Page 175 of Ruin Me Gently

And kicked.

And kicked.

Over.

And over.

And over.

I needed—fuck,I didn’t even know what I needed. I just knew I couldn’t sit still. I shot up from the couch, heart hammering, breath coming a little too fast.

In the blink of an eye, Silas was there, hands hovering near my arms. “Hey, hey. What’s going on?”

I could barely breathe, let alone answer.

“What happened?” he asked Molly, his hand shooting to the phone still clutched in my hands. “Per l’amor di Dio! What the hell were you thinking, showing her that?”

He shoved the phone back at Molly, his attention snapping back to me, hands finding my shoulders.

“You’re safe. Right here. Right now. Can you breathe for me, sweetheart?”

In for four. Hold for four. Out for four.

“Hewillbe caught, Lilith,” he said.

“And if he isn’t?”

“He will be. People can’t hide forever.”

“He’s right, Lils,” Molly chimed in. “They’ll get him. And when they do? He’s done.”

“And you’re safe here, right?” A voice chirped in from just behind us, and the three of us turned to face it. Finn stood a few steps away, hands stuffed casually into the pockets of his slacks.

“Hi, Lilith. Heard lots about you. Nice to meet you,” he said, flashing me a boyish grin like we weren’t in the middle of some post-panic attack intervention.

No one said anything.

He glanced between us. “Listen, I know Silas. You’re safe as long as you’re with him. No one gets into this place without his permission, okay?” His voice was steady, oddly comforting. “Me and Red over here can help on the outside. Whatever you need, alright?”

“Finn,” Silas muttered.

Finn held up a hand, his blue gaze locking onto mine. “No, man. You’ve got this place locked down tighter than a bank vault, and you’ve got me and Red here running backup. She’ssafe.”

Molly nodded, her copper hair catching the light as she sighed. “As much as I hate to agree with frat-bro over here, he’s right.”

Finn’s face lit up like a dog hearing the word‘walk.’She pointed a finger at him without even looking his way. “Don’t get any ideas, Chad. I’m just agreeing with you.”

He clutched his chest dramatically, stumbling back a step like she’d shot him.

Molly ignored him. “The security is like Fort Knox down there. Mr. Stalker—sorry,Silas—had to give meactual special clearancejust to get into the building. I’ll keep checking in on Katniss. You’re good for as much time off as you need. We all just wanna make sureyou’regood.”

I nodded. Swallowing down the thick tangle of emotions winding around my throat. “I appreciate it.”

She gave my shoulder a quick squeeze, then sighed. “I’ve gotta get back to the store. Sorry, Lils.”

“I gotta head back to the office too. I’ll forward you those emails, dude.” Finn said, stretching as he nodded at Silas.

They both made their way to the elevator, bickering the entire way about God knows what before the doors slid shut, mercifully cutting them off.

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