Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
"I'd never expect him to make a sacrifice like that for me," she whispers.
I pull my foot off the accelerator and ease the brake as I pull to the side of the road.
It takes her a long moment before she turns her attention back to me, but I wait her out.
"These things don't come from expectation," I explain once her eyes meet mine. "Protecting you, protecting women and children in general, is our job. We do it without question and without regard to our own safety."
She frowns, and I know the words landed differently than I intended for them to.
I open my mouth to explain that she's more than a job to me, but those words feel like pressure, as if I expect her to respond a certain way to my actions tonight, something she clearly views as a sacrifice. I don't want her to respond in a way she thinks she should because of my own actions, so I keep my mouth shut.
"You're worth protecting," I say instead as I turn my focus back to the road and begin driving again.
"Thank you," she whispers. "For everything."
There's a finality in her tone that makes the words feel like a goodbye.
I slow to a crawl as I approach the Cerberus gate, but the man inside simply opens it so I can drive through.
I know he's been instructed to prevent delays in getting her back into the clubhouse, and that also means someone else will be waiting to inspect the vehicle after we get out, just to ensure it's safe to remain on the property.
Chapter 54
Juliet
The tremble in my hands stopped the second I placed mine in his in the parking garage.
The sight of the clubhouse's front door makes me pull in a breath of relief. Even if tonight didn't happen, even if Graham was still free and waiting for his next opportunity to get to me, I know I'd still feel the same overwhelming sense of comfort right now.
I felt it before, knowing I was safe here, knowing that every person inside and in the surrounding houses would never let any harm come to me.
I wait for Nyx to climb out and come around to open my door, knowing that's his wish, and once again I lay my hand in his the second he opens my door and offers it.
I pause, just standing still for a second and pulling in a deep breath.
The air feels different here, lighter, in a way that fills my lungs and makes me believe that all my worries have been left outside the gate and can't reach me here.
He walks beside me as we make our way to the front door.
When he pulls it open, I'm not met with the sound of partying like I had left it hours ago.
Sobs hit my ears, every eye in the room lifting to us when we step inside.
Caroline, Melissa, and Dana watch me enter the room, their eyes filled with sadness and confusion. I know they have a million questions, but I just don't feel like I have the strength to speak with any of them.
Victoria is sitting with Dana, their hands clasped on the sofa between them.
Melissa and Caroline sit closer than I've ever seen them sit before, with Slick, the Cerberus psychologist, sitting beside Melissa.
Feeling like a coward, I look up at Nyx, wondering what his expectations are.
He blinks down at me, and as if able to read my mind, he addresses the room.
"She's been through a lot," he tells them. "She needs her rest."
I don't consider his words a violation of my own free will. He's giving me exactly what I need in this moment.
I let him guide me from the room, past the kitchen and down the hallway to the right. I pause outside of my room, hand resting on the doorknob, a different kind of fear threatening me from deep inside at the idea of him leaving me here alone.
"Can I ask a favor?" I whisper, my eyes darting away because the vulnerability in my request makes me feel as if I've taken ten steps back in my own recovery.
"Of course," he responds. "Ask anything of me."
"I don't want to be alone," I confess.
"Then you won't be alone," he assures me. "Do you want me to grab Victoria or Rivet, maybe-"
"You," I rush before I can think of a different answer. "Will you stay with me?"
There's something in his eyes I have no right reading into when he looks down at me.
"Yes."
"If you don't—"
"I want to," he says, his words sounding like a confession of his own. "I was hating the idea of leaving you here alone."
I open the door, the darkness inside reaching out at me like the hand of a beast wanting to cause me harm, but the light squeeze of his hand makes all the fear fade instantly.