Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”
Chapter Nine
Jade
I stood at Haven’s entrance, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from my navy dress for the twentieth time. The fabric felt foreign against my skin after weeks of living in jeans and T-shirts. Every few seconds, I checked my watch, then scanned the road leading to the gate, waiting for the familiar rumble of Rip’s motorcycle. My stomach twisted into knots that tightened with each passing minute. Today I would face Eric in court, and despite the protection order already in place, the thought of being in the same room with him made my hands shake so badly I had to clasp them together.
A month had passed since I’d received that notice, thirty days of building dread and sleepless nights. Thirty days of Rip’s steady presence, of motorcycle rides that temporarily freed me from the prison of my own fear. I’d come to rely on those rides almost as much as I relied on Rip himself, though I tried not to examine that dependence too closely.
Ada appeared beside me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you two? That dress isn’t exactly made for riding.”
“I need the ride,” I said, my voice firmer than I’d expected. “It’s the only thing that helps settle me.” Except Rip. But I kept that part to myself. I hadn’t discussed my feelings with Rip because I didn’t know what to tell him. I wasn’t sure I trusted myself yet, despite knowing in my soul the man was the best thing to ever happen to me.
She nodded, understanding without judgment. “Rip will keep you safe.”
The certainty in her voice made my eyes sting. I believed her. That was the terrifying part. I’d believed others before. But this felt different. Rip felt different.
“Jade!” The voice came from a distance, and I turned to see Mia running toward us. She must have come from the back of the property where it joined with the edge of the Kiss of Death compound. She and I had talked a few times. We weren’t OK, but I thought there might come a time when she might not forgive me, exactly, but could look at me and not get that flash of anger in her eyes.
“Hi, Mia.” I did my best to smile at the woman who had been my best friend in the whole world. “Is everything OK?”
Mia stopped in front of me. “Of course, everything’s OK. I wanted to…” She shook her head slightly. Oktober, her boyfriend and the man who’d saved her life when she’d been trapped in a wildfire, followed her but stayed out of our space. “I’m sorry, Jade. I’ve been avoiding you the closer we got to your hearing because I was too big a coward to promise I’d be there with you.”
I jerked in surprise, actually stumbling a step backward. “Mia, I would never expect --”
“I know,” she interrupted. “The truth is he wronged us both. If it hadn’t been for his treatment of you, none of this would have happened. And no matter how much it hurt… that day… What happened to me was nothing compared to what he put you through.”
“I could have left him. Should have. I still don’t fully understand why I didn’t.” I looked down at my feet before whispering. “But I don’t want you anywhere near him, Mia. Especially not on my behalf. The last thing you want is him fixating on you.” I glanced behind her at Oktober, who waited a respectful distance away. “I know Oktober will protect you. I’m glad you have him. But don’t stop watching out for Eric. You know as well as I do he doesn’t like to lose.”
“I do.” She reached out and took my hand. “I can’t go into the courtroom with you. I’m not sure I’m ready to see him knowing the violence he’s capable of and how angry he was at me. But I will gladly go with you to the courthouse. Oktober said Rip is going inside with you.”
“Yes.” I took a breath and smiled at her. “Thank you, Mia. I appreciate the offer. I may have to ask you to do that at some point, but not today. I need to do this on my own as much as I can.”
The distant rumble of an engine cut through our conversation, growing louder until I could feel the vibration in my chest. I straightened, adjusting the small backpack purse I’d chosen for practicality. My heart kicked against my ribs as Rip’s motorcycle appeared at the gate, the guard waving him through with a solemn nod.
He looked different today. No leather cut with the Kiss of Death insignia across the back. Instead, he wore dark jeans with a plain black suit jacket, crisp black shirt underneath. But nothing could disguise the kind of dangerous man he was. The set of his shoulders, the scarred knuckles gripping the handlebars, the rigid way he held himself screamed danger to anyone looking. To me, he looked like safety.