Love Me (WITSEC #3)(76)

“I don’t feel safe.” My voice trembled.

Hearing it, Knox ordered, “Roll over.”

I did, giving him my back, and he scooted close until he was pressed all the way against me. He slid one arm under my head, wrapped the other around me tightly, and whispered, “Right now, in my arms, you are safe. I will not let anything get you.”

I took his hand that was near my head in mine and laced our fingers.

“The only way in here is locked and all of us would hear if someone tried to get in. Just focus on the feeling of me around you and close your eyes.”

“Can you tell me about your day at work or something to distract me from my thoughts?” I whispered as I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

In a low voice, he began talking about how he’d started his day with a workout. Then went on to talk about scheduling issues and employee drama. When he was done going over his day, I had successfully relaxed to the sound of his voice, and I could feel sleep beckoning me.

“I love you,” I heard him whisper.

“I love you, too,” I said with a sleepy voice. He stiffened and I smiled. “Thought I was asleep, did ya?”

His body slowly relaxed and he kissed my head. “Go to sleep.”

My smile stayed as I began to drift.





25





The next day, I began to feel that maybe I had been overreacting to finding Jacob’s body in my house. Or I really didn’t want to believe Mr. X had found me. After we checked out of the hotel and returned to the guys’ house, I still called Logan. He didn’t answer.

Knox and Keelan went into work for a half day, while the twins and I stayed home and watched TV for most of the day. Around dinnertime, Ethan texted Colt and Creed, begging that they come over and help decorate. He managed to guilt Colt into doing it when he pulled the it’s my birthday line.

Cheese and rice, that guilted me, too. No one should have to decorate for their own birthday. I offered to go help with Colt. I’d have to rush to get ready, but I’d go. Both he and Creed convinced me to ignore Ethan and to take my time getting ready.

As I was finishing up my makeup in the twins’ bathroom later that evening, I realized that the gift I had gotten Ethan was at my house. My stomach twisted up at the idea of going over there. I closed my eyes and exhaled, calming my nerves.

As I left the bathroom, the heels of my nude wedges echoed off the tile floor. I wasn’t dressed in anything special. Just dark jean shorts and a black top. I was wearing my GPS tracker around my wrist because it looked worse around my ankle.

Creed, Knox, and Keelan were sitting in the living room. Creed looked ready to go and I snorted when I saw what he was wearing. The three of them glanced in my direction as I rounded the couch.

“You and I are twins,” I said to Creed.

He frowned and then he took in my outfit. He was wearing a skintight black T-shirt with dark blue jeans. Creed smiled. “Think we’ll make Colt jealous?”

“No.” Smiling, I came to stand in front of him.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

My smile dropped. “The gift I got Ethan is in my room at my house.”

Knox sat up straighter. “Do you need us to go get it for you?”

I was tempted to accept that offer, but I didn’t want to be a coward. “No, but can someone come with me?”

Creed stood. “I’ll go. We can grab some more of your clothes while we’re there.”

“Tomorrow before we head into work, we’re going to throw out your couch,” Knox said.

I nodded and Creed and I headed next door. The alarm didn’t go off because it hadn’t been set. The smell of pennies was still present, but not as strong. Creed went inside first and turned on the lights. I tried not to look at my couch but failed.

Each purple cushion had large stains on it. Staring at the couch, I could still see Jacob sitting there. I quickly looked away and Creed followed me to my room. Creed flicked on the light next to my bed and I headed over to my dresser where Ethan’s present was sitting.

“I have a duffel bag in my closet. Will you grab it for me?” I asked Creed as I opened the top drawer of my dresser. I grabbed a few bras and began sifting through them looking for the matching panties. I couldn’t find them. What was strange was, I didn’t see any panties at all. I shut that drawer and pulled open the second one. I dug through more bras, but I could tell right away that there weren’t any panties in that drawer, either.

Panic surged through me and I began tossing all my bras out of the drawer onto the floor. I didn’t want to believe it. “No. No. No. No. No.” With each word, I sounded more scared.

“Shi?” Creed rushed out of my closet with my duffel in hand. “What’s wrong?”

I rushed to my nightstand and grabbed my gun.

“Shi?” Creed said, his voice full of worry.

I quickly shut my bedroom door and locked it. “All my underwear is gone,” I said as I crept into the bathroom slowly. Flipping on the light, I looked behind the shower curtain.

“What?” Creed said, confused.

I came out of the bathroom and held his eyes with mine. “Do you remember when I told you how Mr. X stalked me for years, and do you remember how he broke into my family’s home and stole all of my underwear?”