Lost in Me (Lost Duet #1)

Chapter One

Bonus Sample Chapter

LOST IN HER

Lost Duet, 2

Ethan

I grab my coffee and make my way to the security building. It is my turn to take over the graveyard shift, which I don’t mind. I don’t have anything else to do.

Since the apartments have opened, Shawn and Emory have been busy getting everything done. They have expanded the apartments out to where they own all the land around the center, and they continue to build more buildings to help survivors.

I am proud of Shawn and the man he has become. He and Emory now have four children, and they have a good life together. For years, I lived in the house with them, making sure Emory and Shawn were safe, but now that their family has grown, I built a house on the property but out of sight so they can have their space and I can have mine.

Plus, I spend most of my time here at the security building anyway, watching over the center and the apartments, making sure everyone is safe and secure. So far, we haven’t had any issues.

No one has been stupid enough to try and break in, and honestly, I don’t think they could. Shawn and I have put so many cameras and gates up that need codes, and no one can get in unless we want them to. The fence is too high for someone to get over without being seen.

But just in case, we always have a few men watching the property, and I am always the first one to take shifts. I don’t have a family, and I need something to do. Just sitting around my house isn’t doing anything for me, and when I am not here, I am with the kids. They are fun. I love them just like I love Shawn and Emory.

I quickly open the door and walk inside. Three of our men are sitting at the counter watching the monitors. They all turn and look at me. “It has been quiet, boss,” they state at the same time. Having a quiet night is a good thing. I am not looking forward to when it is no longer quiet.

It is not the question of whether it will happen, it is the question of when it will happen because it will. The abusers don’t want us to create a plan like this, and eventually, one of them will try to destroy what we have built. But they have no idea who the fuck they will be dealing with because Shawn and I will never let anyone take this place from us or the people that live here. I will make sure this will always be a safe haven.

“Good, let’s hope it stays that way,” I state calmly.

“Emory is still inside the center meeting with a new client that will be moving into the apartments tonight,” one of the men informs me.

“She is still there?” I ask, not surprised at all. She is normally here when I am until Shawn comes and gets her. Tonight is not different.

“Yes, sir,” the man states with a smile.

“That woman, I swear,” I state, allowing myself to laugh a little.

I watch them smile and nod as they get up and walk past me out of the open door. I make my way over to my normal chair—the one in the middle—so I can see all the monitors and the window. It allows me to watch the front gate just in case someone tries to walk up to it.

I take a seat and sit back in the chair, watching the monitors. I slowly sip my coffee as Emory and the new client make their way out of the center. I watch Emory lock the doors, gently turn, and place her hand on the lower back of the young lady. She is starting to guide her my way.

Emory trusts me to show new clients around and make sure they have everything they need. We give them everything for free so they don’t have to buy or do anything to the apartments. All they have to do is ask for what they need, and we will send men to get it.

Most of the clients stay on the property and go to therapy and groups, or they stay in their apartments behind the locked gates. I think it is because they feel safe with us here, and they don’t feel safe out in the real world. The world that has caused them the pain and suffering they are trying to escape and process.

A few years back, Shawn and I finally walked away from dealing dope. We are rich and don’t need the money, so now we all work with the center and the apartments. This is where our passion is anyway. Shawn started this for his mother. I stayed because it gave me meaning and helped me break the cycle of the family I came from.

We all have our reasons for staying in this line of work. Our men stay because they want to help others escape the life that was trying to break them.

We have expanded our services to not only DV but also helping people escape sex-trafficking rings, prostitution, and a few other things. Clients come from all walks of life, and we have the manpower to help them escape if need be.

That is what Shawn has been focusing on: trying to find a safe way of helping people escape their abusers. We haven’t perfected it yet, but it is well on the way.

I take a deep breath as I continue to watch Emory and the new client make their way to the security building. I sit back in my seat as Emory stops at the doorway.

“Hey, Em,” I state softly. She works as much as I do, but I know she loves it.

“Hey, Ethan,” she states back, smiling at me. Emory has become my family. We are all close and protect each other after what she has been through. She is the strongest person I have ever met, and every day, she amazes me with what she does for other people.

