Page 139 of His to Save

There’s so much more I want to tell you, Diary. But I hear my keepers, as well-intentioned as they may be, calling for me, and if I don’t respond, they very well may bust down the door.

Annoyed, Nora

CHAPTER 50

ATLAS

“What time was her appointment again?” Ellis asks, interrupting my nervous pacing.

“Ten.”

“That was two hours ago,” he mutters, slapping another slice of cheese onto the sandwich he’s making.

“Well aware.” My answers are short, but we’ve both been wound tighter than tight since bringing Nora home. And with us both on leave from work, we have all the time in the world to worry.

Worry about what?Every-fucking-thing.Is Nora eating enough? Is she sleeping well? Is she having nightmares? Does she blame me for her getting taken? Is James okay? Will I be a good dad? And on, and on, and on.

Honestly, I’m on my own nerves at this point, so it’s a wonder Nora hasn’t told me to take a hike.

I post up against the bar and watch as Ellis fusses with our plates—positioning the perfectly cut sandwiches just so, with fresh fruit, and chips.

“Maybe we should check on her?” he asks, his eyes anxiously flicking my way before going back down at Nora’s plate.

At this point, his worry is more than an echo of mine—hell, the other night, I caught him trying to poke his head into our room to check on her. If he was anyone else, I’d worry, but I know Ellis, and while he’sinvestedin Nora, he’s notinterested.

If anything, knowing he has her back the way he does allows me to breathe a little easier.

“Roger that.” I head for the hall. “Make us drinks and I’ll see if she’s done.”

Despite my every instinct telling me to run, I force myself to walk back to our room, where I rap my knuckle against the door frame.

I hear Nora’s muffled groan followed by the sound of a book—most likely her diary—snapping shut.

“Pip?” I ask, forcing my hands down to my sides so I don’t knock again. “You okay?”

“Yup.” Her monosyllabic reply is brimming with forced positivity. My girl’s in a mood, and while I don’t know who or what upset her, I’ll damn sure do my level best to fix it.

“Lunch is ready…” I trail my fingers over the doorknob, but it swings open before I can actually turn it.

“Great.” She slips past me, and stalks off toward the kitchen. “Let’s eat.”

“I have just the thing to turn that frown upside down,” Ellis says as Nora and I both grab seats at the bar.

“I’m sure you think you do,” Nora mutters, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Oh, someone’s feeling big spicy, huh?” Ellis mimics her pose. It’d be comical if Nora didn’t look ready to explode.

“I’m really not in the mood.”

My eyes zero in on the way her lower lip quivers, as if she’s holding back tears.Fuck.

“Are you okay, Pip?” I try to wrap my arm around her shoulders but she shrugs out of my hold. “Talk to me,” I urge, feeling helpless. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re what’s wrong!” she snaps. “Both of you!”

Ellis and I both rear back. Jesus, fuck. A bullet to the chest would’ve hurt less.

“Us?” Ellis asks with enough audacity for both of us. “Surely not.”

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