Her statement cuts at the soothing silence and while out of nowhere, I can relate to some of what she says.But not all of it.Some of it is troublesome.Anger isn’t even close to what I feel about Joel Hummel.
“I get why you’re angry with him, but why at yourself?”
“Because I let him take it this far.I should’ve moved out the first time I found him in my place and now he’s gotten into my head.”
She bitterly taps the side of her skull and I bite my tongue to hold back the admonishment for how harshly she’s treating herself.
“You’re going to be okay.”It seems like the thing to say and while I believe it, the words are hollow.
“I just feel so violated.The police think what I heard from the bathroom was him leaving.”
“It probably was.”With that thought, my fingers grip the steering wheel so hard that my knuckles whiten.
“You know the part that freaks me out the most?”She faces me, eyes now bright, and I wait for her to go on, but her pause is longer than I expect.
Finally, I fill the thick emptiness threatening to swallow us.“That he was there when you were in the bathroom?”
The mention of body fluids on her underwear slithers through my mind like a cold-blooded reptile.Does she know just how far Hummel went tonight?
It’s disturbing, and if she doesn’t know, I won’t be the one to tell her.Not now.It’ll only mess with her some more.Maybe later.
“Yes.But that he was there when I came home.Before the bath.I don’t remember what I did.I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Then don’t.”
Her head whips in my direction and her stare is incredulous in a disappointed or affronted way, her mouth open and gaping.
“I know it’s easier said than done,” I say, quick to dispel any misunderstanding.“But you get to choose how or if this affects you.He’s a sick asshole and he will pay for what he did, but don’t let him get into your mind.”
Each word takes a little bit of the fight out of her as her body slumps farther and farther into the bucket seat.Her head lightly hits the car window with a thud and she burrows further into herself.
“This is a really nice car,” she murmurs, and I take her lead and drop it.
We drive parallel to Lake Ontario, at times almost at the water’s edge, and somewhere along the way, she drifts to sleep.By the time I’m parking in the underground lot of my building, it’s nearly two hours since we left her house and the police.
My phone has vibrated a few times while on the road, and I take the time to read what’s come in while Paige sleeps.Tamara has already sent a report.This is why she is one of the best.Even down, she rises to the occasion and she won’t make the same mistake twice.
Hummel has been arrested and he’s behind bars for the night.The private investigator, hired by Tamara’s team, decided to take a dinner break while watching Hummel and the idiot didn’t call in for back-up.And as luck would have it, during that window of time, Hummel left for Paige’s.
Many people messed up tonight.Tamara for hiring a firm I’ve never used before nor approved, the P.I., who is now out of a job, for not carrying out duties as assigned, and most of all me for not staying on top of this.
I could argue that I’d been too trusting or left it for others to manage because Paige’s situation was inconsequential to me, but that’s no longer the case.This is on me.
Satisfied with where things are for now, I scoop Paige out of the car, and she doesn’t move a muscle.She snuggles into my chest, her arms resting on her torso and her head on my shoulder.
It’s just past one in the morning and while in the elevator, I remember it’s poker night.I left my penthouse filled with about two dozen men.You’d think the guys would be long gone, but based on past experience, the diehard poker players—or guys who don’t want to go home to their wives or empty houses—will be just getting started.
I step off the elevator and three curious gazes pounce on me.It’s barely a blink before their thirsty stares wander to Paige’s slumbering form.They drink from her body, slowly, greedily at length, and judging from their expressions, she’s an oasis in the desert.
Dammit, I should have called earlier and told them to leave—and I completely forgot Donovan was among the idiots still at my place.Now I’m wondering how much of an eyeful he and the others have of her legs and other parts in these tiny shorts.I wish I had covered her up.
As if sensing the growing tension in my body, she stirs and her dark lashes flutter open.My face is the first she sees, and I’m gifted with the birth of her smile.
“What happened?”Like a hyena, Donovan inches closer to Paige—what he deems prized prey—and he wants to get his pound of flesh.
While Donovan is no stranger to her, she fidgets in my arms, now very aware she’s the main course, and seeks her feet under her.
“Nothing.I’m fine,” she says, and I carefully put her down.“Thank you.”She tugs at the hem of her shorts but doesn’t shy away or cover her gorgeous legs from the hungry stares.
