Maya Banks - Colters’ Gift

“Is Lauren all right?” Lisa asked after pleasantries were exchanged.

Liam sighed. “No. Not really. But then she shouldn’t be expected to be all right. She was kidnapped by a monster and subjected to God knows what.”

“She will be, though,” Noah said with determination. “Liam and I are going to take her back to Colorado. Home.”

Noah saw the knowledge in Liam’s mother’s eyes. To her credit she didn’t argue or try to persuade them differently. Her face softened, as only the love of a mother can soften a woman’s face.

“I know you’ll both take good care of her.”

Carl stepped forward. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let us know. And, Liam, don’t forget in all of this to take care of yourself as well. Your mother worries about both of you. A bullet wound is no small thing so don’t treat it as such.”

“I will, Dad,” Liam said as he was pulled into his mom’s arms.

Lisa pulled Noah closer until she stood between the two men she called her sons. The Colters and Max had discreetly moved farther down the hall, affording Liam and his parents privacy.

“When she’s better, I’d like you to bring her to visit and to meet us,” Lisa said in a low voice. “I don’t want to burden her right now and I think it better if we leave. I just wanted to be sure you were okay, Liam.”

“We’d like that,” Noah said. “I think Lauren would like it too.”

Liam nodded his agreement. “As soon as she’s up to it, we’ll bring her for a visit. Promise.”

“Good enough,” Carl said.

Liam’s father pulled Liam into a bone-crushing hug and then did the same to Noah. Noah winced. Liam got his size and build from his father. Carl Prescott was no slouch at sixty years old. He was a former mixed martial arts fighter and had served in the Marines before going to work in the paper mill he’d retired from. Even so, it was amusing to see that Lisa Prescott had the big man in the palm of her hand.

This was what Noah wanted. He wanted what Liam’s parents had. He wanted what the Colters had. He wanted Lauren and her love, and wanted to shower her with his love and devotion so that one day their children could look at them and think that they wanted the same.

“We’ll let you two get back to her,” Carl said in a gruff tone. “Call us when you get back to Colorado and let us know how things are going. Your mother will worry if she doesn’t hear from you.”

“Will do, Dad. Love you,” Liam said.

“Love you too, son. Both of you.”

Lisa kissed them both and gave them one last hug before she and Carl headed down the hallway toward the exit.

Liam turned to Noah, blowing out his breath. “Well. That went a little better than I thought it might.”

LAUREN laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes as the plane lifted into the air. On either side of her were Liam and Noah, both touching her in some way whether it was a leg against hers or a hand on her arm. It was a silent reminder that they were there. Just as they’d been every minute since they’d burst into the lake house where Joel had died.

The last day had been a blur. Constant flow of people in and out of her hospital room. Noah and Liam had been determined that they were taking her back to Colorado at the very first opportunity, despite requests for them to remain in the area for further questioning.

She’d been questioned at length by the investigator assigned to the case as well as the district attorney whom Noah had turned the disk over to. In truth, she’d paused briefly, considering whether she should give the information now that Joel was dead. It shamed her that she feared reprisal from other quarters once the investigation was launched.

But Castanetti had guaranteed her anonymity and that she wouldn’t even have to testify since all she’d done was collect information from Joel’s computer. They’d have to launch their own investigation based on the information she’d provided. She’d given the disk to the D.A. and had immediately felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.

It was something she should have done from the start. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that, had she not done so much wrong, she wouldn’t have been abducted and subjected to Joel’s abuse, and Liam wouldn’t have been shot rescuing her.

She shivered and her stomach coiled into a knot. Just being on a plane brought back the memory of what Joel had done to her. What he’d forced her to do. Tears burned her eyelids and she bit into her lip to maintain control.

“Are you all right, baby?”

Liam’s concerned voice reached her from what seemed a huge distance. She tried to respond, but she couldn’t even suck in a breath.

Panic clawed at her throat, squeezing and knotting. Her chest burned. She was paralyzed with fear.

There were muffled curses, the sound of seat belts clicking as they were thrown off. Then she was lifted from her seat and carried toward the back where the lounging area was.

A cold cloth was pressed to her face and strong arms surrounded her.

“Breathe, honey,” Noah said gently. “Take a breath for me. Can you do that? Look at me. Like this.”

He inhaled deep and slow through his nose and then let it out through his lips. His gaze bore into hers, willing her to follow his lead.

She reacted sluggishly, the effort taking every bit of strength she had. Noah framed her face with his hands, forcing her to look only at him and the way he breathed. Liam’s hand smoothed up and down her back, offering comfort, and gradually her chest loosened and the choking sensation was gone.

Tears streamed down her face, bathing Noah’s hands. She tried to lower her head, to shrink away from his and Liam’s scrutiny, but Noah held firm and then pulled her into his warm embrace.

“I’ve got you now,” Noah murmured as he rocked back and forth, his arm securely around her.