Everything hurt as my eyes fluttered open in my room at the cabin. I tried to focus as Collin and my father leapt to their feet from the edge of the bed.

“How long have I been out?” I tried to sit up but my body wouldn’t let me.

“Not too long, sweetheart. Only a few hours.” My dad gripped my hand as he leaned down to kiss my cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Daddy. I tried to fight them off.”

He brushed my hair away from my face. “It’s all right, baby. None of our guys were hurt.”

“Thank God.” I sighed, closing my eyes again.

“We’re getting a doc out here to come check you out. She should be here any minute.” My father’s voice was soft and calm.

“Where’s Mom?”

“At the house. I didn’t want her to see you like this.”

“Thank you.”

“You know, Collin was the one who saved the day.”

I forced my eyes to open again to look at my knight in shining armor. “I told you he was a good one,” I whispered.

“You were right—you usually are. Get some rest, sweetie.”

I faded back into nothingness until I heard the door open and a woman’s voice speak.

“Harlow? I’m Kae. I need to check out your wounds.” Her tone was sweet as she walked into the room. “Can you guys give me a minute alone with her?”

“Sure,” I heard my father reply.

“Can Collin stay?” I didn’t want to be alone, but I knew what I had to say to the doctor was too much for my father to hear.

“Of course I can, babe.” Collin’s husky voice was music to my ears.

When the door shut, I started bawling.

“What is it, Low?” Collin asked. I could feel his weight sink the side of the bed down.

I shook my head. I couldn’t get the words out.

Collin gripped my hand before speaking to Kae in a hushed voice. “I think you need to do a rape kit.”

Tears ran down my face as I nodded. “I don’t know how many,” I wept. “They kept me blindfolded the entire time.”

“I can do that.” Kae started to dig in her bag.

“Can this all just be a bad dream?” I begged as I intertwined my fingers with Collin’s.

Collin kissed my cheek. “Of course it can. It’s over now and you’ll be back on your feet in no time, baby. No one ever has to know.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.

“I’m never leaving your side again.”

I sat by Harlow’s side while the doctor completed her exam and did her best to stitch up Harlow’s lip. As she drifted off to sleep again, I followed the doctor out into the living room where all the guys were waiting to get an answer.

“She’s pretty banged up. I’ll leave some pain meds for her along with antibiotics. She’s a strong woman. I haven’t seen a beating like that in a very long time.” Kae left two prescription bottles on the coffee table.

“But she’s going to be all right?” Blaz choked out, wiping his eyes.

Kae put her hand on his shoulder. “Plenty of bed rest and these meds will have her good as new in about a week or so. She’ll need to take it easy and shouldn’t drive while she’s taking these, but all in all, your little girl is going to be just fine.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Blaz handed her a stack of cash.

Turning to me, Kae cocked her head to the side. “See me out?”

“Sure.” I followed the doc to her car.

“I didn’t find any fluids, so the guys must have used protection. That’s a very good thing. But, needless to say, that girl is going to need a lot of support to get over this. Are you prepared for that?”

I let out a weighted sigh. “I’ll do anything for that woman.”

She offered a kind smile. “Good.” Handing me her card, she added, “Call me with any questions. I’ll come back if need be.”

“Thank you.”

I shut her car door behind her and waved as she pulled out onto the dirt road.

“Everything all right?” Blaz called down from the front porch.

“She just wanted to make sure Harlow had her card if she needs it,” I answered, making my way up the front steps.

“Thank you, son.” He pulled me into a hug.

“Don’t mention it. You know, sir, I love your daughter.”

“You definitely proved that to me over the last twenty-four hours.”

I made my way back into the house, grabbing a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer.

“Babe?” I put my hand on Harlow’s arm as her eyes fought to open. “Let’s get some of that swelling to go down.”

She winced from the cold wrapped in a towel.

“Thank you,” she muttered.

Without giving it too much thought, I dug my cell out of my pocket and dialed my mom’s number.

“Honey! I’ve been worried,” she answered on the first ring.

“How do you feel about Christmas at the cabin?”

Harlow’s eyes got wide as a crooked grin filled her bruised face.

“You’re not going to come home, are you?” Nothing got past my mom. She was too good and knew me too well.

“I kind of like it up here, and I think I’m in love.”

“Finally!” my mother exclaimed. “Harlow is perfect for you.”

I smiled down at Low as I laughed. “How’d you know it was her?”

“Son, you’ve been pining for that girl since you were eleven, and yes to Christmas at the cabin. I’ll call Abby and get it all worked out.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I love you, honey, and next time you’re in a firefight, put some damn Kevlar on, for fuck’s sake.”

“Ryder needs to learn when to keep his damn mouth shut.”

“You know I have a way of getting the scoop out of him faster than that boy knows what hit him.”

“Love you, Ma. Talk soon.”

Harlow slid closer to me. “I think I love you too, Collin.”

I tucked her into my side, wrapping my body around hers. “I don’t have to think about it. I’ve loved you since I was a kid.”

“Good, because I have too.”