Week 179 – Tyler looked down at the woman he loved with anguish on his face as she broke apart in his arms

Tyler looked down at the woman he loved with anguish on his face as she broke apart in his arms. Macey was strong, stronger than anyone he’d ever met, but being locked in a cage for four months would cause even the toughest person to crack.

He held her, rocking her from side to side, crooning useless platitudes in her ear not because he thought it would help but because he wanted her to hear his voice, to know that she wasn’t alone anymore.

Her tears soaked his shirt but slowly she started to calm until she was just lying huddled in his lap. As much as he could stay this way forever, just holding her in his arms, he wanted to get her out of this room.

“Are you hurt anywhere, sweetheart?” he asked.

She didn’t answer and from the limp way she rested against him Tyler knew she was in shock. Easing her back he laid her down on the floor and ran his hands over her body. She winced a couple of times and he could see bruises marring her bare arms and had to stamp down his rage. Rage wasn’t what Macey needed right now, what she needed was support and comfort.

“Lets get you out of here, sweetheart,” he said as he scooped her into his arms and stood. Tyler carried her through the house and out into the sunshine. Macey winced as the crisp, fresh air touched her skin and began to tremble in his arms and he silently cursed the man who had done this to her.

With Ryder beside him keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings in case Macey’s abductor was hovering somewhere nearby, Tyler sat in the back seat of his car, Macey on his lap.

Ryder handed him a blanket and he tucked it around her then took her face between his hands. Her eyes were blank and seemed to stare through him rather than at him. As much as he wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and protect her, her abductor was still out there.

“Sweetheart, do you know his name?”

She gave a slight shake of her head. Her gaze finally met his and her eyes filled with tears again.

Her tears splintered through his heart, breaking it wide open.

How had he ever let this beautiful woman slip through his fingers?

Desperate to take away her pain, and ease his own, Tyler leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. The kiss was meant to be brief, a way to convey his love for her, but Macey pulled her hands out from under the blanket and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing the kiss out.

It didn’t solve any of their problems but it reminded him his Macey was still in there and he hadn’t completely lost her.

They still stood a chance.

His heart healed just a little.