Miles. My safe place.
I collapse into him, gripping onto his shirt like he’s the only thing keeping me grounded.
“Shhhh,” he whispers, his arms tightening around me. “It’s okay, baby. I got you.”
My tears spill over before I can stop them.
“He’s here, Miles,” I choke out. “He found me. He’s here.”
I look up at him, and his hands immediately come up to hold my face, wiping away the tears falling down my cheeks. Miles’ expression immediately shifts. The calm, protective man I know disappears, replaced by something darker and dangerous. Pure rage consumes his eyes, turning them cold and merciless.
Kaitlin and Morgan rush over to us, their faces filled with panic.
“What’s going on?” Morgan asks.
“What happened?” Kaitlin adds, her voice frantic.
I barely manage to get the words out.
“He texted me.” My voice shakes. “He said I look beautiful when I’m scared.”
The room goes silent and I swallow hard, gripping onto Miles tighter.
“He’s here,” I whisper. “He’s watching me.”
Hudson and Nate run down the stairs with pistols in their hands and toss one over to Morgan. She catches it and immediately moves into action, the three of them already knowing their positions without any orders from Miles.
“Maddie, you and Kaitlin go up to the room and hide, we’re going to do a sweep of the property,” Miles says, his voice laced with urgency. “You stay in there no matter what. Do you understand me?” He cups my cheek, forcing me to look at him. “You stay there until I tell you it’s safe.Only me.”
I nod and grab Kaitlin's hand before running upstairs to our bedroom and locking the door behind us. A sinking feeling started at the pit of my stomach and I hate the way it feels. I’m once again a scared child, desperately searching for a safe space. Always needing the protection of other people to save me.
I’m sitting on the bed that Miles and I share, knees up to my face as I sob. I feel small, cold hands rub circles on my back, and I try to cringe away from them. Something feels wrong.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m sure it’s nothing. He’s probably just trying to scare you.”
I pull my face out from where it’s buried against my knees and look over at Kaitlin. My hair sticks to my cheeks from the tears that have soaked through them, but she looks completely calm. Too calm all things considered.
A chill crawls down my spine.
Why is she so fucking calm?
“Why would he do that?” I ask, my voice shaking. “He’s never just tried to scare me, Kaitlin. If there’s one thing about my stalker, it’s his consistency.”
Her expression changes instantly. A look of pure irritation crosses her face as she gives me a venomous glare before sitting back on the bed.
“I was just trying to make you feel better, shit,” she snaps. “You don’t have to be a bitch about it.”
For a second, I just stare at her. She can’t be serious. There’s a dangerous man out there stalking me. A man who has threatened mine and Miles’ lives, might I add. And she’s calling me a bitch? Does she not understand how terrified I am right now?
This isn’t like her. Kaitlin has always been the person who stood beside me. The person who made me laugh when I didn’t think I had it in me, reminding me I wasn’t alone. So why is sheacting like this? What kind of best friend doesn’t care that her friend is scared for her life?
The adrenaline rushing through my veins takes over before I can stop it. Every ounce of fear, frustration, and anger I’ve been holding in comes crashing to the surface.
“I’m being a bitch?” I snap, my voice rising. “Are you fucking kidding me, Kaitlin? That guy has threatened Miles’ life. How could you say something like that?”
My chest heaves as I stare at her. “Miles was right. I should’ve never let you come over here. All you’ve done is put my fucking life at risk!”
The second the words leave my mouth, everything changes. Before I can even react, a sharp sting explodes across my cheek. My head snaps to the side from the force of it, silence filling the room.
