Page 27 of One Forbidden Moment

"You think Finn will help you?"she asked.

"I think he'll help you be safe," Moe said quietly."And that's enough."

Her throat tightened.She couldn't breathe around the weight of what he was telling her.Moe—the man who'd dragged her into Everstill—was now planning to walk into a world where he could be arrested on sight...just to make sure she wasn't alone against something she couldn't even see.

And she was supposed to believe the veil was a barrier, a storm, a thing, and was alive?That it could hurt her?That it wanted something?

She shivered, but not from fear of him.She'd lived with Moe for weeks, maybe months.God, she couldn't even keep track of time here.

During her stay, he never harmed her.Never raised a hand.Never crossed a line.

Whatever danger waited for her out there...it wasn't Moe.

He squeezed her hands."When the storm hits, we go together.Locked together, hand in hand.But once we're there, I stay in the shadows.You lead.I follow."

She stared at him, her chest aching.Was he giving her control over her life?

"This is dangerous?"she asked.

He nodded.

She swallowed."You could get caught."

"Yeah.It's a possibility," he said.

"You could go to prison."

He held her gaze, steady and unflinching."I know."

"Then why risk it?"she whispered.

His voice dropped."Because I'm not letting you walk into that world alone.Not with what's coming.Not with what the veil wants.Something is brewing.I can feel it, and Copper isn't saying anything yet."

Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance.A low warning.

A tremor ran through her.Could she really be going home?

Moe held her hands.She squeezed back, agreeing to what he suggested.Going back to her home, her mom, and her life were worth the risk.

She didn't owe Moe anything.He was the one who kidnapped her.

"It's starting," he said softly."And we're running out of time."