I set down my coffee, slowly stand up from my chair, and make my way over to Emory. I lean against the wall next to her. “Does Shawn know you are still here?” I ask. I know my brother, and he is going batshit crazy right now with her being out this late.

She smiles and nods. “Yes, he does, and he is on his way,” she states with a smile. She loves driving him crazy, but they work perfectly together, and it has been amazing to see their life unfold over the last few years.

After everything she and Shawn have been through together, it has made them stronger. It didn’t break them but brought them closer together. Everyone who sees them together can see their love. It is a beautiful thing.

“Of course he is. You drive him crazy staying here so late.” I laugh and cross my arms over my chest.

“I know, but you are here, so I am good,” she states with confidence. It means a lot to me that she trusts me and knows that while I am here, she and the others are safe.

“Anyways, Em, you know I got your back,” I state softly, feeling my heart race. Being needed is something I need, which I know sounds weird, but it is true that being needed fills the emptiness inside me.

“I know,” she states calmly with confidence. She has no doubts about me or what I will do to keep this place safe.

I slowly look from Em to the girl standing next to her. She is wearing a deep purple dress. Her hair is long down to her butt. It is a dark brown. I can see the fresh cuts and bruises on her arms. I stop my eyes on her wrists and see the fresh wounds. The same ones Emory had when we found her in the room Jesse was keeping her in.

I don’t need to ask what made those marks. I know she was chained. I slowly look up at her body and stop at her neck and see the same fresh wounds on her neck, making my blood fucking boil.

I slowly move my eyes up and stop. She has deep dark green eyes. Eyes I have never seen before. Eyes that make my heart stop. She has freshly fallen tears rolling down her face. Her right eye has a cut above it. Her lip is bruised and bleeding.

Whatever happened to her just fucking happened to her. She has her arms wrapped around herself. Her body is shaking a little as she keeps her eyes on me. She is afraid, very fucking afraid.

“This is Jennifer,” Emory states softly.

I push off the wall and take a small step closer to her … immediately she takes a step back, ensuring there is plenty of distance between us. I slowly reach out my hand. “Hello, Jennifer, I am Ethan,” I state in a soft voice. She is already afraid, and I don’t want to do anything that will make her even more scared. I can tell she is uncomfortable, and I know right now there is nothing we can do that will make her comfortable. She will be on edge until she knows this place is, in fact, what Emory is telling her it is.

She takes a deep breath and tightens her arms around herself. I slowly lower my hand and take a step back. I look from Jennifer to Emory. Emory’s eyes are filled with worry and concern.

“I need to get home. Do you think you can show her around and make sure she gets settled?” Em asks me in a soft voice.

I nod. “Yes, I can do that. She will be safe with me,” I whisper, feeling my heart race a little. I have shown many clients around and have taken them to their new apartments, but there is something different about this girl. She just looks completely fucking shattered.

“I have no doubts, Ethan,” Emory states with a smile. She slowly turns and faces Jennifer. Jennifer looks from me to Em.

“Ethan will take good care of you. I know you are scared, but you are safe here, and you are safe with him. If you need me, no matter what time it is, you have my number. Call or text me, okay?” Emory states. I know she wants to stay here and help, but her kids need her.

“Thank you, Em,” Jennifer states softly in a shaky and uncertain voice.

“You’re very welcome, Jenn,” Em states with a small smile.

Emory turns her head and looks at the parking lot Shawn is pulling in, stopping a few feet away from the security building.

“I will come by and see you tomorrow,” Em states to Jennifer.

I look from Em to Jennifer. I watch her look at me, then back at Em. She slowly nods and gives Em a smile.

Em nods, quickly turns around, and makes her way over to Shawn. She opens the door and slides in, closing the door. Shawn wastes no time stepping on the gas and heading out of the parking lot.

I know he was worried about Em. We are all always worried about her. She will do anything for her clients, even if that means staying here until 3:00 AM to make sure they are okay.

I take a deep breath as I stand still. Jennifer is standing still in front of me, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

I slowly turn and make my way over to the table, grabbing the jacket I left here yesterday. I turn around and slowly make my way back to my spot. I reach out my arm with my jacket.

