He rushed over to him just as Jason unlocked the door, opening it. He stepped inside the dark room.
Duke pulled out his phone, turning on the flashlight. He ran it around the room. What was this fucking place? It looked like a kid’s bedroom.
Or a Little’s play space.
Finally, someone found the light switch. His gaze immediately settled on the bed. And the sight of a figure lying on top of it, her dark-blonde hair spilling out across the white coverlet.
“Sunny!” he yelled out. Oh God, she was so still. Had he killed her? Had they gotten there too late?
“Sunny!” he roared. He didn’t hear what the others were yelling at him as he dove towards her.
He picked her up and held her close. “No! Sunny!”
“Duke? Duke, what’s wrong? Oh God, what’s happened? Did someone die? Duke?”
Arms wrapped around him cradling him against her chest.
“Duke man! She’s alive. Stop it! She’s fucking alive!”
The words penetrated. Along with the fact that she was holding onto him. That she was talking to him. He pulled back abruptly, taking hold of her shoulders.
“You’re okay. You’re alive.” His breath was coming erratically. He still couldn’t believe he’d found her. He had her back.
She stared up at everyone. Then slowly, comprehension filled her face.
“Oh God, you thought I was dead. Duke, I’m fine. I promise.”
He started running his hands over her body. He needed to make sure for himself.
“Duke, really. I’m all right.”
“Did he hurt you? If he hurt you, I’ll fucking kill him.”
“He didn’t hurt me, I promise. He brought me here and then he left. I’m fine.”
“We should get going in case he comes back,” Reyes warned.
“He won’t come back here,” she said confidently, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.
Duke placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t move.”
“Duke, really. He didn’t hurt me. He locked me in here and told me you guys were coming for me. That’s all.”
“Why don’t you think he’ll be back?” Ink asked, moving around the room. “What the fuck is this place?”
Sunny’s face grew red. “Ah, well, this is one of his safe houses. Apparently, he decorated it like this to make me feel more comfortable.”
“He created this room so when he fucking kidnapped you and locked you up you were more comfortable?” Duke asked.
“Um. Yeah. He’s a strange man. I think he might have some psychopathic tendencies. Or at least his brain doesn’t work the same way other people’s does. He has a warped sense of right and wrong. I think to him, kidnapping me and bringing me here was his way of keeping me safe. And all of you.”
“All of us?” Reyes asked. “Why the fuck would he care about us?”
“He doesn’t,” she said softly. “He cares about me and he knows killing you guys would hurt me.”
“What?” Duke barked. “Are you saying that he. . .that he. . .” He couldn’t get the words out.
“That he wants you?” Jason asked. “Has feelings for you?”