Page 65 of Keeping Marie
He put Angelica down so she could go play with Oscar and some of the other kids that were here. Everyone from Alliez was there, and the big bad former special forces operatives should’ve looked out of place, but they didn’t.
His gaze connected with Cass’s, a huge smile lit her up. If it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t have this moment. Any lingering regret he had for what he’d done to her lifted away. They’d both found the lives they were supposed to have, she gave him a nod and then made her way over to her own husband.
“You good?” Marie asked as she came up and slid her arm around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Always. I love you.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Love you more.”
He didn’t think it was possible, but he’d give it to her, for today. Tomorrow he’d tell herheloved her more.
“This is a mistake. This is a mistake.”Steffanie Price’s skin itched and anxiety clawed up her spine like a spider.
The large group of people laughing and having fun at the two-year-old’s birthday were all harmless, she knew that, but after her kidnapping, any type of gathering was too much for her to handle.
It had been over two years since she and Cynthia were snatched off the street corner. Cynthia was doing much better than her. She couldn’t seem to get over it, no matter how much counseling she’d had. Leaving her house was becoming more and more of a chore, but she made herself at least try.
This group, though, was too much. It brought everything back to her. These people were the ones who saved her. Had seen her at her absolute worst. She should never have accepted Teresa’s invitation to come. She should have said thank you but no.
Steffanie scratched at her arms, her nails filed to sharp points so that she was almost digging into her flesh. Pain sometimes helped ground her, but not this time. It wasn’t doing anything. The panic was consuming her to the point her vision was blurring.
I have to get out of here.
I have to leave.
I’m not safe.
The words shouted in her mind, and she turned and rushed away, not seeing where she was going. The need to escape, the driving force.
She slammed into something hard, and when arms closed around her, she screamed. She was being taken again. Those people had found her again. “Let me go! Let me go!” Steffanie twisted and turned to get out of their hold. She’d taken some self-defense classes, but everything she learned was forgotten.
Immediately she was released, but she still didn’t feel free. She still felt the phantom arms around her. The ones that dragged her to a dark room where the life she’d known had been ripped from her.
“You’re safe, Steff. No one is coming for you. You’re safe.” The deep voice kept repeating the words over and over, but she didn’t believe them. How could she?
She was never going to be safe again.
