Defending Morgan (Mountain Mercenaries #3)(29)

“Feel like a short nap?” Arrow asked her.

“I could nap,” she responded.

“Good. Black and Ball are going to head out and find some other things for both you and Nina. More toiletries, a few pieces of clothing—things like that. Anything or any brands you’d like to specifically request?” Arrow had spoken with his teammates briefly before they’d called Rex, and they’d agreed not only to go back to the neighborhood where he and Morgan had been hunted and see what information they could gather but also to do the shopping.

“That’s not necessary—” Morgan started, but Black interrupted her.

“I am not a shopper,” he told her. “I’m lucky to get to my local grocery store once every couple weeks. I much prefer shopping online, but for you, I’ll gladly go to the store to get what you need to make you feel more human. Let us do this for you, Morgan. Let us help you.”

“Well, jeez, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?” she joked.

“You can’t,” Black stated. “But don’t get used it. I can guarantee when we get back to the Springs, Allye and Chloe will take over shopping duty.”

“They’re Gray’s and Ro’s girlfriends, right?” she asked.

“Yes,” Arrow told her. “And they’re as amazing and strong as you are.”

He loved the blush that pinkened her cheeks.

“I can’t wait to meet them,” Morgan said quietly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had the company of a woman.”

“Is there anything specific you want while we’re out?” Ball asked.

Morgan immediately shook her head. “No. It’s been so long since I’ve worn anything other than this”—she indicated the T-shirt and tattered jeans she was wearing—“that anything would be heaven. But . . . Nina is obsessed with Elsa, from the movie Frozen. We talked about her a few times, how nice it would be if we could make a snowstorm appear in the stifling room we were kept in.” She smiled. “If you can find anything related to that movie, it might go a long way toward making her trust you a little more.”

“Consider it done,” Black said. “I hate seeing that look of terror in any kid’s eyes, especially when all we want to do is help.”

And with that, the two men gave them chin lifts and disappeared out the door of the suite, leaving Morgan and Arrow alone, except for a sleeping Nina.





Chapter Eight

Morgan woke up a couple of hours later, momentarily confused and scared out of her skull. She was actually cold, which was unusual, and that was the first clue she wasn’t a prisoner anymore.

She opened her eyes—

And immediately threw herself to the left, away from the man who was standing over her.

“Shit, Morgan. I’m sorry! It’s me. Arrow. You’re okay. Fuck.”

Arrow. Morgan blinked and slowly sat up on the bed. Nina was no longer next to her, and she and Arrow were alone in the room.

“Are you awake? I’m so sorry, beautiful. I thought you heard Nina wake up and climb off the bed. She’s in the other room with Ball and Black . . . which is a huge step forward for her. They found a video of the movie Frozen, as well as a few toys. She’s currently in little girl heaven, watching the movie and playing with the figurines.”

Morgan appreciated Arrow talking to give her time to get her bearings back. “I didn’t hear her leave,” she said, stunned. “I can’t believe it. When we were in that house, if she even so much as moved an inch next to me, I was immediately awake. I couldn’t take the chance one of the men would decide they wanted her rather than me.”

Arrow slowly sat on the edge of the mattress, giving her plenty of room. “I think a part of you knows that you’re both safe here. Black and Ball would no sooner hurt her, or you, than they would any child who was under their care.”

“I know. It’s just . . .” Morgan’s voice trailed off.

“Rex works with a therapist who specializes in crimes against women. I think it would do you a lot of good to talk to her.”

Morgan wanted to immediately protest. To tell Arrow that she was fine and didn’t need to talk to anyone about what had happened to her. But she knew she was kidding herself. She’d been through hell. And if she ever wanted to have a normal life, she needed to purge the hate and fear in her heart. For her captors, for whoever was behind her kidnapping, and even for herself. She wanted to be proud that she’d survived. But at the moment, all she could feel was disgust.

She hated that she’d done what she had. Hated that she’d stopped fighting her captors. It was easier, and less painful, to give in and let them take what they wanted rather than fighting back.

If talking with someone could convince her she’d done what she had to in order to survive, and would allow her to someday enjoy sex again, and hopefully allow her to have a relationship with a man, she’d do it.

Peering up at Arrow through her lashes, Morgan suspected he was a large part of why she wanted to feel normal again. Everything about him appealed to her. His height. His muscles. The scruff of a beard on his cheeks. The fact that he’d freely admitted to being claustrophobic. The way he held her tight when she needed it and kept his distance at times too. He was amazingly perceptive when it came to her, and the way he so easily and freely put her needs first was a heady feeling. No one had given a shit about her in so long.