Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Her breath catches in her throat as she stares at me, her lips trembling like she wants to say something more, but I don’t give her the chance. I press a quick, hard kiss to her forehead before pulling away, my mind already spinning with thoughts of what I need to do.
“Wait—Knox, please don’t—” she starts, but I shake my head.
“Stay here. I’ll handle it.”
Without another word, I turn and storm out of the shop, the fury burning in my veins like fire. My steps are quick, determined, and the only thing I can focus on is finding the bastard who did this to her.
I track him down easily. Small town like this, people talk, and I know exactly where to find him—slimy piece of shit that he is. He’s been hanging around the edge of town, lurking in the shadows at a roadside motel, waiting for a chance to strike.
When I see him, standing outside one of the bars at the edge of town with a smug grin on his face, something inside me snaps. I don’t even think, just move. I’m on him before he can react, shoving him hard against the wall, my hand fisting in his shirt.
He barely has time to register what’s happening before I slam him again, hard enough that I hear the air leave his lungs in a rush. His eyes widen, but he’s still cocky, that same smug look on his face that makes me want to tear him apart.
“You come near her again,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous, “and I’ll make sure you never walk away.”
His lips curl into a sneer, and he has the nerve to laugh. “What’s the matter, big guy? Little flower girl got herself a bodyguard now?”
I slam him against the wall again, harder this time, and the sound of his skull hitting the brick makes a satisfying thud. His smirk falters, his eyes narrowing, but I don’t back down. I lean in close, my grip tightening, and I let every ounce of my fury seep into my voice.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with,” I hiss. “But you’re about to find out.”
The sneer slips from his face, replaced by a flicker of fear. He knows. He can feel it in the air between us—the threat that lingers in every word I’ve said. He tries to laugh it off, but it’s weak, hollow.
“Just… just having a little fun, man. No need to get all worked up.”
Fun. He thinks tormenting Perry is fun.
I slam him one last time, then let go, stepping back just enough to give him space to scramble away. “Stay the hell away from her, or you’ll regret it.”
He glares at me, rubbing the back of his head where I’d slammed him against the brick, but he doesn’t say anything. He’s not stupid enough to test me again—not today. He spits on the ground, mutters something under his breath, and slinks off into the night.
I stand there for a moment, letting the adrenaline pulse through me, trying to shake off the anger that’s still burning hot in my chest. My mind flashes back to Perry, to the way she looked when I walked into that shop—so damn fragile and broken. I can’t let that happen again. I won’t.
With one last glance in the direction the asshole disappeared, I turn on my heel and head back to the cabin. To Perry.
When I get there, she’s pacing the living room, her face etched with worry. The second I step inside, she’s on me, her arms wrapping around my waist, her face buried in my chest. She doesn’t say anything at first, just holds me like she’s afraid I might disappear.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispers after a long moment, her voice shaky but soft. “But I’m glad you did. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
My throat tightens at her words, but I can’t let her see how much they affect me. I need to stay strong, stay in control, for both our sakes. I pull her closer, my hand resting on the small of her back as I murmur into her hair, “You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He’s done.”
She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes searching mine, and I can see the gratitude there, the relief. But there’s something else, too—something deeper, something that makes my heart twist in my chest.
And that’s the problem. I’ve fallen too hard, too fast. My feelings for her are raw, intense, and they scare the hell out of me. I don’t know how to handle it, how to let myself care this much without risking everything.
I kiss her forehead again, softer this time, and step back. “Get some rest. You’ve been through enough for one day.”
She watches me, her brow furrowing as if she senses the shift in me. I’m pulling back, I know I am, but I can’t stop it. I need to protect her, but I also need to protect myself.