How tempting it was. Like candy to a kid... drugs to a crack addict... cigarettes to a smoker. Damn, she could get used to being taken care of.
Don't be an idiot. He's just interested because of the investigation. Don't for a minute think this is anything more than that, Hannah, or you're going to get your heart broken.
They emerged from the bathroom, Dylan guiding her back to the bed and helping her climb in, pulling the covers up over her before stepping back to allow the police captain to move in closer.
"I see you're looking much better today, Ms. Martine. You seem rested. Are you ready to talk to me now about your experiences in the warehouse?"
Her voice came out shaky. "Yes, sir."
"Very good. Now, why don't we start at the beginning? How and when did you meet Jake Davenport?"
The next thirty minutes were painful. Only Dylan sitting on the bed beside her and holding her hand, helped her get through the story again of her disastrous time spent at Jake's house the previous Monday night. Had it only been four days since he'd raped her? In some ways it felt like a lifetime ago, so much had happened since.
When the captain pressed her over and over to relive the horrendous events in the basement of the warehouse, Hannah's bravery faltered. She was done dredging up the memories. She was sure she'd shared everything important. She began to shiver and Dylan got angry.
"All right, that's enough. You don't need to keep pressing her."
Lukus jumped in next. "I agree. In fact, the doctor is going to release Hannah today and, now that she's given you her statement, we're going to fly back to Chicago where we can keep her safe until you guys get Davenport behind bars." He turned to address Hannah directly. "I've turned my loft into a veritable fortress. You'll be safe there with Connor and the rest of the people I care so much about."
His words set off alarm bells instead of comforting her. Her heart pounded fast in her chest as she wracked her brain as to why his words upset her. She tried to calm herself, attributing her uneasy feelings to how bossy the men were being with her life considering they had absolutely no authority over her whatsoever.
But that wasn't it.
The men continued to press her, realizing something was wrong, but she pulled into her little shell, closing her eyes and forcing herself to relive her conversations with Jake; remembering every evil word and deed he'd done… until it came to her in a flash of dread.
"Oh my God! The loft! They're all in danger!" she blurted.
It was Lukus's turn to panic. "What do you mean, they're all in danger?" He had stepped closer and the rage on his face frightened her. Dylan slid between them, pressing Lukus back. She noticed his warning glance as he silently told his boss to back off. Once again, she was grateful for his protection.
It was Dylan who turned and pressed her gently for answers. "Tell us about why they're in danger, honey."
"Jake talked about a loft. It was while we were at that stupid party watching those women enjoy being in pain. I didn't know what he was talking about. He kept talking about how she should have trusted him. How she'd be the star of the parties with her intense pain tolerance. I didn't know who she was that he was referring to. Then he said..." She took a few seconds to try to remember his exact words before continuing. "He said that they were fools if they thought they could keep their women safe at the loft. He could get inside anything and everything, including the loft. In fact, he said it was the only thing he did better than fuck."
She glanced up then to see that Lukus had turned as white as the sheet she was wrapped in. He stood motionless, as if he were in a trance. It was Dylan who urged him into action.
"Lukus! We need to call them right away. They need to be on extra alert."
It was as if he hadn't even heard. "I need to be there. Now. Come on. We're leaving."
Hannah glanced at Lukus before asking, "Connor is there, isn't he? He's in danger with your fiancée?"
Sheer anguish crossed his face. "They're all in danger."
Tiffany
"Miss Scarlett in the study with the candlestick. I win again." Brianna threw her cards down in the center of the board game, knocking everyone's