Page 36 of His to Save

“Be right back,” Atlas murmurs, releasing my hand and standing from the couch. He darts down the hall, returning seconds later with my diary in his hands.

He passes it to me, and I hug the worn leather book to my chest as though greeting a long, lost friend. “I have so much to tell you,” I whisper to the pages, completely uncaring of how strange I may seem.

This diary has been my only friend for so long that these few days without it have been like torture.

“I have an app on my phone that I can scan the pages with so you don’t have to worry about me losing it or anything.”

“Thank you. Both of you.” I reluctantly pass my diary to Ellis, who sets it on the table beside his chair. “If it’s okay, I think I’d like to lay down. Um. I mean, if you don’t mind. Sorry.” I trip over my words as old worries fight their way to the surface.

“Of course. Let me snap a few pics first and then you’re good to go.”

I stand and allow Ellis to document my black eyes, split eyebrow, healing ribs, along with a handful of mottled bruises on my legs.

By the time he’s finished, both he and Atlas are breathing hard. For a split second, I worry they’re mad at me. But I quickly realize they’re madforme, not at me.

“Go rest, Pip. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice—I take off down the hall and dive into his bed. It’s every bit as amazing as I thought it would be, and with Atlas’s scent all around me, I’m fast asleep before my head even hits the pillow.

CHAPTER 12

ATLAS

“Should we check on her?” Ellis cracks his neck and then his knuckles, something he’s done over and over since questioning Nora.

Clearly, her answers pained him as much as they did me.

“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t think she’s slept well in ages.”

“She’s so small, man. How could he?—”

A knock at the front door interrupts him.

“Who in the hell is that?” I ask as Ellis grabs his phone, no doubt to pull the camera feed.

“Did you seriously invite Scarlet over tonight?” His voice drips with disapproval, as if I’d invite Scarlet over after ignoring her for two days while Nora sleeps in my bed.

“Fuck no.” I stand from the couch and stalk to the door. “I haven’t talked to her since Friday night.”

“Guess she got tired of waiting.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “You need to get rid of her.”

“Already on it.” I throw the door open, intent on joining her outside, but she waltzes right past me, shoulder checking me as she invites herself into my house.

“Excuse you,” I mutter before closing the door and following after her. “Why are you here?”

“We need to talk, Atlas.” She glares from Ellis to me and back again, as though simply sitting in his own living room is somehow offensive to her. “And I’d like to do so without an audience.”

Reaching behind me, I grip the back of my neck and squeeze. “Now’s not really a good time,” I say, hoping like hell those are the magic words to make her leave.

If the snarl curling her lips is anything to go by, they’re not.

“No.” She stomps her foot like a child. “Absolutely not. Youwilltalk to me, and ifhewon’t leave, we can talk in your room.”

She darts around me and takes off down the hall before I can stop her.

“Atlas!” Ellis snaps, but he doesn’t need to—I’m already giving chase.

“If you take one more step, Scarlet, I swear to God—” I’m panting by the time I catch up to her, not out of exhaustion but from worry. The last thing any of us needs is a confrontation between the woman in my hallway and the one in my bed.

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