Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“West,” I say, placing my hand on his shoulder. “West, stop,” I say again, and his body freezes.
He turns his head in my direction, and his eyes find mine. They’re wild and barely focused a moment before something in him clicks back into place. He lets Jake drop hard to the ground, and I’m pretty sure he’s unconscious or close to it. The next thing I know, West is pulling me into him.
“Did he hurt you?” His hands hover all around me, not quite touching me but searching. “Bellarose, did he—”
“No.” I shake my head rapidly. “I’m, uh…” I try to say something but can’t get the words out. It’s then I realize that I’m crying. “You came. I didn’t think because you didn’t come back, and I thought…” I trail off as the jumbled words run together.
“I’ll always come for you,” West says, pulling me in. His arms wrap tightly around me, and I bury my face in his chest, breathing him in. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he repeats like he’s the one who attacked me and not the one that saved the day. “You’re okay,” he murmurs against my hair. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
I’m not sure if he’s reassuring me or himself.
Chapter Ten
WEST
Bellarose is clearly shaken up after the ordeal with Jake. Hell, so am I. We end up leaving him in the woods as we go back toward the cabins, but I hear him curse a few times, so I know he’s still breathing. Unfortunately.
I’ve never been so possessed before. So completely unhinged that I think I might have killed him if Bellarose didn’t tell me to stop. I’d like to think I would have stopped before that happened, but even now I want to turn around and finish what I started.
Instead of doing exactly that with my hands, I’ll take care of it with my wallet. The first chance I get, I’m filing a report with the camp and then contacting my team. I’m going to make sure this guy is blackballed from every company that hires him, and then I’m going to have a few friends stop by his house and pay him a visit. They’ll make sure he can’t ever do what he did to someone else. The sad fact is that Bellarose probably wasn’t his first victim, but she’ll be his last.
“We’re almost there,” I tell her as I cradle her in my arms.
It was so dark on the way back, even with the lantern, that I didn’t want her to trip over anything. She didn’t protest as I scooped her up in my arms and held her close to my chest. If anything, she cuddled closer and seemed to finally relax. In that moment, I knew I was her safety, and I also knew that I would take that job seriously. Protecting Bellarose has now become my life’s mission.
“Where?” She lifts her head from my chest to look around in confusion. “This isn’t my cabin.”
“I know,” I tell her as I walk up the front porch steps. “It’s mine.”
“Oh” is her only reply as I step inside.
“You’ve been through a lot tonight, and I was worried about you going back to your cabin.” I clench my jaw so I don’t tell her what an asshole her roommate was. “Mine has a landline phone and Wi-Fi in case you want to call anyone.”
“That’s really sweet of you, but I think I’m okay. Just a bit shaken up. I’m better now.”
“I’d feel better if you stayed with me tonight,” I say, and her eyes meet mine. “I’d like to take care of you.”
Something about my words softens her expression before she nods. “I’d like that too.”
“Good, then it’s settled.” I place a quick kiss on her forehead, not wanting to do too much after what happened tonight.
She relaxes against me once more as I carry her through the cabin and back to the bedroom. It’s late, and if she hasn’t had an adrenaline crash yet, when she does, she’s going to be exhausted. As if on cue, she yawns loudly.
“Let me get you something to sleep in,” I tell her as I place her on the bed.
“Mkay,” she mumbles as she automatically snuggles into the pillow.
By the time I go through my bag and grab a shirt, she’s already asleep. Seeing the peaceful look on her face settles the anxiety in my chest, and I pull up a chair next to the bed. I have the need to stand guard or at least be ready in case there’s another threat against her. It’s silly, but I’m not ready to let my guard down. At least not yet.
While Bellarose sleeps, I make some calls and send a few messages about tonight. I make sure someone finds Jake in the woods if they haven’t already and let my assistant Simon know that my cabin is currently off limits. To his credit, he doesn’t ask follow-up questions.