Our first few years together were rough. I was traumatized, but he was patient and cared for me. The Colonel even enlisted help from his doctor friend to stop my nightmares.
Another bullet hit the bumper.
Cole fired more shots.
Aiden hit their windshield.
Sonny drove like a maniac.
Rhys played with my hair.
I didn’t stop singing.
Everything began to blur together, and I retreated to my happy place inside my mind. I was so angry sometimes about not having friends or boyfriends. But until now, I hadn’t felt like I was in danger. The Colonel kept the target off my back. Whenever he thought my father was on to us, we moved again.
He gave up everything.
For me.
After Sonny took another rough turn, Cole rolled up the window. “We lost them.”
Rhys rubbed my back. “You can sit up, princess. We’re at the safe house.”
I peeked up at him and wiped my face. “I want to call my dad.”
“The Colonel is off the grid,” Cole told me. “Even my dad can’t reach him.”
I sniffed back more tears. “He needs to come and get me. I’m not safe here.”
Sonny parked in front of what looked like an abandoned apartment building. It was several stories tall and had no light on inside.
“I made a promise to you the day we met.” Cole shifted in his seat. “I will risk my life for yours. So you don’t have to be afraid, Grace.”
“But I am,” I choked out. “We could have died on our way here. I don’t want all of you risking your lives for me. That’s my dad’s job.”
“Would you look at that?” Sonny said in a chipper tone, a smile plastered on his face as he pretended to inspect his arms. “Not even a scratch.” He pressed his finger to my nose. “Boop! You look pretty scratch-free. Not bad if I do say so myself.”
I laughed for what felt like the first time in too long.
“We know what we’re doing, Grace.” Sonny flashed a golden boy smile that lit up his face. “You’re in good hands.”
Rhys opened the door. “C’mon, princess. Let’s get you inside before you turn into a pumpkin.”
* * *
Cole held me in his arms until my body finally stopped shaking uncontrollably. If Cole hadn’t taken the lead, I would have panicked. I should have adapted to the situation. That was the whole point of the survival camp my dad sent me to each summer since high school. He would have been so disappointed.
I felt like a failure.
Sonny left to join other Knights in ridding Beacon Bay of the Russians. He said men were driving around the town searching for me.
The Salvatores owned the apartment building, which The Devil’s Knights used as a safe house. So we didn’t have to worry for the rest of the night. Cole assured me The Knights were on watch outside and surrounding various parts of Devil’s Creek and Beacon Bay.
The apartment was sparse, with only a couch in the living room, a dining table, and a bed behind a set of double doors. Compared to the luxury of Cole’s home, this place was a dump. But maybe that was the point. No one would ever expect The Knights to live in a slum.
I sat on the couch in the living room between Cole and Rhys. They hadn’t said much, allowing me time to consider the past hour’s events.
“Feeling better, princess?”