Page 66 of Rules of Association

“Did he take anything?”

“My watch.”

At least I was pretty sure he took it. I hadn’t really looked around to check. As soon as Connor carried me out of that cellar he put me into his car and drove me home.

“Tell me how it went down,” he said now, all stone faced.

“Why—”

“Tell me,”he insisted, but it was more of a plea than anything. I could tell by the way his voice cracked a little.

A deep breath left me. But I didn’t feel that same pressuring weight I had just a few minutes ago. I was okay. Connor was here and we were home. I could do this. I could talk about it.

“Like I said last night, I was walking back to my car from Claireview. He followed me from there. I was kind of in my own world, so I didn’t notice him behind me. As soon as I realized he was following me I tried to get to my car fast. I didn’t engage until he grabbed me, Con.”

“He grabbed you where?”

I shuddered, causing him to run a warm hand up my arm, squeezing my bicep in a comforting motion. I leaned into the touch, letting my eyes close for just a second longer than normal as I soaked in his presence. His support.

“He grabbed my wrist. It hurt really bad and sort of stunned me. When I tried to get away...I couldn’t.”

He looked down at my wrist. “How does it feel now?”

“It’s okay,” I said in a smaller voice.

He eyed me. “Is it really okay or is it Ceci okay?”

My guess was that“Ceci okay”meant not okay at all. But I was tired of pretending. I was always strong, but right then I just wanted to soak in Connor being strong for me. So, I told the truth. “A little sore, but okay.”

He held my eyes. Ceci-meter calculating for one, two, three seconds before he nodded. “What next?”

“He asked for money and I told him I didn’t have any. He said he wanted the watch and my car keys and I dropped them on the ground so he’d have to let me go to reach them.”

“Smart girl,” he said and rubbed my arm in a praising motion.

“After that I hit him and ran. You know the rest. I called you when I couldn’t do anything else.”

“You outran a man that was, what, at least six inches taller than you?” He raised a skeptical brow.

I raised my own brow. “How would you know how tall he was?

“Everyoneis at least six inches taller than you, Ceci.”

I glared. “No. Detective Dick, if you must know every detail, I dropped the watch and tricked him into letting my arm go so I could throw the car keys. I figured he’d choose me or my shit, and he didn’t really seem that interested in me if you know what I’m saying. The only reason I think he didn’t take the car is because it was so fucking loud. He probably assumed the cops would be there at any second.”

“Whyweren’tthe police there?” he asked, eyes narrowing.

“I didn’t call them,” I shrugged. He stiffened, and I moved my gaze so I was staring right at him. Eye to eye, I silently dared him to question me.

Connor picked his battles and he picked wisely. I was not about to become some dumbass news story headlined something stupid like‘Heiress in Distress’. No way, no how. And he knew it too, judging by the way he just sighed. I could tell by the look on his face, he was letting it go.

All of a sudden, I was being curled up in Connor’s arms. Big tree trunks that wrapped around my shoulders and back, pulling me in close to his chest. I had to spread my legs wide to accommodate him this close.

Like little snakes, my own arms wrapped snugly around his waist. Locking onto each other like a seatbelt behind his back. Against my ear I could hear his heartbeat. I could feel it knocking on my cheek. It was fast and steady, like a pounding drum.

“Your heart is racing,” I whispered.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

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