Epilogue
Five months later
Olivia and Bruiser sat at one of the small tables scattered around the large exhibition hall watching Jayden as he talked with one of the instructors for the Artistic Institute of Greater Los Angeles. Whatever he was saying, he was enthusiastically flinging his hands in wild gestures, barely missing Auntie Nat as she stood next to him with a proud smile on her face. Livy loved watching how excited he got. She smiled as she toyed with her wine glass. Thank God for Joselyn Benson and her reward money. Since Jayden's sketch had given both the authorities and Bruiser's team a nudge in the right direction, Joselyn had determined Jayden should have the reward. That $25,000 will cover the costs of his attendance in the program. She was grateful for the generous gift - especially since her plans were on temporary hold. Her trauma therapist, Ara, had assured Livy she was getting better. She felt better.
Her mind wandered to the little woman who was such a huge presence in Livy's recovery. She thought she had escaped the entire incident mostly undamaged. However, that wasn't true. At first, Livy jumped back into life as if nothing had happened, barely acknowledging her experience. She ignored the pitying glances from her friends and coworkers and waved off any attempts to engage her in conversation. Livy didn't mention the incident to Auntie and carefully refused to answer Jayden's questions. She was fine. She hadn't been there for years like the other women. They were the real victims, not her.
The first day of classes, she sat down in a massive room with hundreds of other students, took out her book and prepared for class. The instructor, a handsome man in his mid-thirties, began to explain the course to them. It wasn't until halfway through that she noticed a young man a dozen or so rows below her wearing all white with pale blond hair. In an instant, she was transported back to that office when Petr and the ghost-like friend of De Jääger scrutinized her.
Apparently, she had screamed then blacked out, for when she awoke in a panic, a paramedic was trying to hold her flailing arms to check her blood pressure. She screamed and fought against him. Thankfully, the instructor had her information file handy and called Auntie who, in turn, called Bruiser. Once he arrived, she had calmed down enough to recognize him. He gently picked her up as she sobbed in his arms, and took her to his apartment. Bruiser stayed with her that night, holding her while she cried, letting her beat on his chest with her fists and scream at him as she worked her way through the emotions she had bottled up inside until she fell asleep exhausted. The next day, he had talked her into going to see Ara Palmer. The therapist had been instrumental in incorporating Livy back into her life. It had taken months, but she finally felt ready to try school again. Spring classes start next week.
Livy was brought out of her muse by his voice. "So, which one is your favorite?" Bruiser asked as he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. He was always doing that now. He took every chance he could to show her how much he loved her.
She viewed the three offerings Jayden had done for the show. "I love them all, but the one he did of your memory is my favorite. Most people would think it would represent a bad time, but it doesn’t. I look at that picture and see myself through your eyes. It doesn’t represent captivity. It’s hope and strength. Even at that moment, when I was at my lowest, I still knew you were out there somewhere. We shared that time, although I didn’t even know you physically were there." She smiled wistfully."I'm amazed at how he captured your description of seeing me on the balcony that night. I'm really glad he didn't put the collar there. It helps that you don't see me as an ex-slave."
"You were never a slave, and I didn't tell him about the collar because I didn't think it was important. It's bad enough that you will have scars on your neck for the rest of your life from the shocks coming from that monstrosity."
"Hhhm," she hummed. "Is it strange that they don't bother me?"
Bruiser leaned over and kissed the faint webbing of lines on her neck. "No, it's not strange. They aren't marks of your captivity; they are proof of your strength. You overcame insurmountable odds when most people would have curled up and died. Own them, honey. Not many get to wear their courage for the entire world to see."
"It helps when I give lectures. People can see proof of trafficking right there. But, if it saves one person's life or gets one more trafficker out of commission, then it's worth it. I want to stand there one day and see every one of those men at that party behind bars. I want to see them as they realize their freedom is gone; that they are the ones in a cage. Maybe that makes me messed up." She chuckled.
"What you and the others went through is enough to mess anyone up. You were tortured, humiliated, and would have been raped. That is a lot for anyone to get over. Hell, honey, I know SEALs that would have buckled under the pressure you, Mishi, Catori and Rana went through." He hesitated a moment. "Have you talked to them?"
She took a sip from her glass of red wine. "Mishi and I talk at least every other day either by telephone or in texts. She was taken when she was just twelve years old. While she was away, her parents died, which makes her depressed. Plus, she's having a hard time coping with her freedom. Eleven years in captivity, but she didn't break. That's real strength. Ara found a survivor's therapy group in Minneapolis for her. She's slowly getting better, or at least I think she is. Catori returned to her family in Nevada, but from what Mishi told me, she's not adapting well. Her brother had her committed for her own safety. She's tried to take her life twice."
