Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Baby, let me see your phone,” he says gently and tears burn the back of my throat.
“Just let me leave. Please, I have to go,” I beg, backing up, then close my eyes when I bump into the wall behind me, and his body presses against mine.
“Talk to me. Tell me what’s got you so freaked.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,” I whisper against his chest, and his fingers slide back into my hair so he can cup my scalp.
“No one is going to hurt me.”
“You were shot at last night,” I say, and his muscles bunch as his fingers in my hair tighten.
“Did you get a text?” he asks quietly, and I nod, unable to speak. “Was it from Mike?” I nod again. “And he said he shot at me?”
“No.” I swallow and tip my head back to look up at him. “He said he was sorry he scared me.”
He releases the hold he has on my hair so he can cup my cheek. “He doesn’t get to win.”
“He tried to shoot you. This isn’t a game.”
“You’re right; it’s not.” His thumb slides across my cheek. “But I’m not giving him what he wants by letting you go.”
“Aiden—”
“We’ll call the cops and file a report. Hopefully, the shooting along with the texts will be enough for someone to look into this, really look into this.”
“You said Noah couldn’t find out who he was.”
“He couldn’t, but that doesn’t mean this guy is untraceable. He made a profile on that dating site. He might have plugged in some information about himself that was real, and maybe they’ll be able to find out who he is by using that information.”
“I’m not comfortable with you being in danger because of me.”
“And I’m not letting you go.” He cups my cheeks in both of his large hands. “You’re the first thing that has felt right since I found out I wasn’t going to be able to play football again, and I will fight you every step of the way if you try to take this away from me.” He brushes the tip of his nose against mine, and my throat clogs. “We’ll figure this out.”
“What if the cops can’t find out who he is?” My eyes slide closed, and I drop my forehead to the center of his chest. “What if something happens to you because of me?”
“What if I get hit by a car tomorrow?”
“Don’t say that.” My head flies back so I can glare at him, then my fingers dig into his sides. “You… You said the motorcycle that almost hit you came out of nowhere. What if—”
“That wasn’t him,” he cuts me off with a soft kiss.
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” He takes hold of my hips and turns me so he can walk me back toward the bed. When my knees hit the mattress and buckle, he falls carefully on top of me and smooths my hair back away from my face. “Let’s not create more issues than we already have.”
“I just don’t think you’re taking this as seriously as you should be. You don’t understand the things that have happened to my—”
“Since someone apparently tried to shoot me, I promise I’m taking this seriously,” he interrupts before I can explain to him about the kidnappings, shootings, and barely escaped deaths that seem to plague my family. “As soon as you eat and take some Tylenol, we’ll head to the police station and file a report.”
Resting my palms against his chest, I lift my head off the bed so we’re face-to-face. “I need to tell you—” I try to warn him again but groan when the doorbell rings, cutting me off.
“Hold that thought.” He kisses me swiftly before pushing away from me to stand. “That’s probably Noah. He said he’d be over this morning.” He goes to the closet and comes out with my overnight bag, along with a pair of sweats for himself.
“Good, maybe Noah will be able to convince you that you and I should take a break until they find Mike,” I grumble as he puts on his sweats, and he laughs like I’m being funny, making me sigh.
“Not gonna happen, doll.” He stops in front of where I’m sitting on the side of the bed, and I tip my head back to look up at him while he tangles his fingers in the hair at the side of my head. His mouth covers mine, causing my belly to dip, then a whimper of disappointment crawls up the back of my throat as he drags his mouth away. “Come out when you’re dressed,” he orders, and my lashes flutter open just in time to watch him smile up close before he releases me and saunters out of the room, still shirtless.
With a shake of my head, I pull out an outfit and my toiletry bag, then take it all with me to the bathroom. After I brush my teeth, I change into a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, and leave my hair down, since the bandage on my hand makes it really difficult to tie my hair up.