Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
The engine roars to life, and we speed off. Still in shock, I look out of the window, trying to process what has happened today.
A mile down the road, two dark, expensive-looking SUVs pass us, and I watch as they head the same way we just came from. I wonder if those are more bad guys. All I can do is shiver, thinking of how badly this all could’ve been. I could’ve died, our baby could have died.
“It’s okay, Jude, you’re safe now,” Lex coaxes and reaches for me. He pulls me into his lap, and I bury my face in the crook of his neck, letting his woodsy scent calm my chaotic nerves.
“Lex, I was so scared. Not just for the baby and me, but for you. I was so afraid you were going to get hurt trying to rescue me. I knew you would come for me, and I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”
“That wouldn’t have mattered as long as you were safe.”
“But it would have mattered, Lex. That would have left the baby and me alone.”
“You’ll never be alone, Jude. I’ll always be with you, my whole family loves you and will always protect you. You and this baby are so much more important than me. I’ll die a thousand deaths to keep you safe.”
His words pierce my heart, and I realize how deep his feelings for me go. There is nowhere he won’t go, nothing he won’t do.
When I feel the car turn, I look up just to see where we are going. As if Lex reads my mind, he whispers, “We’re going home, unless you think you need to see a doctor and get checked out?”
“No, I’m fine. I promise. No one touched me.”
I can feel his body relax at my words, and I don’t want to know what he would have done if someone did touch me. It certainly would’ve been worse than the little beat-up session I saw him do once before.
“This is Roman and Luke, by the way.” He points to the two men in the front while saying each name.
“From the gym?”
“Yes, but as you can tell, they have other skills as well.”
“Were they in the military too?”
Roman chuckles from the front seat. “Something like that.”
I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but right now, I really don’t have the capacity to care.
Luke turns around to look at me, and even in the dark car, I can make out his features. “Believe it or not. My wife, my sister, and I grew up similar to the way you grew up. We escaped that life just like you did.” His words sound genuine and true.
“Oh…”
“That’s a story for another day though. Maybe we can all get together one day, you know, when you’re not being kidnapped and stuff?”
“That sounds like it would be, well, it would be nice,” I tell Luke, who turns back around in his seat.
I shift on Lex’s lap and return my head to his shoulder. Closing my eyes, I just let him hold me for the rest of the drive. This is it. After this, I know there is nothing he won’t try and protect me from. He’s proven himself without even knowing it, and I have no reason to be scared of him anymore.
He’ll protect me forever, and always.
25
Lex
By the time we get to my house, Roman has already called in a private security detail for us. Two armed men are on the porch, two are around back, and two are stationed in a car down the block to manage top-down scenarios. At least for tonight, we will be safe.
I get Jude inside, and she falls against me as we embrace.
To her credit, she does not cry, she just seems weak, spent, like she’s just been through hell and back, and I suppose she has been.
“Oh, Jude.” I reach down and kiss her deeply. She melts into me, and I feel a warmth spreading between us, reminding me of the enormity of the attraction I feel toward her.
Our kiss turns more passionate as I begin to think about what could have happened. I want to burn away any memory, force out any remaining fear or stress, to press myself inside her and eradicate anything bad that might have gotten in.
Her hands grip me and then paw at the buttons of my shirt. Clearly, she has the same idea as me. I move to drop my jacket and then rip the buttons of my shirt with her to get it off.
Remembering the men just outside the door a few feet away, I lift her into my arms and carry her to the back of the house. Once inside the bedroom, I close the door with my foot and set her on the bed where our mouths quickly find each other again.