“And then there was the abuse, the sadistic treatments that he liked to inflict because he got off on it.” She visibly shivered.
Jagger curled his fingers into his palms. The need to go to her, wrap his arms around her, and pull her to the safety of his chest rode him hard. But he didn’t know how she would react and didn’t want to freak her out even more. Although violence was a part of his everyday life, he had never been involved in a case like this, but what he knew was he wasn’t about to walk away.
“There wasn’t an opportunity for you to get help, or maybe escape?” Even after the words left him he knew he shouldn’t have said them. They seemed callous, despite the fact he hadn’t meant for them to be that way.
Sonya shook her head and brushed away the one tear that slid down her cheek. “I tried, more than once when he first took me, but all that got me was harder hits, and scars to show what would happen if I did it again. Besides, Trick always had someone watching me, and the only phones at the clubhouse were the cells the members used. And the only time he let me out of the clubhouse was to roam around the property with one of his guys always by me.”
A low, rough growl left him. She hadn’t been into a town where civilization was in seven fucking years? Jagger lowered his head and stared at the ground. He clenched and unclenched his hands, tried breathing through his nose and out his mouth, but he needed to fuck some shit up.
I survived, and that is all that matters.”
He looked up at her when she spoke. Her voice was low, but he heard the hurt laced in her words.
“I’m not broken, not ruined from any of that, despite Trick trying to do just that. In fact I feel stronger because of it all.”
Jagger stared into her bright blue eyes. Yes, she was a strong female, and he was glad this shit hadn’t defined who she was.
“Even though escaping seemed like an impossible act, I never gave up. I saw your club’s truck at the clubhouse, and knew I had to try once more. It was like fate had stepped in once more, and I wasn’t about to cower because I was afraid of the repercussions.”
“I’m glad you were able to get away. I’m just sorry it took this long.”
She smiled at him, and it was a warm and genuine one. “I’m still alive, and what has happened has just shown me that I can get through just about anything.” She shrugged, but kept her smile. “Besides, now that Trick is dead I can finally start moving forward.”
Jagger stared at her, and he hated what he was about to say, but she needed to know. “Trick and one of his members took off in the woods.” For a moment she didn’t move, didn’t even blink, but slowly her worry and fear morphed her beautiful smile and made her expression horror-filled.
“He’ll come for me.” She became tenser, and her voice cracked on the end.
Jagger didn’t stop himself from going to sit next to her on the couch. She straightened when he sat beside her, but he was just as surprised by his actions as she was. Never had he given a shit about a female’s feelings. He had only fucked them. That was it.
She turned slightly so she could face him. “He will. He’ll come for me, and he’ll kill me.” A fat tear slid down her cheek, and before Jagger could think about it, and because his bear had become pretty fucking protective of this human female, he reached out and brushed his thumb along her cheek. She sucked in a breath and stared at him wide-eyed, probably thinking the same thing he was: what in the hell was he doing?
“Sonya, he won’t come for you. I’ll protect you, my crew will protect you, and the Grizzly MC will make sure no one ever hurts you again.” Slowly he saw her visibly relax.
“I don’t know why I feel so safe around you. I don’t even know you.” She lifted her arms and brushed her tears away with the back of her hands.
Her words were soft, and he let his eyes linger on her lips as she spoke. That sweet smell that came from her was even more powerful since he was so close to her. “You don’t know me, and have no reason to trust me, but if I wanted to hurt you I wouldn’t have to lift a finger to do so.” He didn’t say it to frighten her, but more so to solidify his words. “I won’t let him hurt you, Sonya. Not fucking ever again. If Trick is stupid enough to come here looking for you, then he’ll have to go through me to do so, and believe me,” Jagger leaned in another inch and heard her suck in a breath. “He will not get through me.” He held her stare with his, hoping to make her understand that yes, he considered himself a pretty bad fucking guy, but when it concerned his MC, his friends and family, or in this case, Sonya, Jagger could be a pretty fierce protector. And for some unexplainable reason, and one he wasn’t about to question because it felt too damn right, Jagger would protect this female with his life. She had been kidnapped as a child, tortured and abused by one sick motherfucker, and he swore to whoever was listening that he would hunt down Trick and make him pay with blood for what he had done to her.