I stumble once I’m standing, and Andre catches me. “Miss Bell, are you all right?”
“Where is he going?” I ask.
“He’ll be right back. Maybe you should sit in the car,” Andre suggests.
I stare at him.Sit in the car? Sure. I’ll do that. Not.
I shake my head and turn around. When I do, I see August. He’s over by another car with two other men. One more is on the ground. Then I watch as August crouches down, says something, and shoots the guy right between the eyes. A scream escapes me and I fall onto my ass.
“Miss Bell, you’re going to be okay,” Andre says.
Am I? I knew I was living with a monster. I’ve heard the rumors. Damn it, he’s told me the sins he’s committed himself. But hearing about them and seeing them firsthand are two different things. I close my eyes and put my hands over my ears. I can feel myself rocking back and forth.
When I feel someone reach for my arms, pulling them down, I scream again. Then that someone is picking me up.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” August’s voice seeps through my fear-hazed brain.
I open my eyes and stare up at his face. “You… you… why?” I ask him. “You shot that man. Why?”
He tilts his head at me. “Because he could have hurt you,” he says. “I won’t let anyone try to hurt you, Hayley.”
I shake my head. That’s not why he killed him. He wouldn’t kill someone because I just happen to be here. In the wrong place, at the wrong time.
The movement of the car has me sitting up. “Where are we going?”
August doesn’t let me go when I attempt to slide off his lap. “Home,” he says.
Home. We’re not going home.We’re going tohishome. I don’t bother to argue with him. What can I say? I’m literally at the mercy of a madman right now.
Even with that knowledge, my head willingly rests on his shoulder, and I close my eyes. “Who is trying to kill you?” I whisper, but August hears it. “I’ve never been shot at before.”
“And hopefully you never will be again,” Augusts says, but something tells me the longer I’m around him, the more likely it is to happen.
“I don’t know. But I will find out.” He presses his lips to the top of my head. “I’m sorry.”
My brain is telling me that he’s the reason that I was even in that situation. Still, I’m willingly taking comfort from him and a stupid part of me feels safe in his arms.
“Why would you jump on top of me, August? Someone was shooting at you. And you jumped on me. You could have been hit.”
“Hayley, there is no world that exists where I would ever save myself over saving you,” he says, and for a little while, I let myself believe that this could be real.
I really could see myself falling for a monster.Season of sin.Jade’s words ring back through my mind.
“We didn’t get a tree…” I mumble.
“I will get you a tree,” August says, and I close my eyes again, letting his warmth wrap around me.
Chapter Sixteen
I’m going to fucking find the motherfucker who has a bullet with my name engraved on it. I had a gut feeling about that shooter the other night but figured I’d see how it played out.
Now, I know someone is gunning for my head. Which is fine… if it were just me. But they shot at her. Hayley. And that isn’t something I’m about to let go.
No, when I find out who it is, I’m going to make them fucking pay for putting her in harm’s way.
By the time we get back to the penthouse, she’s asleep.
“Need anything, boss?” Andre holds the car door open for me.
