Her head is fine now.
Healed.
Her memories are returning faster and faster. Those she’s written about are still scattered, incomplete and mostly making little sense, but there’s no threat to her mind if she has one drink too many. Unless she hits her head hard, the gradual rebuilding of the abyss of her past is safe.
Butsheisn’t.
Not here, surrounded by drunk, rowdy college kids. Not with sleazy Jensen planning to make a move. Not unlessIwatch her. Not unlessIkeep her safe.
I navigate the crowd where the bonfire soars into the sky outside, at least ten feet tall and just as wide. A group of loud seniors are playing some idiotic college game, timing themselves chugging pitchers of beer. One’s already puking his guts out behind the tree line, but it doesn’t faze the others.
With a bottle in hand, I scan the crowd for Hailey. There are at least two hundred people out here, and more inside the derelict building. Stage and strobe lights bounce off the weathered façade, eerie shadows dance across the ground, people move, talk, dance... but Hailey’s nowhere in sight. Neither is Chloe, Rachel, or even Jensen. Surveying every face, I move toward the building.
Bass shakes the walls, dust settling over my shoulders as soon as I cross the threshold. Turning right, I spot Hailey with her friends, laughing across the room, and my insides do a weird pirouette. She’s different tonight. No trace of the vulnerability she’s worn all fucking week. No trace of the panic that ate her alive last night.
She’s uncharacteristically cheerful. Vibrant. Alive... her behavior hinting that the beer she’s holding is not her first tonight. At least she’s nursing a bottle, not a red solo cup with contents of questionable origin.
Jensen’s nearby, swaying on his feet, unfocused eyes roving the room without purpose until they stop on Hailey. I can almost hear his thoughts as he looks her over, then moves off. He’s spent the week seizing every opportunity to ask her out. She’s dodged his bullets, always needed elsewhere whenever he gets too close.
But Jensen’s an idiot and didn’t get the message.
Neither mine, nor Hailey’s.
He comes closer. Dips his head to whisper in Hailey’s ear, his lips a breath from her skin.
My pulse goes haywire.
Without a word, but with a purposeful roll of her blue eyes that gets me rock fucking hard, she follows him to the makeshift dance floor. “Used to the Darkness”by Des Rocs gives way to “Amsterdam”by Nothing But Thieves.
One of my favorite songs.
They start dancing. I’m sure she’s only indulging Jensen so he’ll back off, which would be fine if it didn’t make me consider ripping his fingers out one by one.
He’s too close. No man’s allowed this close to her.
The way she moves, swaying those alluring hips in time with the music, her blonde, silky hair flowing down her back, the lights highlighting her smooth skin... she’s addictive.
So fucking beautiful.
It’s maddening that I can’t peel my eyes off her. Every fiber in me screams to look away, keep my distance, stick to the fucking plan, but the line between duty and want has blurred so much it’s nearly nonexistent.
The song reaches the bridge, and my chest tightens as Jensen sidles up behind Hailey. His heated eyes devour her chest over her shoulder, his intentions clear as day.
My blood rages in a maelstrom until I can barely keep myself from snapping his neck right here, right now. I grit my teeth, biting down on the overpowering emotions.
He’s a civilian. I don’t kill civilians unless there’s a valid reason. Francis battered my mother and deserved way worse than he got. Jensen’s just clingy. A horny college kid. No matter how tempting the promise of his screams, I have a job to do, and pointless bloodshed won’t help. Hailey’s gorgeous, who can blame him for trying his luck?
I can. Ido.
The forced calm lasts three whole seconds. Anger gushes through me, more potent,scorching,as Jensen crowds Hailey’s back. He snakes one arm around her middle, drawing her closer.
As if he knows I’m watching, as if he’s deliberately challenging my restraint, as if he thinks showing me the middle finger is a wise move, he dips his head and drags his lips along the delicate skin of Hailey’s neck.
Something primal inside me roars, writhes, and snarls. A beast pawing the dirt, ready for carnage. It begs to be unleashed when uncertainty and nervousness flash across Hailey’s face.
I’m moving before the rational part of my brain can stop me.
Hailey peers down to where Jensen’s holding her way too low, his palm not far off cupping her pussy. She moves his hand over her stomach. It doesn’t stay there long. He drops it lower again, his fingers on her hip, fisting her dress.
