“Good,” I whisper. “Me neither.”
He pulls me closer.
Around us, the fair fades.
It’s just him.
Just us.
And it’s perfect.
We dance some more and then take our seats back on the blankets to take a break.
“Mommy, can I have some cotton candy, please?”
I stand up. “Why don’t I get you one?” I look around at the Hawthornes. “Anyone else want some cotton candy?”
“Oooh, one for me, please,” Penny says.
“Sure.”
“Tinker, let me get them for you,” Dex offers, but I shake my head.
“I want to stretch my legs. I’ve got this.”
He stands and kisses me quickly. “Alright.”
“Be right back,” I murmur to Dex, squeezing his hand before slipping away toward the cotton candy stand.
The lights are softer here, shadows stretching behind the booths, the laughter and music fading just enough to feel distant. I get two of the big pink ones and turn to leave…
I barely register the shift before it happens.
A hand clamps over my mouth.
Hard.
My body jolts, a scream caught in my throat as I’m yanked backward, dragged behind the stand, out of sight.
“Don’t.”
The voice is low… and familiar.
My blood turns to ice.
Russel.
My heart slams against my ribs as I thrash instinctively, but another man grabs my arms, locking them at my sides. Too strong. Too fast.
Russel steps into view slowly, like he has all the time in the world.
Like he owns this moment.
Like he owns me.
“There she is,” he murmurs, almost pleased. “My girl.”
My stomach twists violently.
