Page 98 of Protect Me
Even the most powerful rules couldn’t stop bad things from happening.
The realization settled deep into my soul. Whether or not I liked it didn’t matter. I could let the rules go simply by holding to wisdom and trusting myself. Today, at Tempest Lake, I would prove that.
“Thank you,” I murmured, mentally picturing the list of rules in my head. “Thank you for helping me feel safe, for protecting me when I needed it. Now, I’m ready for something more. There is wisdom in safety and structure, and I won’t release all my caution, but I will loosen my grip. I need room to grow, to experience life, and to do so wisely. Thank you for bringing me this far.”
No response stirred.
The natural world continued on in unimpeded silence, but something settled in my chest. Quiet, like a door closing.
A road ending.
A new trail beginning.
Lakeside now, I slipped my hiking shoes off, carried them in my arm, and picked my way along the edge. Trees ringed Tempest Lake, which had a perimeter that undulated in ribbon-like waves. Sometimes I could see parts of the bank, others were hidden in twists and turns, and other times I couldn’t. A cove existed not far from here, out of sight for hikers passing through. It lay in sunshine, where the water would be warm.
My thoughts meandered, unburdened in a way I hadn’t experienced . . . maybe ever . . . when a rustle came from ahead. I tensed, looked up, and gasped.
Timothy peered at me from the trees.
ChapterTwenty-Four
VIKRAM
The day dragged into eternity.
From the moment Kate left, minutes became hours. I eyed the clock, attempted to stay busy, and tried not to bother Daniel in his office. The desire to be with Kate again compelled me home.
I just wanted toholdher.
On my last break, an hour before I could go home, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Grady. The quiet store lay open around me, so I stepped behind the counter to answer.
“Grady,” I drawled. “Hey brother. Long time, no talk.”
Grady laughed, a baritone roll of thunder in my ear.
“What’s up, Vik?”
“Not much right now, how are you, man?”
“Rocking and rolling over here. Married life is the best. And don’t try to play stupid with me. I heard you almost went septic after a knee surgery and didn’t tell anyone.”
“Hernandez needs to shut his big mouth.”
His amusement deepened into another laugh at my expense. “Bastian mentioned it too, for what it's worth. Apparently, he gets all the gossip about you from your new girl.”
Nowthathad my interest.
“Oh yeah? What did she say?”
“Naw, man. I’m not going to make it that easy.” Grady tsked. “You gotta work for the info if you want it! Tell me who she is, first. Any girl that you’ve flipped for is a girl worth knowing. Hernandez said you’re mooning over her.”
I grinned. He wasn’t wrong.
“It’s Kate. You remember her?”
His voice pitched here. “Vini’s friend?”
“The one.”
