Jax’s POV
The hot, thick steam of the shower stall immediately enveloped us, shutting out the outside world and the cold of the room. Slowly, with the utmost care, I lowered Freya onto the wet, dark tiles. The moment her feet touched the ground, out of pure instinct and shame, she turned away from me. She stood with her back to me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her head bowed.
I didn't scold her. I didn't ask her to turn around. I understood that this was the absolute maximum her pride and terror could endure right now.
The hot water poured down on us with a steady roar. I grabbed a soft sponge and my body wash. The water slowly began to wash away the cellar's grime, the dried mud, and the blood from the girl's body. As the layers of dirt disappeared, my stomach cramped with
