Page 43 of Rescuing Erin

“Could he be working as an independent contractor? Would my dad know then?”

I didn’t know all the ins and outs of government contract work, but a friend from college had gone to work for a computer company that had been awarded many contracts.

“I’m not sure. But I know the man who brought you into this room is Charles Warren.”

“Does he hate Zane enough to really want to kill you?”

“Fuck yes.” His answer made me flinch, and I was rethinking this forthright version of Colin. Maybe he’d been right all along, and it would’ve been better to be kept in the dark. The truth scared me even more. “The good news is, Zane Lewis makes Warren look like a fluffy kitten.”

“Not sure that’s making me feel better.”

“It should. It means no one is going to let us rot away in here.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you for taking care of me, sunshine.”

“I’m sorry you’re hurt so badly.”

My apology sounded stupid even to me, but I wasn’t sure what to say. The fear from being captured was threatening to take over. I wanted to be the brave, strong person Colin thought I was. I wanted to prove to him he had a reason to be proud of me. But it was hard and getting harder by the second. Seeing him bloodied and broken scared me more than the men outside the door. If they could do that to a big, strong warrior like Colin, I hated to think what they could do to me.

“This is a walk in the park. Trust me, I’ve had worse.”

“That’s really not making me feel any better,” I grouched.

“Lean down here and give me a kiss.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Kiss me!”

“Okay.”

I leaned down and, as gently as I could, placed a soft peck on his cut lips. I didn’t care I could taste blood, I needed the connection. His love was the only thing that was going to get me through this.

“You taste like sunshine and a fresh summer breeze.”

“Is that why you call me sunshine?”

I could never figure out the silly nickname but never wanted to ask.

“No. I call you that because you’re the sun in my otherwise dark life.”

Now was not the place, but when we got out of there, I was going to ask why he thought his life was so dark. I didn’t think it was. He was a good man with a big heart.

“What happens now?”

“We wait.”

“Okay.”

Waiting was the last thing I wanted to do but it seemed we had no choice.

* * *

The door banged against the drywall as it flew open, and I jerked awake. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen asleep.

“Time’s up, princess. Let’s see if daddy signed the papers.”