Chapter 34
“What do you want, princess?” he asks, propping on his side.
“You, but…” Our situation hasn’t changed.
He pins me with an intent look. “No buts.”
I did what I said I would never do, told him, but I couldn’t deny my love for him any longer.
If he can’t be reasonable, I will talk to his parents so they can take him away and protect him because I have failed. I should have kept my mouth shut, but he pushed and pushed and tore through my walls and made me give in.
I have been strong. I will be strong. I became a wolf among wolves. This is my fight, not his.
He kisses my shoulder and says, “Together.”
This stubborn man.
“Say it.”
“Dane.”
“Princess, once I put my mind to something, there’s no turning back.”
Don’t I know it?
He spoons me, and I fall asleep.
Dane and I are kissing when masked men rip us apart. They strap him to the torture chair, electroshocks zapping through his body. I try to fight them off, whimper, plead, and beg, but that doesn’t end his torture. Another current rocks his entire body with even more intensity. Saliva gathers at the corners of his mouth, and his head lolls to the side.
“You shouldn’t have told him. Now, I’m going to kill him. This is on you, Abigail,” Felix whispers in my ear before a bullet rips through Dane’s chest and he bleeds out in front of me.
Heart pounding, I scoot up and see Dane sleeping peacefully—my ultimate weakness, my greatest love, the biggest mistake of my life I could never regret.
No, no. I can’t let that happen .
But that is exactly what will happen.
I slip from the bed and go in search of my clothes.
The sun breaks through the horizon, kissing the night goodbye. Taking Dane’s car, I drive back to the house with blurry eyes and trembling hands. The nightmare plays on repeat in my head, making a mess out of me. All I tried to keep buried resurfaces. One damn nightmare, and it feels like I am back there where I was at the mercy of that fucking asshole.
Stumbling through the entrance door, I collapse onto the floor. My heart and brain battle to the point of a full meltdown.
Bailey and Blake rush to me.
“Who do we torture?” Hunter asks, running down the stairs.
“Tell us a name,” says Mia, who is sitting next to me.
“I…” I hiccup, then stammer and sob again.
Blake stands up, but I grip his hand. “Don’t… please… don’t…”
He gathers me in his arms, and I rest my cheek on his chest. Bringing me to my room, Blake places me on the bed.
“Abi, tell me.”
“I told him. I told him everything.” I know Dane. He won’t stay away. I have no idea how to deal with this overwhelming worry.
“We’ll find a way. Just rest for a bit,” he says through a clenched jaw before he leaves.
Bailey and Mia come in next, offering me support.
“You’re shaking,” Mia says, voice laced with concern.
“It’s okay. I’m okay.” Maybe if I repeat it a few times, I will believe it too.
I was okay in his bed, in his arms, until that damn nightmare sent me reeling back to relive the worst experience of my life.
“Don’t lie to me. How are you?” Bailey insists.
“Broken. I tried to bury those memories.”
“They would have come out, eventually.”
Bailey and Mia look at me with so much care, I sob, letting it all out.
“Shh, we’re here,” Mia says in a steady tone that calms my frayed nerves a bit.
“Thank you.”
“Do you need something?”
“No, I’m fine.”
When they leave, I’m about to turn in bed when Hunter enters. “Barbie, I need a name.”
“Aww, you care.”
“Let’s not get too personal, but I think you’re a cool chick.”
“Thanks. I think you’re hiding a great guy somewhere in there too.”
He places a hand on his heart, and we both chuckle.
“It’s something from my past that has resurfaced.”
He jerks his chin at me. “Fucking demons.”
“Yes, fucking demons.”
Alone in my room, I don’t know how much time passes or what to do with myself but stare at the ceiling.
My door opens, and there he is, resurrecting my spirit.
“Princess, never leave my bed again.”
“I had a nightmare, and I panicked. Now, you’re here like I knew you would be… I will call your parents and have them haul your ass away from here.”
“No force on this fucking earth or beyond could make me leave you.”
“Why can’t you be reasonable?”
“Abigail, I could be anything but that when it comes to you.”
When he slips under the covers with me, I finally fall asleep feeling safe.
But when I wake up, he’s not here. My chest twists, physically hurting, thinking something happened to him. I shove the blanket away, ready to search for him and assure myself he’s fine when my door opens. Dane walks in carrying a breakfast tray, and relief blows the panic away.
“You’re here.”
I burst into hysterical laughter because I might finally have lost my sanity.
“It’s okay, princess. I’m all right and happier than I have ever been before.”
“You settle for so little.”
“No, I settle for the world because that’s what you are. My world.”
His words inflate my heart. I could float away.
“How is everyone?”
“Bailey and Hunter are in the kitchen, and the sexual tension is real there.”
“What?”
“They’re a ticking time bomb down there.”
I point at the tray. “You don’t have to look after me, like I’m a patient or something.”
“What was that again? You love how caring and attentive I am?”
“Go to training already. I have things to do as well.”
“Like what?”
“I have to see what Mia and Hunter are up to. Maybe there’s a possibility we can work together.”
“Let’s go.”
“No, because you’re going to the track.”
“Then we’re staying in bed until you get it through your stubborn head that I’m all in.”
“You’re impossible.”
He gets off the bed and grips my legs, pulling me toward the edge. Ripping my panties, his mouth finds my center. “How about this type of impossible?”
“You make me crazy.”
“Ditto.”
I yank at his hair, moaning. He’s relentless in eating me out until I come with his name on my lips. My orgasm washes over me, and I forget everything else.
