Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Does it hurt too much?” he asks, nodding at the bandage wrapped around my wrist.
I shrug, biting back a wince at the movement. “A little. The doctor said it’s not broken, just a bad sprain from when Earl knocked me down.” My throat catches at the memory—how helpless I felt, how certain I was that no one would find me.
Boone leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “He’s in custody now. And from what Dean said, the cops have more than enough evidence to put him away for a long time. Turns out Earl hid his tracks very well, but they were able to uncover some very damning evidence.”
I nod, relief a warm glow in my chest. “I heard. They found all those files, drafts of the creepy letters he sent me. Even pictures from my shop. It’s so… it’s so surreal that he was behind everything. Not just the threats, but the break-in too. I thought I was finally safe, and then…”
My words trail off. Boone stands and crosses to my bed, placing a reassuring hand on my uninjured arm. “I know,” he says softly, his brown eyes filled with empathy. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
I blink back a sting of tears. “Don’t say that. You saved me.”
“But I should’ve been here,” he insists, voice low and earnest. He squeezes my shoulder. “I was planning on surprising you. In fact, that’s exactly why I came to the shop tonight.”
I tilt my head, curiosity piqued. “Surprising me?” My heart flutters at the thought—when I was trapped in that cabin, I could only dream that he’d come for me. And now it turns out he was on his way anyway?
He nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Dean offered me a new position—he’s expanding Maddox Security into the Midwest. Nashville specifically. And… he asked me to head up the new branch.”
My jaw drops, a rush of happiness flooding me. “You’re moving to Nashville?” I whisper, hardly believing it.
“Yeah,” he says, slipping his hand into mine, careful not to jostle my injured wrist. “My cabin is the perfect place to live while running the new location. I was hoping to tell you in person.” He exhales, laughter mingling with relief. “Didn’t think I’d be rescuing you on the same night, but I guess life had other plans.”
Tears prick my eyes—this time, tears of joy, relief, and a dozen other emotions I can’t name. “Boone,” I manage, “that’s… that’s amazing. You don’t have to leave me again?”
He shakes his head, and I see the old worry etched on his features easing. “Nope,” he murmurs, giving my fingers a gentle squeeze. “You’re stuck with me.”
Before I can respond, the door to my little hospital room bursts open, and my mother rushes in, eyes brimming with concern. “Aubree!” she cries, flinging her arms around me in a careful hug. “Oh my God, are you all right? The nurses wouldn’t let me back here for ages.”
I let out a choked laugh, burying my face in her shoulder. “I’m fine, Mom. I promise.”
She steps back, scanning my wrist and the bruises forming on my arms. Her eyes fill with worried tears. “Honey, I was so terrified. Boone called me, told me everything. I came as fast as I could.”
Boone clears his throat softly, a polite gesture to remind us he’s here. My mother spins toward him, reaching out to pat his arm in gratitude. “Thank you for saving my daughter. Again.”
He ducks his head, looking slightly bashful. “Just doing my job, ma’am.”
She glances between us, her expression shifting from relief to something more pleased. “Well, I’m glad you’ll be living here full time so you can watch over my Aubree-dear.”
I can’t help but grin at how she zeroes in on that detail. Boone laughs under his breath. “Yes, ma’am. Dean asked me to run a new branch of Maddox Security. I’m moving up here permanently.”
My mother’s face lights up, and she casts me a knowing glance. “I’m as happy as I was the first time you told me.” She laughs. Then, as if unable to contain herself, she throws her arms around Boone, hugging him tight. He stiffens for half a second before relaxing, patting her back awkwardly. I can’t help but giggle; I’m used to my mom’s big displays of affection, but Boone clearly isn’t.
When she pulls away, she gives him a teary smile. “You have no idea how grateful I am,” she says, dabbing at her eyes. “Between Charles’ mess and then this psychopath Earl… I just want Aubree to be safe.”
Boone’s jaw tightens, his protective streak flaring. “She will be,” he says firmly. “And the police are all over this now. Dean told me they traced every single threatening email to Earl’s computer. He’d used a VPN to mask his IP address and that’s why it took a while. He’d been acting alone, feeding off the chaos Charles created.”