Chapter 15 #3
“You have no idea how messed up my head’s been.
It was you or do a thing to Louis I couldn’t take back, and I chose you.
I’ll always choose you.” I collect her hands in mine, and she lets me, barely.
“I wasn’t going to keep it from you. I don’t keep shit from people I care about, but after everything today, the drama online, the stress, the baking at two a.m., I couldn’t bring myself to pile more on you.
Not tonight when you were finally calming down. ”
“Jakob, what the fuck?”
“Shit, I fucked up, didn’t I?”
“It’s too much, and just when I feel things are going well, with what we have, Louis ruins it, and then you keep it from me. That’s not okay.”
I exhale loudly. “I’m not pretending it’s okay. It’s the furthest fucking thing from okay.” I draw her closer, my arms around her waist, pressing her against my chest. She resists for a second, then her body gives in and she leans into me, and the trembling gets worse.
“Since yesterday,” I explain, “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.
It’s making me insane. And I’m not going to keep acting.
It’s not happening, because we’re scent mates, Claire.
You and me. You and Corey. You and Brody.
All of us. And that can make us go feral.
Irrational. Protective beyond reason. And then we kissed, and you took me to your bedroom. I lost my mind with need.”
She exhales.
“I’m sorry, Claire, but I figured he could chill the fuck out a bit, giving me time to not murder him for breaking into your place.” It burns me, but I’ll make it up to her, whatever it fucking takes.
She’s quiet. “What did Louis say?”
“All he said was that he wanted to scare you a bit, clearly not liking that you’re moving on without him.” I flex my right hand, the knuckles already swelling and tender. “He won’t be showing his face again.”
She climbs out of bed and dresses in record time in those sexy leggings and a shirt.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell her.
“You don’t know that. My ex is now turning into a fucking stalker, and oh my God, I’m shaking just thinking about what he could have done if you weren’t here tonight.
” Her eyes are glassy, and the sight of her scared and withdrawing after what we just shared twists the fury in my chest into white-hot rage.
“But you’re not in this alone anymore. You’ve got us. And we’re not going anywhere.”
She nods. Swallows. Then her jaw sets, and I see a flash of the Claire from the wedding, the one who told Louis to move out of her way. “Where is he? I want to see him.”
“Sure.” I’m off the bed and dragging on my jeans and T-shirt, shoving into my shoes, and following her into the open living room and kitchen area.
She heads to the back door, opens it, and leans out into the dark yard. I’m right behind her, staring out as she switches on the light.
The tree is empty. No fucking Louis. The rope is on the ground, frayed where it’s been worked against the bark.
“Shit, he’s not there,” she says weakly.
“Maybe Corey and Brody took him,” I blurt out. I’m already grabbing my phone. No response from either of them to my message. I dial Corey. It rings through to voicemail. Same with Brody. What the fuck!
“Come on.” I lock the door, and we both move deeper into the living room. “We’re going to my place to see what we’re dealing with.” I pray those two collected Louis and he didn’t get away.
Once she heads down the hallway, I hastily grab the knife and locking kit from under the cushion of her couch, stuff them into the back of my jeans, and cover them. She doesn’t need to see them.
We’re out the front door, me scouring the road and homes, without anyone in sight. We cross the yards in the night, my hand tight around hers, my gaze scanning every shadow, hedge, and space between the houses. Her grip is crushing my fingers, and I let her because right now the pain is grounding.
Inside our place, it’s dark and silent. I push open Corey’s door. He’s fast asleep on his stomach, half covered by a sheet, with Damien curled up against his side, while his phone is face down on the bedside table. In Brody’s room, it’s the same damn story. They never got my message. Fuck!
Claire and I are now in the living room, and I switch on the lights.
“Louis got away,” Claire says, hugging herself. “What if he’s out there, watching everything I do. God, how are things getting worse and worse for me with him? He’s doing anything to ruin me, and he’s the one who left me.” She’s rubbing her eyes under her glasses.
I’m at her side in a split second and take her face in my hands. “He’s not getting near you again because I’m going to track him down. You’ve got three of us on your side now.”
She nods, yet her attention is miles away—in a dark place, by the look of her grim expression—and it destroys me to see her this way.
“We’ll deal with this. Police, restraining order, whatever it takes,” I explain. “We’re not leaving your side.”
She’s shaking, eyes glassy. “But protection can’t be around me twenty-four seven, so what happens when he finally corners me alone?”