Page 100 of While She Sleeps

I look up at him, my chest tightening at how worried he looks. He cares about me. Despite everything. Despite the fact that I don’t belong in this world. Despite how broken I am. Orion cares about me. “No, I’m not hungry,” I say softly.

He nods before climbing into the bed beside me, immediately wrapping his body around mine with such care that it brings tears to my eyes. “I’m sorry you were hurt today, Little Flame. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“You can’t protect me from everything, Orion.”

“I can, and I will. You are the light in my eternal darkness, Ember, and I will do anything I have to do to keep you where you belong. With me.”

I sigh and allow my eyes to fall closed, reveling in his warmth on my sore body.

“Get some sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

And I do just that. The painkillers and exhaustion from the day drag me under, and I don’t fight it. I’m safe in Orion’s arms, where nothing can hurt me.

Three words I have no business saying linger on my lips as I fall into a deep sleep, but I manage to keep them to myself.

For now, at least.

Travis fidgets in the driver’s seat.

He’s been on edge for the last week. Looking over his shoulder. Checking the locks of our apartment over and over. Even going so far as to put me on lockdown.

But he won’t tell me why. He won’t tell me anything at all, for that matter.

“Travis, what’s going on?” I ask, looking over my shoulder. There’s a black Escalade behind us, but they don’t seem to be doing anything to make me think they’re following us.

“Nothing,” he snaps back, checking the mirrors for what feels like the fiftieth time since we got in the car ten minutes ago.

“Don’t lie to me. If you’re in some kind of trouble, we can work it out. Together. Just like we always do,” I plead, but I already know his answer. He’s always been overprotective of me, but the last six months have been to the extreme. Constantly demanding to know where I am and who I’m with. But every time I’ve asked him about it, he’s denied doing it at all.

“I don’t need your help.”

The admission burns the backs of my eyes as I try to blink back tears. He never used to be this short with me either, but more and more, his patience has waned, to the point he’s actually scared me a few times.

I look out the passenger window and take in our surroundings. “Why are we in the hills?” I ask. I’ve been too distracted with his behavior that I haven’t been paying any attention to where we’re going.

“You’ll see when we get there.”

My throat closes over as panic settles in my chest. What the hell does that even mean?

The speed ticks higher, and our old car starts to struggle as he pushes it too hard up the hill. If he’s not careful, he’s going to blow the engine, but he doesn’t seem to notice as his eyes flick to the mirrors again.

Travis curses, and I bite down on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from asking what’s going on again. I don’t want to make him any angrier than he already is.

I look behind us again, still finding the SUV behind us, except it seems like there’s less distance now.

Are they getting closer?

I’m about to turn back around when the black bumper of the other car pulls even closer, and a yelp escapes my throat as they ram into the back of our car.

“What the fuck, Travis? Tell me what the fuck is happening.”

“Shut up,” he yells, trying to right the wheel without us spinning out of control.

Another slam of metal on metal has a startled scream escaping my throat. What the fuck is going on? Why are they doing this?

“Motherfucker!” Travis struggles to keep control of the car as he pushes it to its limits, the engine revving loudly.

I catch sight of a sharp bend in front of us, and instinctively, I grip onto the door and my seat. “You need to slow down. The tires are too bald to make it around this corner at this speed.”

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