He crawls between my legs and kisses me. “Have you changed your mind?”
“Is this your version of manipulation?”
“You look pretty relaxed, so it might work.”
I chuckle. “Go to the track.”
“You want to get rid of me?”
“No, ugh. I want you to go do what you love most.”
“My racing career is not what I love most.”
“I won’t accept you sacrificing that for me.”
He gets in the shower, and when he comes out, he emanates a brooding energy. I just want what’s best for him. Why won’t he listen?
“I’m going to the track.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I say, “I just want to do the right thing here.”
“Do that, Abigail.”
“I hate this passive-aggressive mood.”
“Well, I was in a great mood, but I can’t have my tongue up your pussy twenty-four seven to make you stop spewing bullshit.”
I throw a pillow at him, and he catches it. Tossing it back on the bed, he shuts the door behind him.
I’m never going to get rid of him.
Not that I want to.
When I go downstairs, there is a staring competition going on.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Bailey says.
“Do something about it then, kitten!” Hunter replies.
They don’t even notice that I am standing in the doorway. Mia rubs her eyes, stopping next to me.
“Did you know about these two?” I ask her.
“All I know is they have a weird something going on.”
Bailey surprises me when she stands up, swaying her hips to Hunter. He looks transfixed at her while she puts her hands on his chest and claws her nails down his chest.
He hisses, tugging at his shirt from the spot on his chest where she likely left red marks.
“What the fuck?”
“Meow.”
Mia and I bend over in laughter, then I walk in and high-five Bailey.
“That’s what you get for teasing a panther,” Mia says, winking at her. She turns and walks to the living room, where Blake nurses a drink. Mia strides to him and takes the glass.
“Stop.”
“What do you care?”
She disappears up the stairs, and he takes off after her. Bailey is back on her phone, and Hunter rolls his eyes at her then looks at me. “Make him stay away from her. Blake triggers Mia’s savior syndrome like a litter of drowning kitties.”
I lower my face to him and say, “Do you want Bailey to save you too?”
“I’m out.”
There goes my plan of having a chat with them.
When night comes, and Dane hasn’t returned, anxiety settles on my chest, heavier with every minute. I call him, but it goes straight to voicemail.
And when his mother calls me right after, I’m short of hyperventilating.
I pick up with trembling fingers.
“Abigail, thank God. We’re on our way. Dane had an accident. He’s in the hospital. There was something with his car… it burned and…”
“I’m on my way.”
My phone tumbles from my hands to the floor like my heart. I pick it up quickly, get in my car, and hurry to the hospital.
Bolting through the entrance door, I ask about Dane at reception. A friendly receptionist points toward a room where several men are gathered, all wearing somber expressions.
“What happened? How is he?” I ask, out of breath to no one in particular.
“And you are?” a man oozing authority asks, introducing himself as Parker, Dane’s technical director.
“Abigail.”
“His girlfriend, thank God.”
That he knows who I am warms me from within.
“A doctor is inside. He was lucky.”
Parker tells me about a malfunction and that his car is getting inspected to find out what happened. I already know someone tampered with it.
No, you’re never going to win, Felix. This was the last damn time you messed with him.
A nurse steps out, and she says, “Good Lord.”
“How is he?” I ask.
“Tell me you’re Abigail.”
The men all chuckle, and she says, “Please, save us all and get in there.”
Walking inside, I see Dane lying in bed, an IV dripping and a pulse oximeter on his finger. The doctor greets me, then slips out. I sob instantly.
“I’m so sorry. See what happens? Why are you so stubborn?” I cry in my hands, throwing myself on top of him, and when he wraps me in his arms, I cry even worse.
“Princess, I’m here and alive. I felt something was wrong with the car, and I got out as fast as I could.”
“I’m sure it was him. Felix must have found out again.”
“This is not your fault, and nothing is going to keep me away from you. Get that?”
“I don’t want to get that.”
He holds me to his chest and strokes down my back in soothing motions.
“Are you in pain?”
“Not anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Shh, it’s not your fault. Were you worried?”
“Of course I was.”
I elbow him playfully. “So girlfriend, huh?”
“A problem that I proclaimed that?”
“Nope, but stop making people crazy when they’re here to help you.”
He chuckles, and I caress his jaw while his face beams with pride.
“What is it with you and labels?” I ask.
“It gives you something to aspire to.”
“So you aspire to be what, exactly?”
“To be your every humanly invented label and more.”
My heart never stood a chance with him and with acceptance comes contentment—we were born to be together and made for each other.
“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head and turn into a poet?”
“My hand itches to spank you again and see your ass cheeks jiggle.”
His dick makes a tent, and I laugh so hard I snort.
“You’re an evil woman.”
“Not my fault you’re picturing my ass.”
He groans low in his throat as he pulls my face to his and devours my lips. A loud knock followed by Dane’s team and parents stepping inside the room interrupts our kiss. I feel my face heat while Dane wears a relaxed expression.
“Mom, Dad, I’m going to marry her.”
“Dane…” I shush him.
The worried glances vanish when they look from him to me. We must be quite the pair. Me beet red, him grinning like a Cheshire cat.
“I should leave,” I say quickly.
“Come back. I’m in pain.”
I arch a brow at him, letting him know I am on to him. Yet, I mouth, “I’ll sneak in later.”
Then I say goodbye to his parents. His mother thanks me for being there, and it kills me. I’m sure if Elena knew, she wouldn’t thank me at all. I nod with a strained smile and lean on the wall next to his room.
You went for the wrong person. Not him. I will rain hell on you, Felix.