Page 135 of A Captive Situation

Jake was gone.

My chest ached, but this was the moment when I felt like breaking down and when I wanted to crawl in bed and never leave again—this was when I covered it up with a joke. No one could see the cracks. Ifthey did, they’d realize how close I was to having the entire wall fall down. It was already collapsing. I was barely holding the weight up, but my knees were buckling.

I wanted to fall down, but fuck no. Jake wouldn’t have done that. So I’d keep waiting. That’s all Icoulddo.

So I did that. I waited for Jake.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Sawyer

The bed depressing under someone’s weight woke me up at the same time I heard Jake’s mocking voice. “I’ve not had to keep quiet because of parents for a long fucking time.” He was climbing into my bed. My childhood bed. Taking the corner of my blanket, he flung it off me.

“What?” I surged upright in my bed.

I was seeing things.

Jake was here.

Jake was in Montana.

“Jake?”

“Hi,” he whispered, still laughing under his breath. He leaned over me and nipped at my mouth before resting his forehead to mine. “I’ve missed you.”

“You’re here?” I grasped both of his arms, not wanting to let him go.

“Yeah. I’m here. I couldn’t stay away any longer.” He moved to the side and slid under my blanket.

The reality of our location hit me. “This is my parents’ house.”

“I know.” He settled on my side, his gaze raking me up and down. Dark approval was in those eyes of his. I could see enough from a little light plugged in the room’s corner. “I’m liking what you’re wearing.” His hand ran to the end of my shirt. Correction, his shirt.

“How the fuck did you get this?” he asked.

“I stuffed it in my purse when I ran. I wasn’t sure if I’d get more clothes. I was on the run.” When I pulled it out, I burst into tears.

His smirk fell away, and he grew somber. “You’re not anymore.” His hand slid to the back of my head, his fingers sliding through my hair. He tipped me up to see him better and he angled himself so he was almost gazing down into my soul. Almost directly above me. “I made a deal.” His voice grew hoarse.

My heart faltered. My hand rose to press against his chest. “What kind of deal? What about Blake? Is Blake okay?” My voice rose. “And why are you just now finding me? It’s been two months. Two months! You asshole.”

He gave me a resigned smile, laying his head down, still watching me. “She’s fine. And I had to stay away because I needed to make sure EJ was safe. I’m sorry, baby.”

I might’ve swooned at that name, but still gave him a look.

He snorted out a laugh. “My lunatic.”

I grinned. “Better.” I reached for his hand, entwining our fingers. I lay down, too, in shock. He was here. I needed to ask more about Blake, but later. Right now, I couldn’t stop focusing on Jake. I flattened my hand against him and slid it upward, my palm flat against his skin. It went to his neck, where I could still feel his pulse. I closed my eyes because in that moment, all the fear I’d been holding over the last two months flooded me.

I choked out, “I’ve been so scared you were dead.”

“Sawyer,” he rasped out, curling me up to him as he moved both of us so he was lying down and I was tucked into his side. He pulled my legs over him, continuing to move me gently until I was curled ina ball on top of him. His head lifted up, touching against mine, and I let out a sob. He soothed, “I’m okay. I’m alive.”

I fisted his shirt in my hands. “But are you going to stay alive?” The fear was so strong inside of me.

One of his hands ran down my back, sliding up under his shirt and tucking into the back of my panties. “I’m safe. I will be safe. We’re okay.”

Another shudder wracked through me, but I looked up at him. I needed to see his eyes when I asked this next question. “What was included in the deal? I need to know all of it.”

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