Always you

Chapter 28

As the last man hit the floor with a groan, Rafe's adrenaline still surged through his veins, but his focus had already shifted. His heart pounded as he turned and ran toward Sasha. She sat slumped in the chair, her wrists red and raw from the ropes, her hair falling messily over her face.

"Sasha!" Rafe's voice cracked as he dropped to his knees in front of her. His trembling hands reached out to untie the ropes, fumbling in his haste.

Sasha slowly lifted her head, her green eyes locking onto his. Despite the bruises on her cheek and the dried blood on her lip, she managed a small, relieved smile. "I knew you'd come," she whispered, her voice hoarse but steady.

Rafe's chest tightened at her words. "I'm so sorry," he choked out, his hands finally freeing her wrists. He cradled her hands in his, his thumbs gently brushing over the angry red marks left by the ropes. "This is all my fault. You shouldn't have been dragged into this."

Sasha reached up, her fingers lightly brushing his face, where a cut along his cheekbone was still bleeding. "You saved me, Rafe," she said firmly. "That's what matters."

But Rafe wasn't convinced. His jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to the floor. "You wouldn't have been here in the first place if it wasn't for me," he muttered. "If I'd just been honest with you—if I'd kept you away from all this—none of this would've happened."

Sasha cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. "Rafe," she said softly, her voice cutting through his spiral of self-blame. "What happened wasn't your fault. But you do need to let me in. You can't keep shutting me out and trying to handle everything on your own."

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, but instead of pulling away, he nodded slowly. "I know," he whispered. "I just... I didn't want you to see this side of me. I didn't want to scare you away."

"You're not going to scare me away," Sasha said, her tone unwavering. "But if we're going to do this—really do this—you have to trust me. You have to let me in."

Rafe stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes searching hers as if trying to gauge whether she truly meant it. Then he pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her. "I'm sorry," he murmured into her hair. "I'll do better. I promise."

JJ stood nearby, leaning on his bat as he watched the two of them. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair and sighed, pulling out his phone. "I'm calling the cops," he announced.

Rafe glanced up sharply, his arms still wrapped around Sasha. "No cops," he said reflexively.

JJ rolled his eyes. "Too late for that, man. These guys jumped you, kidnapped Sasha, and threatened your life. They deserve to rot for this."

Before Rafe could argue, Sasha tightened her grip on his arm. "He's right, Rafe. This has to stop. If we don't involve the police, they'll just keep coming after you. After us."

Rafe hesitated, but the look in Sasha's eyes made him relent. He nodded once, his jaw clenched. "Fine. Do it."

JJ dialed the number, his voice calm and steady as he explained the situation to the dispatcher. Within minutes, the distant sound of sirens filled the air, growing louder as they approached the warehouse.

When the police and paramedics arrived, the warehouse transformed into a scene of controlled chaos. Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the darkened space, casting long, jagged shadows across the walls. Officers swarmed the area, securing the unconscious men and taking statements from Rafe, JJ, and Sasha.

A paramedic approached Sasha, a kind-eyed woman who knelt beside her and gently checked her injuries. "You're lucky," the paramedic said softly. "No broken bones, but you've got some nasty bruises. We'll clean up those cuts and get you checked out properly."