Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
"He was still in your house when you got home, princess," he says, his voice level. "You saw him. None of the other victims were asked to leave because none of them were close enough to see the suspect. You were. We can't guarantee he won't come back to ensure you can't identify him."
I pale at the thought. "I didn't…"
"So no, this isn't about the fact that I want to sleep with you," he says, cutting me off. "It's about the fact that you aren't safe here. I'm not going to let you put yourself at risk just to prove that you're a big girl, capable of taking care of yourself."
"I'm a jerk," I whisper, feeling about two inches tall. "A massive jerk."
"No, you're independent as hell," he corrects. "And I fucking love that you don't take any shit and know your own mind. But you aren't a cop, Molly. I am. It's my job to make sure you're safe. If I have to piss you off to do that, so be it. I'd rather you be pissed and alive than spend the rest of my goddamn life with a hole in my heart because you're stubborn and infuriating and don't know when to ask for help."
I don't know what to say to that. To any of it. He just…I think he just told me that he loves me? Crap. Is that what he's saying? That he's in love with me?
Can I really stand here and pretend that I don't feel the same way when, just half an hour ago, I was afraid something would happen to him, and I'd never see him again? No. No, I can't.
Whatever this is between us is vast. And terrifying. But if he can stand here and admit that he'd live the rest of his life with a hole in his heart if something happened to me, then maybe…well, maybe it's time for me to bend a little, too.
This isn't a game anymore.
It's starting to feel a whole lot more like forever.
"Help me, Easton," I whisper, feeling like I might vibrate apart at the seams as my defenses crumble at his feet and I do the only thing I can do. I let him in.
"Jesus," he rasps, dragging me into his arms. "You're damn right I'm going to help you. I'm not letting anything happen to you, princess. If you're determined to stay here, then I'll move in until we catch the motherfucker."
"I… Okay," I whisper.
Chapter Six
Easton
"Baby, this is only for today." I plant myself in front of Molly, forcing her to stop pacing for two seconds to look at me. She hasn't stopped moving since we got to my place fifteen minutes ago. She's anxious as hell about being in my space. It's written all over her face. "We'll be back at your place by morning."
I wish like hell that she'd agree to stay here, but she's hellbent on facing this on her own terms, and as much as I fucking hate to admit it…I get it. Would I feel safer with her here? Hell yes.
But she won't. She'll always feel like she wasn't strong enough. And that's a hell of a thing to have banging around in the back of someone's mind. I don't want her doubting herself before she ever even has a chance to find out what she's made of. If we have to stay at her place so she knows she's capable of meeting this on her feet, then that's what the fuck we're doing.
I don't fucking like it, though.
That motherfucker was in her house, prowling through her belongings. He knows her name, what she looks like…maybe even where she works. That last item should make me feel better, but it doesn't. It just gives me one more goddamn reason to worry that he may come back.
I don't plan to give him the chance. My new mission in life is arresting that prick. Actually, I have two missions. Getting my ring on her finger and arresting him. I'm multitasking.
"I know," she says after a moment, her pretty blue eyes locked on my face. "I'm just…" She huffs, her shoulders bouncing in a shrug as a blush climbs up her cheeks. "Promise not to laugh at me?"
I tug her into my arms, my heart pulsing at the vulnerable look on her face. She's been a goddamn rockstar so far. It's easy to forget that she's not nearly as calm and collected as she'd like me to believe. Whether she wants to admit it or not, she's afraid. She just doesn't think she's allowed to be.
"The night I got shot, I saw the gun and I was completely fucking helpless to stop what I knew was about to happen. I still remember how that felt," I say, holding her gaze. "I still wake up in a cold sweat, thinking about that moment. So there isn't a damn thing you could tell me about how you're feeling that would make me laugh at you, princess. I get it, more than you know."