Page 161 of Prey

I pushed him off the cliff.

His scream of terror was cut off sharply when he hit the ground.

I looked over the edge, and it took me a second to find his body on the bottom. I knew, unlike Ryleigh when he pushed her over seven years ago, he didn’t survive the fall, if the position of his neck was anything to go by.

I didn’t feel any satisfaction over it.

All I felt was anger that she had been in danger. That she had been hurt. That she could have been taken away from me if I hadn’t gotten to her in time.

Micah came up to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “It’s done, little brother. Go to your girl. Take care of her. We’ll take care of this mess for you.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, taking the key to my bike out of my pocket and handing it to him.

I nodded at Dominic as I passed and walked over to where Ryleigh and Kai were.

I didn’t touch her.

I didn’t know where to touch her so that I wouldn’t hurt her. What was more, I didn’t know if she could handle my touch after what she just went through.

Kai moved away from her when he saw me coming, and I grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him close and saying thank you.

He nodded and went to help his dad.

Ryleigh took one look at me and burst into tears. That was all it took.

I rushed forward and pulled her into my arms.

She buried her face in my neck and sobbed quietly against me. Every tear on my skin was like a punch to the fucking gut, and I buried my face in her hair, taking comfort in having her in my arms.

“It’s okay, Ryleigh-girl. I got you. I got you, and I will never let you go again. I promise.”

And it was a promise I would keep until my fucking dying breath.

* * *

It was past midnight,but Ryleigh still wasn’t asleep.

I knew she was tired, considering this was the fifth time she’d yawned in as little as thirty minutes, but she refused to close her eyes and rest.

I got it.

I knew she was afraid of the nightmares getting to her, so I didn’t tell her to go to sleep.

I let her rest in my arms. I let her feel safe and protected in the cocoon I had made for us, and I stayed awake with her.

The truth was, I didn’t think I would be able to fall asleep, even if she could.

The image of her tied to that tree would dance behind my eyelids every time I shut my eyes, and I had a feeling I would have a hard time letting her out of my sight for a while, if ever.

I tightened my arms around her at the thought, prompting her to shift on the bed and turn to face me.

Her gray eyes took me in.

“Can’t sleep?” I asked her.

“No.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

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