I can’t help but glance around every corner, every shadow, and every tree. My paranoia has been getting the best of me. After what happened to Blake, I have no choice because I won’t allow that to be my fate. I’ll never let my guard down again. This town is supposed to be my safe haven and every day that becomes less and less true, but I’m not running. Not anymore.
Opening my front door, I pause and listen out for anyone making their way around my home. I refuse to be careless, not even in my own home. After confirming that I’m alone, I close the door and lock the deadbolt behind me. The blinds are all closed, the windows are double-checked and the backdoor is booby-trapped with an air horn.
Finally feeling safe, I drop my bag onto the living room floor and flop down beside it. I guess there’s no better chance to get on top of all of this work than now. I pull out my math homework and the massive textbook that goes with it and get started.
I get two hours in when my head drops to the coffee table and my eyes grow heavy. What could a little nap hurt? I’ve hardly been sleeping since Blake was hurt. All I can see when I close my eyes is my little brother laying helpless in that ditch. Not to mention, facing Anton didn’t particularly help with that situation.
The drowsiness comes over me and I find it impossible to fight. The boys won’t be finished with basketball training for another hour and then I’m assuming they’re going to keep me up all night with their mindless chatter.
Allowing myself to give in to my most natural desires, I instantly fall into a welcoming darkness that takes me away, all the way to the back of Slade’s truck as he hovers above me, whispering my name.
A smile rests peacefully on my face as he kisses me tenderly, telling me he loves me and reminding me that he’s always going to have my back, that he’s always going to put me first, and that I’ll always be safe. He takes away the bad, he makes the awful memories fade, and he makes me feel alive for the first time in thirteen years.
I’m so lucky to have found him. I don’t know where I’d be without him. Actually, I know exactly where I’d be and I don’t like it. Slade has changed my life for the better.
All too soon our messing around is finished and he’s sitting in the driver’s seat, looking over at me with that smile on his face as the night sky blocks out everything around us.
It’s just me and him. Perfect as always. I love spending time with our friends, but when we’re together, just the two of us, it’s electrifying.
Slade drives, expertly handling his car. How is it possible for men to look so damn sexy while they drive? He’s relaxed, leaning back into his seat, his elbow propped up on the side with his window down. The breeze shoots in through the open window, sending air blowing down the sleeve of his shirt, making the rest of it wave against his washboard stomach.
I think I’m drooling.
I try to pull myself together but as I glance away, Slade’s truck is rammed into from behind. My head whips back to Slade with panic to find his eyes on the rear-view mirror.
My heart races. What the hell was that?
I spin around in my seat, desperate to see what’s going on and as I do, the black SUV rams into us again. “NO!” I scream, absolutely terrified as Slade grips onto the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turn while.
He speeds up, trying to get away, his eyes constantly flashing between the road ahead and the drama behind.
The SUV keeps up, right on Slade’s ass and I fumble around for my phone. Where is it? I pat down all my pockets. We need help.
Terror grips me and as I turn around, I see them, the haunting, glowing eyes of my past.
He’s come for me.
Lucien.
His sickening laughter rumbles through my head, surrounding me, making me sick. His hands grabbing, always grabbing, touching and feeling what isn’t his.
The back of the car is rammed again and I scream, knowing what’s coming next as I see the bridge up ahead. It’s always the same but I can never make it stop. Never make the horror fade from my mind.
I grip onto the handle near the door as Slade keeps pushing his Dodge RAM to its limits. He’s determined to get us out of here, he thinks we’ll be okay but he doesn’t know, he doesn’t get it.
We’re going to die.
Lucien’s voice comes through my head and it’s as though he’s talking right to me, only me. “Mine, princess. All mine.”