Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
I set the mug down with a clatter, not bothering to clean up the coffee that splashed over the rim. “No, I don’t have a death wish. And I don’t need you to keep reminding me that what I did was foolish. Jesus, living all alone on this mountain has done fucking wonders for your people skills.”
I opened the door and slammed it shut behind me, walking out into the forest behind the cabin. I knew I didn’t know the area. I knew it was probably a dumb idea. I knew that I was probably proving that stupid alpha male right.
And absolutely none of that mattered. I couldn’t stand to be around him for a second longer. All I knew was that if I was around him anymore, I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.
Walking into the brush, I allowed the tears to finally start flowing, giving space to the pain and fear that had been rising since the day before. The breaths started to come out of me in gasps, and I worked hard not to wheeze on the heaving in my chest.
“Macy!”
I didn’t turn around at the voice. I just stood there, in the forest, letting him come to me.
“Macy, I’m sorry.” He came around to face me, his face contorted with an apology. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“You must’ve meant part of it or you wouldn’t have said it.” I was amazed that the words came out so steady.
He sighed. “I just… I’ve seen some shit.”
My eyes snapped up to him. “So have I, Dillon. I lived the shit. That doesn’t give you the right to talk to me like that.”
“I was a cop. In Nashville.” The words came out softly. “I saw all the statistics, and I saw the shit that made the numbers inaccurate. You don’t want to know how many crime scenes I got called to where there was a woman who was murdered by her partner, who she didn’t report.” He heaved a breath. “I don’t want you to become just another number.”
“Too late.” I swallowed heavily as I wrapped my arms around myself.
“Just…” He threaded his hands together. “Just stay here, okay? I can help you, but I need you to listen to me and take my advice. You can’t just walk away from the cabin. Come back inside, and we’ll make a plan.”
I peered up at him, still annoyed and hurt even after his explanation.
Still, I followed him back to the cabin, knowing that I wasn’t in a position to be picky about the help I accepted.
7
DILLON
Now that she’d told me everything about what was going on with her and the scumbag she was running from, everything seemed to make a lot more sense. Alex sounded like some of the worst pieces of shit that I’d had to deal with back when I’d been on the force, and I knew that it was going to be a hell of a job protecting her, especially because she was so stubborn.
The look on her face when I’d told her that she would need to follow my advice had been truly priceless.
“I know you’re going to hate this,” I said to her as I walked back to the kitchen with her, “but you’re not going to be able to leave the cabin. Not until we find Alex and know for sure that he’s either left town because he thinks that you’re gone, or because we’ve gotten him arrested.”
She sighed, putting her head into her hands. “You’re right,” she mumbled. I could barely hear her with her hands covering her mouth.
“About what?” I asked, leaning forward to meet her gaze.
“About the fact that I hate this.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough. But I promise that if you stay here, you will be safe. I have security cameras rigged up going two miles out; there’s no way he’ll be able to get within spitting distance of this place to hurt you without me being ready to stop him.”
She pressed her thumbs into her eyelids, the stress clear in all of her body language.
“Does your building have security?”
She snorted. “No. It’s a wonder that it actually has locking doors. But still, there is a buzzer for the front door, and you need a key fob to get in.”
“Is there a garage, or do you park on the street?”
“Street parking.” Her eyebrow furrowed again. “Are you saying that he knows my car? He just got here from Nashville, and my car was at the trailhead all day yesterday.”
“Yeah, but he could’ve gotten the description from one of your neighbors.” I kept my voice pitched low and calmly. “I have a friend who owns a garage in town; I’ll ask him if we can store your car there, just for now. At least this way he won’t have a sure way of identifying you.”