Page 85 of Affinity

Leaning back into his body, I watched as the police put Poppy into the back of one of their cruisers. She turned to look out the window, her murderous glare on us. If looks could kill, we would have been eviscerated on the spot.

My body started to shake at the realization of what had almost happened. I could have died at the hands of a deranged woman hell-bent on stealing my husband.

Resting his cheek to the top of my head, Jenner spoke in a quiet, soothing voice. His hands moved to rub up and down my arms, trying to calm my frayed nerves. “It’s all over now. Everything’s okay,” he kept repeating as if that would make the situation better.

“She wants me dead,” I cried, turning in his arms to bury my head between his pecs.

Pulling me even tighter to his chest, Jenner placed kisses to the top of my head. “She’s never going to get the opportunity to hurt you again. I promise you; I’ll make sure of it. Do you trust me?”

I could only nod in response as I tried to choke down all the emotions bubbling up inside of me. I was overwhelmed with my love for both Jenner and Paul, the terror of what almost happened, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins and now crashing.

I pulled back to look up at him with blurry eyes. “It was her.”

His voice was soft as he asked, “What was her, baby girl?”

“She admitted the whole thing. She was trying to get you back, and it didn’t matter how many times I told her you’d never take her back.”

“Never in a million years, honey. You’re the only woman I want.” He leaned down until we were eye to eye. Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from underneath my eyes and smiled. “Now tell me, what did she do?”

“Poppy . . . she was the one who drugged us in Vegas. You gave me your drink, and when that didn’t work, she drugged your next drink and tried to get rid of me. I don’t know how she had planned to get you back after that, but we foiled whatever else she was scheming. It was her who ran me off the road. Who knows what else she would have done once she got me out of the picture?”

Crushing me to his chest with his mouth brushing against the shell of my ear, Jenner spoke with conviction. “We’ll never have to find out.”

I only hoped he was right.

“Is she okay?” a deep voice asked from behind me.

Throwing myself at my brother, I engulfed him in the biggest hug I’d ever given him. The moment I collided with him, I started to sob. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Are you sure she’s okay?” Paul asked. One hand rubbed down my back as the other cradled my head.

“She’s just upset. She thought there was a possibility you might get hurt.”

Sliding his hands to my shoulders, Paul pulled me away and looked down at me. “I can’t believe you have such little faith in me.”

“It’s only because I love you so much and couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”

His entire face softened at my words. “I love you too, kiddo. I couldn’t let that crazy bitch hurt you.”

“I’ll never be able to repay you for keeping her safe,” Jenner said from behind me. He placed a warm hand to the small of my back and started to rub soothing circles with his thumb.

“Just make my sister happy. That’s all the payment I need.” He reached a hand over me, and I heard some clapping noise.

I’m sure the money Jenner had been paying him since I got out of the hospital didn’t hurt either. I was shocked to learn Paul’s price to be a bodyguard. Jenner wouldn’t hear of taking the family discount Paul had offered either. I was sure Paul would end up finding a hefty amount deposited in his account when he next checked.

“What do you say we get out of here?”

Both Paul and Jenner started to head to their respective cars, and I stood there frozen, not knowing who to ride with. I wanted to be with them both and didn’t know how to decide.

They both stopped in their tracks when they saw me standing in the same place where they’d left me.

“Abbi, are you ready to go?” Paul asked, his mouth turned down.

“Yes, but I’m scared something else might happen to you guys. I want to be in both cars.” Even to my own ears, it sounded a little crazy. I was sure I was going to lose it in the not too distant future.

“Nothing’s going to happen now. You’re safe, and we’re safe.” Jenner moved to my side once again and took my hands in his.

Paul eyed our joined hands. “How about I leave my car here, and Jenner can bring me back to it later?”

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