Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Maybe, but I’m not giving him a second chance. I saw what he did to you, and I’m not letting him get away with it.”
There’s a promise in my words to get justice for her. That man has never known consequences, and as soon as this storm is over, I’m going to make sure he’s well acquainted with them. He’s not going to live his life thinking he got away with hurting the woman that means everything to me. I’ll be the one to put an end to his reign.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
KATE
I should be happy that the snow has slowed down. It is barely falling anymore. The power will come back soon, and life will return to normal. Except I don't have a normal life. My chest aches at the thought of leaving Wynn's home. Hell, this place has felt more like a home than any other before.
We've been snowed in for a handful of days, and they've been the best of my life. When I'm near Wynn, all my worries melt away. It’s only us and I can forget about all my problems. The heavy fog lifts from my mind, and a part of me that I kept tucked away gets to come to the surface.
When I’m with him, I don’t have to watch my every word or action. All I have to do is allow him to take over. Oddly, Wynn's orders come out in a protective way. They’re about me and my needs. I want to please him because it’s what I want to do. I don’t fully understand it, but it makes me feel free.
My father ruled with fear, and it pushed me away. Wynn earned my trust and respect, and it’s drawn me closer to him. Hell, he might have more than my trust and respect. It feels like he’s got my heart too, but I can't let myself go there.
It's too early for that. Right? I can’t bring myself to ask because I’m worried I’ll sound inexperienced. I mean, yeah, he knows that to a degree I am inexperienced, but I don’t want to be clingy. For all I know, this could be like a vacation romance that ends when I leave. Worse, this could all be about saving me and doing what he thinks is right.
I huff a breath, getting frustrated with myself. At times I’m indecisive and not the best at making decisions. I debated running away for months, but only the fear of death or being shoved away in a hospital finally pushed me into action. I hate that it took me so long to act. It makes me feel weak and like my mother. It’s a terrible thought, but it’s the truth. Being like her scares me more than anything.
What if I don't see Wynn as I should? What if I see him through the same lens my mother viewed my father? It makes me question my own decisions and if I can trust myself.
"Are you okay?" Wynn comes up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist. His hand rests on my stomach as he gently strokes me there.
"It's clearing up out there," I tell him.
"Are you tired of me already, or are you getting cabin fever?"
I peek over my shoulder at him, and his hair is a mess, making him appear younger. Every time our eyes meet, it causes flutters in my stomach.
"It's been nice here." I smile at him before I turn back to the window. The white snow was fresh and untouched as if everything were new, but now it’s not. The snow is melting, and nothing has changed. "It felt safe.”
"I'll keep you safe." He kisses the top of my head, and when I don't respond, he turns me in his arms. Wynn put on a sweater, and I hate it. I rest my hands on his chest, and I miss touching his bare skin. Or when it’s pressed to mine. "You have to trust me."
"I do trust you," I rush to say.
"Then what is it?"
"It's just a lot."
I'm not trying to be evasive with him. I’m processing everything and wondering if he has too. He was worried about his career before, and that’s still an issue. I won't let him lose everything because of me. I understand why he wants to try to protect me; it’s who he is. He’s spent his life wanting to save people, but this isn’t so simple.
Why save one or two people when he could go on to save so many? I need to speak to Juliet and see about the possibility of starting over in another state. I don't know if that's possible or how those things work, but I have to find a pathway out. One that doesn't hurt the people that helped me along the way.
"You’re right, Kate, it is a lot. These kinds of traumas linger in the psyche. Therapy goes a long way, and it can help you work through all the thoughts I'm sure you’re having." He cups my cheek with his hand, and I lean into it.