Jules, walking her through each step of what was happening and offering what little comfort I could.
Three sides fell away, leaving only the one I was currently leaned over, holding Jules. “Almost done, sweetheart. We’ll get you out of here soon. I’m going to have to let go of you now.”
I started to pull away but was stopped by the feel of her fingers around mine. My breath caught, and I squeezed back. “Jules?”
Her fingers constricted around mine, and the arm covering her face twitched. I swept tiny circles over the back of her hand with my thumb. “Just lie still, sweetheart. I won’t go anywhere.”
A tiny whimper left her throat as her arm moved again. It slipped lower, and she tucked it against her chest. Seeing her move, seeing her fight, filled me with hope. I leaned further over the edge of the box and brushed one hand over her hair.
“Wake up for me, baby. Let me see you.”
Her long dark lashes fluttered for a long moment, then fell closed again. Her chest rose on a deep inhale, then, as if it took all the strength in the world, she blinked. Once. Twice. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, and several heart beats passed as I waited for her to meet my gaze. The sight of her gorgeous green eyes was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
Relief and joy and a feeling I’d never experienced before billowed up inside me. I bit my tongue against the urge to pull her into my arms and bury my head against her throat. Instead, I bowed my head and kissed our hands where they were still joined. I swallowed hard and forced a smile to my lips as I lightly brushed her cheek.
“I’m right here, sweetheart. I’m never leaving you again.”