Jennifer stares at the jacket for a moment and then slowly releases her hold on herself. She reaches out and grabs the jacket. I feel her cold fingers brush against my skin as she takes the jacket from my hand. The touch of her skin on mine makes my heart stop a moment.

Jennifer looks up at me as she quickly puts on the jacket, once again wrapping her arms around herself.

“Let me show you around.”

She nods and takes several steps back, ensuring there will be plenty of space between her and me when I step out of the doorway.

I calmly walk through the door and stop a few feet away from her.

“What would you like to see first?”

“I would like to go to the apartment, please. I am tired.”

“Yes, of course. I can show you the rest of the grounds tomorrow if you would like.”

She doesn’t respond as I slowly make my way over to the gate and begin putting in my code. I can feel Jennifer behind me. She is close enough that I can feel her without feeling her.

I take a deep breath and watch the metal gates open wide. I slightly turn and look at her. Her eyes are on me. “This way,” I state as I turn back around and start to make my way toward her new apartment. She is on the bottom floor in one of the newest apartments. It just finished a few months ago. Apartment 615.

As I make my way to her apartment, I can hear her behind me. “Emory gave you your code, right?” I ask softly.

“Yes,” she states with confidence. The first time I have heard confidence come from her.

“That code will open the gate and your apartment along with the other buildings,” I state, looking around at the apartments. Everyone is asleep by now, safe and sound.

“No, keys?” she asks in a surprised voice.

When we started making these apartments, Shawn, Emory, and I talked about the safest way of letting people in and out. Keys are too easy to make copies of, so Shawn thought of the idea of codes, and so far, it has been working.

“Nope. We thought it would be safer with codes. The only people that have all the codes are Shawn, Emory, and me,” I state, trying to reassure her that her code is safe. Her code is safe with me.

“Okay,” he states softly once again. I can hear the confidence leave her and replaced with fear and sadness.

I stop in front of her apartment and put in the code. I open the door and step inside, turning on the living room light.

I turn around and look at Jennifer. She is standing right outside the door, looking into the apartment. Her eyes stop on me. She is fucking terrified.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

“I can’t,” she states in a low, shaky voice. I want to go to her. I want to take whatever fear she has away, but I know if I try, I will scare her, and that is the last fucking thing I want to do.

“Can’t what?” I ask, taking a small step toward her, which causes her to take a step back.

“I can’t go in until I have permission,” she states softly, keeping her eyes on me. My heart fucking sinks with her words. I take another small step forward and reach out my hand to her. My heart races as she continues to look at me.

She searches my eyes. I don’t know what she is looking for. “You don’t need permission anymore, Jennifer.”

She takes a deep breath, slowly releases her hold on herself, and reaches out her hand to me. I gently grab her hand and take a step back, forcing her to take a step forward.

She is now in the doorframe. She keeps her eyes on me as I take another step back, forcing her to take a step inside. Her breathing is unsteady, her eyes filled with fear and sadness, making my heart fucking break for her.

I release my grip on her hand, but she keeps her hand in mine as she takes a small step toward me. Now, she is standing in front of me. She is close enough that I can smell her, our bodies almost touching as she takes her hand from mine.

“I will be close if you need me, okay?” I state softly. Her scent fucking takes me over.

“Okay,” she whispers.

I feel my heart racing as I step around her and make my way to the doorway. “Ethan,” she whispers. I stop but don’t turn around.

“Jennifer,” I state back, wanting to turn around but not giving in to my urge.

“Thank you,” she states kindly. I don’t know her story, but I do know whatever she has been through has conditioned her, and I don’t like it. I don’t fucking like it at all.

“You’re welcome,” I say softly as I step out of her apartment and close the door behind me.

My heart continues to race as I quickly make my way back through the open gate. I turn around and start to put in my code to make it shut. I look up as the gate starts to close and see Jennifer looking out of her apartment down at me.

I nod to her, because honestly, I don’t know what else to do. She makes me nervous, but I do know one thing. I need to fucking talk to Emory and find out more about this girl. This girl has somehow made my heart stop beating. This girl is so scared and shattered.

End of sample chapter