She nods. “I know. I just…”
“Wanted some freedom,” I finish for her. “I know. I know how much you need it after your dad died. But it’s not safe right now. We have no idea who this guy is or what he wants. Anything could have happened today.”
“How did you find me?” she asks.
I don’t answer for long seconds as I crouch down in front of her and start cleaning the wounds on her knees. I could be honest and tell her I’ve been stalking her for years and have atracker in her shoes. But somehow, I don’t think that’s going to win me any favors, and I really don’t need her running again.
“I have a tracker on your phone,” I tell her honestly. “After you were taken in college, Cruz and I needed some kind of reassurance that we could find you if you were ever in that kind of trouble again.”
She stares down at me, her lips parted as if she’s going to say something, but no words ever come.
“Riley and your mom both have them as well, if it makes you feel any better.” Not a lie. The first thing Cruz had me do when his wife came into his life was make sure he would always be able to find her. Unfortunately, we never planned on her being chased through the forest by her psycho ex and the woman that’s been painfully obsessed with Cruz for years, while wearing just one of his shirts and no footwear.
You better believe she now has a permanent bracelet with a tracker in it, because I don’t think my best friend could ever survive that kind of stress again. Once was more than enough.
“I don’t know why I’m surprised.” She half laughs. “But my phone was at the café…oh my god. My phone and my laptop!”
“Ken has them. He’ll drop your things over in a few hours. He’s just canvassing the area around the café for any signs of the man that took you.”
“How did you know where to find me when I didn’t have my phone?”
“I didn’t know for sure. We knew he took you out the back door, and from there I was searching the back alleys, assuming he wouldn’t want to take you onto the street where cameras could catch him.” A plausible lie.
Not that it’s recommended to lie to the person you’re planning to marry at all, but you know, some things can’t be avoided, especially when it’s a matter of her safety.
We fall into silence, Lexi watching my every move as I carefully apply antiseptic and bandages. I’m tempted to have the doctor come around and check her wounds, but I don’t want to upset her any more than I already have.
I apply the last of the bandages to her torn-up knees and push myself to my feet.
Stepping between her thighs, I drop my forehead to hers, taking a moment to remind myself that she’s okay. She’s safe. She’s not badly hurt.
But it could have been an entirely different story.
If the assailant had parked closer, if he’d taken a different turn, if Lexi didn’t have the taser I bought her.
How am I supposed to deal with the possibility of losing her when she’s finally mine?
THIRTY-THREE
LEXI
Unwelcome tears leak from the corners of my eyes. The sweet moment with Colten forced my emotions to the surface despite how hard I’ve been trying to push them down.
“You scared me today, Wildcat,” he murmurs into the space between us.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice breaking under the weight of the apology. Those two words are meaningless when I was stupid enough to put myself in danger like that.
He’s quiet for long moments, the tension he’s held in his shoulders since I ran into his arms beginning to ease. “I understand how hard the last few days have been. I know you’re angry I didn’t tell you who I was online and that you’re grappling with the idea of us being matched. But I’m begging you, please don’t put yourself in that kind of position again. If you need time, if you need space, we can work something out. Something that involves you being safe while also getting what you need.”
The fact I’ve known Colten almost my whole life gives me a unique understanding of the complicated man who rarely lets anyone see behind the cold facade he shows the world. Seeing how he was brought up and how his father treated him evenworse than mine did me, it makes perfect sense why he’s closed himself off. But not to me. Never to me.
I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to accept that the boy I crushed on as a teenager, the man I’ve compared every other person I’ve dated up to, has had feelings for me the whole time.
“I can’t bear the idea of losing you, Lexi. Not when you’re finally mine.”
I press my eyes closed, allowing the tears I’ve been trying to hold at bay to fall. This moment is too vulnerable.
When everyone you’ve ever let close has hurt you, it’s hard to imagine giving someone the power to destroy you, let alone the person you never thought you’d have a chance with.
