Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Silent sobs rack my body and tears blur my vision as I cradle my belly, waiting for the inevitable…
CHAPTER 15
ATLAS
Only two more hours stand between me and Nora. I’d like to say I haven’t been checking the time religiously, but I’d be lying. I’d also like to say I didn’t send Ellis to check on her, but again, lies.
And now, to add to all of that, I’m obsessively checking my phone for messages, waiting to hear how she is.
Finally, my phone rings.
“How is—”
“You need to come home,” Ellis says, cutting me off, his words rushed. “Now.”
“10-4.” I put the call on speaker and fire off a text to my chief ranger letting him know I had to leave due to a family emergency and then hightail it to my truck. “But I need you to tell me what’s going on.”
“Well, I came to check on her like you asked, but I guess she didn’t realize it was me and flipped out.”
“Where. Is. She?” I grit out the words, trying to leash my temper. It’s not his fault she got scared, but the urge to lash out is strong. I should have known better. I should have known she’d be scared.
“In your room. I think.”
“What do you mean you think?” I crank the engine and gun it out of the parking lot.
“The door’s locked.”
“Fuck.” I fly down the service road before turning out onto the main highway and punching it. “I’ll be there in ten.”
“It’s at least a fifteen-minute drive.”
“I’ll be there in fucking ten. Tell your boys if you need to.” I end the call and focus on the road, driving like a madman.
Thankfully, the lunch hour rush is over and there are no cops on my route, allowing me to make it home in record time.
I squeal to a stop in front of the house, throwing my truck into park and killing the engine before marching into the house.
Ellis meets me at the door. “Man, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t.” I wave away his concern as I stalk down the hallway, my sole focus on getting to Nora.
“Nora.” I try my doorknob, but it’s locked, like Ellis said. “It’s me, Pip. It’s Atlas.”
I press my ear to the door, listening for any sign she’s in there, but I don’t hear much of anything.
Reaching overhead to the lip of the door frame, I feel around for the emergency pin lock key. It takes a few tries, but eventually my fingers brush against it. I grab it and shove it in the small hole on the knob, effectively disengaging the lock.
Everything in my room looks as it should—aside from the neatly made bed, which is clearly Nora’s doing. The doors to the closet and bathroom are both shut, but before I can decide which to check first, the sound of muffled crying gives away her location.
Every part of me is screaming get to her now, but I approach the closet slowly. Rushing in would only scare her more. Patience is the name of the game, and I’m playing to win. How could I not be, when Nora’s trust is the prize?
“Pip, it’s me,” I murmur, slowly pulling the door open to reveal Nora huddled in the corner, rocking back and forth as she cries.
No, cries isn’t the right word. She’s sobbing, her despair so tangible it’s seeping out of her pores, hanging thick and heavy in the air around us.
I fall to my knees in front of her and scoop her into my arms. I’m expecting her to freak out, to fight, but she doesn’t. No, she clings to me with her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, like I’m the only thing standing between her and certain death.
“Shh, I’ve got you.” I rub my hands over her back, trying to soothe her. “I’m here. You’re safe, Pip. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
She burrows into me, pressing her tear-soaked face into my neck as I continue whispering reassurances to her.
“Let’s get you out of here,” I say, attempting to stand.
But Nora flips out, digging her nails into the back of my neck as she tries to move impossibly closer. “Please don’t leave me,” she cries, and I swear to God, something irreparable inside of me breaks.
“I’m not, Pip. I’m not leaving you; I promise.”
We sit here, on my closet floor, for what feels like hours, with me rocking and whispering and holding Nora. By the time she calms down, my back is cramping and my shirt is wet from her tears.
“Atlas.” Her voice is hoarse when she whispers my name.
“I’ve got you, pretty girl.” I press my lips to her temple. “I’m here.”
She sniffles before pulling back ever so slightly. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” I brush her matted hair away from her face. “You didn’t do anything.”