Page 42 of Betrayed

Keeping my body between Blake and Jack, I glanced over my shoulder. “You good?” I whispered into my comms.

“Yeah, get her out of here. I’ll deal with campus police.”

No doubt they were already on their way and would want to take our statement, but they’d have to wait. Getting Blake to safety was more important. Luckily, John had told them Blake had an armed escort, so it wouldn’t surprise them to see SSI on the scene.

“Are you hurt?” I asked as I tried to turn her away from the scene.

Blake refused to budge. “Is he dead?” she asked, her eyes once again glued to the guy lying at Jack’s feet.

“No. Just unconscious.”

The energy shifted as the crowd grew restless.

“Get her out of here,” Jack ordered.

“Let’s go,” I said, sounding harsher than I’d intended.

She still didn’t move. Her freeze response had kicked in, cementing her feet to the ground.

I don’t have time for this. Knowing it’d look bad if I flung her over my shoulder, I scooped her up like a newlywed, carrying his bride over the threshold.

The movement snapped her out of it and she whimpered, burying her face in my neck as her short arms clung to me for dear life.

“I got you. You’re okay.” I wasn’t sure my words had registered until I felt her delayed nod. Blake’s sheltered life had just been cracked open. Her innocence shattered.

I glanced behind me as I jogged to the car, relieved no one was following us.

Blake’s death grip on my neck tightened when I tried to set her down so I could open her door.

“It’s okay, I’m not going anywhere.” I tried to set her down again, but she curled into me. I rubbed her back as I spoke in hushed tones, “Blake, Sweetheart, I have to put you down to open the door.”

She nodded and slowly released her grip. Releasing her legs, it hit me—I didn’t want to let go of her any more than she wanted me to. When her feet touched the ground, I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her back and holding her head to my chest as I swore I’d never let anyone hurt her.

I’ll face the devil himself if I have to.

I helped her into the passenger seat, where I could see her, and buckled her seatbelt. I clicked the door lock as I ran around the front to the driver’s side, scanning as I went.

What a fucking day.And it wasn’t even noon.

Chapter 22

Blake

This can’t be real. He tried to kill me. And I just stood there like an idiot.

My stupid body had refused to move, even after Jack got there and tied the guy up.

And how humiliating was it that AJ had to carry me? He kept telling me I was safe, promising to protect me, as he carried me to the car. He was surprisingly gentle with me after almost killing a guy with his bare hands.

He could have killed him.

But he didn’t.

He looked so angry.

He saved you.

I warred with myself. AJ’s display of ruthless violence shocked me, but I was grateful he’d stepped in and stopped the guy.

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