Page 28 of Light

I pull her hand off my shirt and place a swift kiss to her knuckles, "I'm just going to make sure." I tell her as I back away from her in the direction of the back door.

I'm not prepared for a fight. I don't have any weapons, hell, I don't even have my shoes on. Still I'm going to check this out.

Taking a glimpse out the window, I move to the backdoor and slowly open it. It's dark and the automatic light that should go on isn't working. I'll fix that later.

It takes a second for me to get my eyes adjusted to the lack of light but once I do I look around the corner in the direction of Melissa's bedroom.

There, without a care in the world, I see a lanky man in all black, smoking a cigarette, and strolling away. Not rushing or hiding, he is literally walking like he's in the park or some shit.

"What the fuck are you doing back there!" I bark and step out of the house.

The man's head jerks in my direction, and even in the dim light I can see his eyes widen.

"Shit!" I hear him say, and he takes off in the direction of the fence.

I run after him but not before he scales the fence and hops over. It's obvious he wasn't expecting to see me here. I'm sure, whoever he is, thought Melissa would be home alone and he would be able to scare her to pieces without any repercussions. Not tonight. Not while she has me around.

I need to know who this bastard is. Who sent him and what he's doing messing with Melissa. As fast as I can I rush back into the house and grab for my shoes. Melissa is there pacing back and forth by the entrance.

"What are you doing? It was nothing, right?" She questions as if she's already doubting what she saw. I should lie to her and put her mind at ease but I don't.

"Someone was there. He didn't expect to see me. He took off when I called him out." I slide my foot into one of my boots. Quickly I hop to the other side to get the other boot on but Melissa stops me.

"Where is he?"

"He ran off."

"Then where are you going?" The fear in her eyes enrages me. I'm going to knock that bastards head clear off his shoulders.

"I'm going to find that asshole and find out what he was doing."

"No, don't. Just stay." She grabs for me and I try to pull my arm away.

"Melissa, we need to figure this out. He can come back." I try to make her see why I need to go. Make myself see reason at the same time.

"If he does, you'll be here. Tyler is awake and freaked out. I'm freaked out. Please don't leave us alone right now." Her voice hitches at the end of her request and all at once all the rage I felt evaporates. Getting the two of them settled is more important than trying to chase after that asshole. There's no way to be sure he didn't get in a car or something and drive off. I'd be running around in the dark looking for someone that clearly doesn't want to be found.

"Alright. I'll stay."

I drop my boots to the floor with a heavy thud and reach for her.

Melissa practically folds into me, trembling against my chest like she has been holding herself together by nothing more than willpower.

I squeeze her tighter, tucking her head under my chin.

"It's okay," I murmur against her hair. "I've got you."

The words slip out before I can stop them. Raw. Honest. Dangerous.

I don't do this. Comforting. Holding.

But right now, with her in my arms, I feel it all pressing down on me.

The need to protect her. To protect Tyler.

The crazy part is, I barely even know her. Not really. We have never crossed any real lines, never even kissed, but the pull is there, loud and messy and undeniable.

I breathe her in, trying to push down the wildfire rising in my chest.

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