“Shit, are you okay?” the man asked.
I scrambled away as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
He held both palms out to me. “Sorry. I—”
His words were cut off as Hayes and Beckett charged down the hall.
Beckett sank to his knees in front of me, his hands going to my face. “Addie. Look at me.”
I blinked a few times, trying to come back to myself. To Beckett. I tried to wrap the torn bodice of my dress back around me. “I-I need a shower.” I wanted to be clean, to erase the memories dogging my brain.
Beckett shrugged out of his flannel and wrapped it around me as Hayes rapid-fired questions at the man who’d helped me.
“Walter,” I croaked and pointed to the door.
Hayes’ eyes went hard, and he took off out the door, pulling his phone out as he went.
Beckett’s expression was nothing less than ravaged as he lifted me into his arms. “I’ve got you.” He carried me down the hall and through the crowd. People stared. My face flamed.
“What happened? Addie, are you okay?” Everly charged through the crowd, Hadley and Calder on her heels.
“F-fine.”
But I wasn’t. The word no had never existed for me growing up. I didn’t have a choice when it came to my father’s orders—or the people who worked for him, for that matter. I could agree and do it quickly. It would’ve been the same had he married me off to Walter Crichet.
I started to shake. I tried to get my body to stop but it wouldn’t obey. All I could see was that man. Feel his hands on me. Imagine what it would be like if I had been given to him.
Beckett muttered a curse and hauled me up into his arms. “I’m taking her home. Tell Hayes.?
?
Then, he was moving. The crowd parted, and I pushed my face into his neck, not wanting to see the stares. I couldn’t stop shaking.
There was a rush of cold and quiet. Outside. I dragged the fresh air into my lungs, hoping it might clear everything away.
Footsteps sounded behind us. “I’ll drive your truck. Calder’s following.”
Beckett only grunted in response. We reached the vehicle, and he slowly set me down as he handed Hadley the keys. “I’m going to lift you, okay?”
“I can do it.”
I started to climb into the back of the cab, but Beckett’s hand had already gone around my waist. In a flash, we were inside, and Beckett pulled me onto his lap. No one said a word as we drove. I tried to focus on stilling my muscles, but they still wouldn’t listen. Shivers wracked me, and Beckett pulled me closer against him.
“We’ll get you warm.”
We were back at the farmhouse in a flash. Beckett lifted me out of the truck and carried me towards the house. Hadley ran ahead, unlocking the door and silencing the alarm. Beckett didn’t stop moving, taking me upstairs and into his bathroom.
He lowered me to the stool next to the bathtub and turned on the water. He crouched, framing my face with his hands. “I’m going to go lock up after Hadley. I’ll be right back.”
My hands flashed out, fisting in Beckett’s shirt. “Don’t leave me.” Shame filled me as soon as the words were out. I was terrified to be alone; as if Beckett were the only one keeping the demons at bay.
He cursed but tugged me against him. “Okay. I won’t.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “Yeah, can you take the house key off my chain and lock up? Thanks.” He paused. “Yeah, I’ll text or call.”
He shoved the phone back into his jeans and rubbed a hand up and down my back as my body trembled. “Let’s get you into the bath. It’ll help.”
“Will you get in with me?” I didn’t want to lose his touch. His comfort. The safety I felt with him.
“You’re sure?”