Bruiser wrapped his arm around Olivia and squeezed gently. "I'm sorry, honey. I know you want to help her."
"I do, but there's nothing I can do. I thought she had survived captivity bent but not broken like Mishi." She sighed heavily. "He broke her. I don't know if anyone can put the pieces back together or not."
They sat in silence as the patrons of the Institute browsed the various offerings of the student show.
"What about Rana?"
She shrugged. "Who knows? She disappeared the minute she stepped off the airplane in Houston. Nobody knows who her family is or where she was from. I don’t even know her last name, or I’d ask Digger.”
"Ask Digger what?"
A tall man with a beautiful woman stopped at the table. He was muscular but not as tall as Bruiser. He wore his dark hair long to cover the twisted flesh of a burn scar on one side of his face. He pushed a pair of dark, horn-rimmed glasses up on his nose and held his hand out. Standing up, Bruiser shook hands with him.
"I wasn't sure you were going to make it," Olivia said. "I'm so glad you did. Jayden will be excited to see you." She loved how close Jayden had gotten to the information technician who was instrumental to her rescue. Discovering Digger enjoyed drawing as well had cemented their friendship.
"Well, since I live nearby and my buddy had his first show, I had to be here, didn't I? Bruiser, Livy, this is Demma St. John. Demma, Bruiser and Livy." Digger introduced them.
Livy knew who Demma St. John was. Anyone who had watched a movie in the past three years should know her. The gorgeous starlet wore a simple pantsuit of tan and red with her long blonde hair up in a simple ponytail. She was unassuming and did not fit the stereotypical persona of a pampered A-lister. Instead of looking down her nose at Livy and Bruiser, she smiled broadly and greeted them warmly.
"Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, everyone is tickled to meet each other. Now, ask me what?" Digger repeated as he dropped into one of the chairs and pulled Demma into his lap. She squeaked but settled down and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"We were talking about Rana," Olivia answered.
"Off the grid. I tried everything I could, but she's nowhere to be found." He shrugged.
"Don't sweat it. Digger, you are the reason we have Olivia back. There's no way we could have done this without you. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, thank you."
An uncomfortable darkening crept up his neck and swallowed his heavily scarred face. He coughed and looked away, embarrassed. "I'm no John Keegan, but I do alright, I suppose."
"You do wonderfully, Ryker," Demma purred. "You know he saved my life?"
Olivia blinked. "No, I hadn't heard that. When? Where?"
Demma smiled gently as her fingers caressed the side of Digger's neck, carefully avoiding the heavy scars. "That's his story to tell." Leaning forward, she snatched two glasses of red wine from a passing waiter. "A toast."
Olivia and Bruiser lifted their glasses. "What are we toasting?"
Demma grinned, "Team Cerberus. Protectors of the weak, bad-ass soldiers, and hot alpha males."
"Here, here," Olivia chimed in and raised her glass.
From beside her, Bruiser choked on his drink. "Team what?" he said between coughing fits.
"Cerberus. You know, the three headed dog that protected the underworld." Demma winked. "Kick-ass team needs a kick-ass name. Since all the members aren't in the SEALs anymore, you needed a team name." She shrugged.
Digger and Bruiser looked at each other and shrugged. "To Team Cerberus," they intoned together then tossed back their drinks.
Bruiser smiled and pulled Olivia closer. Yes, they had been through hell, but it had made their relationship stronger. Squeezing her tighter, he thought about the box in his pocket. They would talk once Jayden was back in his dorm room and they were home in San Diego. He had made a promise to solidify their relationship, and he was taking that step tonight. Olivia was his, and he wasn't taking any chances of losing her again.
"I love you," he whispered against her neck before placing a kiss there.
"I love you, too," she returned and snuggled into his side.
His woman was strong, and he was so proud of her. Strong, fierce and independent. She had survived her mother's inattention, a pimp's infatuation, and being sold into slavery.
Bruiser thought about the trip and how his team had not hesitated in supporting him. When he needed them most, they had been there for him. Even River had come through, along with his wife, Joselyn. Digger. That's what family was all about. His team and his lady. He would do anything for them; go anywhere he was needed and always be there for them. He watched his lady as she talked with Demma, making idle conversation about the various paintings exhibited on the wall. It was amazing what one would do for love, and he loved her fiercely. Nothing would ever be too much when it came to Olivia’s happiness. He chuckled to himself. He had proven that when he went all the way to Suriname to save her. He had been ready to swoop in and rescue her from whatever horrors she was enduring. However, in the end, he and his team of kick-ass alpha male SEALs had been her support.
Olivia. His beautiful, strong, brave Olivia had saved herself.