Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
My breathing starts to pick up pace, and my heart races as I try to process these thoughts. I want to trust him, to feel safe, but I can’t ignore the doubts that are creeping in. Fear slowly overtakes me as I grapple with this inner conflict.
I lie there in silence, my mind spinning as I struggle to make sense of my conflicting emotions. I want to believe that Phoenix means well, that he truly wants to protect me, but I’m so scared of trusting the wrong person again. Of being hurt over and over.
I draw a deep breath and try to steady myself. I can’t live my life in fear, and if I’m ever going to move on from my past, I need to find a way to open up again. I need to force myself to take a leap of faith and trust Phoenix, believing that he won’t hurt me.
My heart feels like it’s being torn in two. I want to stay and enjoy this brief moment of peace, but at the same time, my mind is screaming at me to get away while I still can. I’m so confused, so scared.
As I drift off to sleep, I can feel Phoenix’s presence in the room. He’s here, watching over me, keeping me safe from the nightmares that haunt me. And for now, that’s enough.
I wake a few times throughout the night and notice Phoenix asleep in the nearby leather chair. He’s facing the bed, still watching over me. Staying near, but not assuming he may come lie in the bed with me.
He’s a gentleman. Not a monster.
And he’s watching.
And I like it.
Chapter
Twelve
Phoenix
“We need to get out of the house. It’s been a beautiful day, and we’ve spent it cooped up,” Ani says, holding back the sheer curtains of the attic window.
“It’s still beautiful inside,” I argue. And it is because of her. She’s stunning, the sun behind her framing her in a golden-yellow glow. She’s a masterpiece in the flesh.
“The sun is going to set soon. We missed the day.”
“The sun sets every day. Nothing special when it does.”
“Phoenix… Sometimes you need to take in the small and simple pleasures. Mother Nature gives us that. You can’t stay locked up in this house forever. I worry about you, just as I know you worry about me,” Ani says softly, turning to regard me. Her eyes are so kind and understanding, and I feel my resolve crumbling, but I’m still hesitant to venture outside. “Vitamin D. We need to actually feel the light once in a while.”
“I’ll get you some chewables,” I say. “Orange juice and stuff.”
She glances over her shoulder at me and sighs. “Phoenix…”
“I can’t keep you safe if we’re not here. You say Mark is gone for good, but there is no way of really knowing that. I haven’t had time to speak with Apollo and put some additional security in place. I want to know exactly where Mark ended up so we can keep a close eye on him.”
The smile and softness on her face disappear immediately. Shadows and sadness take over. “He’s gone. Trust me. He’s gone.”
“But until I know that for sure, we stay here.”
Ani takes a step closer to me, closing the gap between us. She places her delicate hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eye. “Phoenix, you were my protector last night, my knight in shining armor. You made me feel safer and more cared for yesterday than I have in my entire life. So, let me repay the favor. Let’s get you outside and knock down these prison walls you’ve made for yourself.”
She pauses to see if I’ll respond, but I simply watch her, tempted to go against everything inside of me that screams stay.
“Besides,” she adds. “If you say no, then I’ll just have to go for a walk on the beach by myself, and maybe someone will steal me away forever. Maybe the Kraken will rise from the sea and take me to the depths of the ocean.”
Though she’s teasing, I feel a pull of possessiveness at the thought of how easily she could be taken away from me, just like that.
She crosses her arms and gives me an exasperated look. “I know you don’t like going outside, and I understand. I’m not judging you in the slightest, but if we just stay here in the attic, we’ll miss out on so much life has to offer.”
I say nothing, but I’m watching the persistence in her eyes and finding it endearing.
“What if we go to Seattle? You said you have a penthouse there, right?” she suggests. “We’d still be alone. We still would be inside... safe. But we’d have a change of scenery from the attic. Maybe I could start looking for a job there and—”