Page 8 of Shattered Souls
Inhaling deeply, I fill my lungs with Logan’s crisp winter scent. It always works wonders to clear my mind and stabilize me. Even now, it takes the edge off my frayed nerves. Although, nothing on this earth could eliminate the overwhelming nausea of having to face Bertram again. Nothing could prepare me to sit across a table from him and act like we’re family. Like I don’t want to claw his eyes out. Slit his throat. Stab him in the eye with my fork. Rip off his dick and shove it down his throat.
There are so many options….
I guess I’ll have all dinner to contemplate in which order I should carry them out.
“I wish I could go for you,” he murmurs against my ear. “If I could take on this pain for you, I would.”
I squeeze him tighter, knowing this is killing him—himandRoyce. Knowing they have to remain behind while I literally walk into the Devil’s lair.
The only upside is that I’m not walking in alone.
I never thought I’d appreciate the day Grayson was by my side, but I’m grateful for this.
We break apart at the sound of a throat clearing, and I peer around Logan to find Grayson standing stiffly in my bedroom doorway. He is wearing a pale blue shirt and gray slacks; his lips pressed into a tight line as he stares at me unblinking.
“It’s time.”
He says it like he’s announcing the moment I walk to the electric chair.
Steeling my nerves, I nod. Stepping from Logan’s embrace, I move to walk around him. However, before I can get too far, he grabs my hand, whirling me back into his arms. Logan captures the back of my head with his hand, angling my face to his as his eyes search mine.
“You’re so brave, Shortcake. So strong. I know you’ll survive this dinner, just like you’ve survived everything else—with unbelievable poise and grace. And when it’s over, I’ll be here. Come home to me and cry in my arms. I’ll be strong, so you don’t have to.” Tears gather in my eyes. Before they spill over, he presses his lips to mine in a chaste yet heated kiss. One that goes so much deeper than physical affection, lust, or chemistry. It’s a kiss that speaks to the profound bond we have—the love we share.
“Grayson will be with you the entire time,” he assures me before reluctantly letting me go.
With a small smile, I walk over to Grayson. His gaze is fixed over my head as he nods at Logan before sliding his attention to me.
“I won’t leave you alone with either of them,” he repeats, his words a searing promise.
Throat thick, I merely nod before we make our way out of my apartment, down the stairs, and into his slick sports car.
We’re silent on the drive out of town and toward Springview, where the restaurant for tonight’s shitshow is situated.
The journey to Springview simultaneously lasts a lifetime and is over too soon. When we pull up to the restaurant and a valet opens my door, I’m still not prepared to face my worst nightmare, but I’m officially out of time.
The valet holds out his hand to help me out of the car, but before I can put my hand in his, Grayson is rounding the hood, snapping at the poor guy. “Don’t touch her,” he snarls, glaring at the man.
He flinches away, his hand dropping as he apologizes profusely to Grayson.
Grayson, the asshole that he is, ignores him as he moves to stand in front of me, blocking out the rest of the world as he holds out his hand with obvious expectation.
Too strung out to deal with his bullshit tonight, I shake my head as I allow him to help me out. If he didn’t have such low seats, I wouldn’tneedhelp getting out of his car—an observation I don’t think he’d appreciate right now, so I politely don’t point it out.
“That was rude,” I say instead, piercing him with the same glare he leveled on the valet.
He arches an arrogant eyebrow as he looks down his nose at me. “So?”
“He was only doing his job.”
“He was going to touch you.”
“So?” I counter, in the same tone he just used on me.
His eyes spark with possession. “So, no one touches what’s mine.”
“This misplaced ownership is getting old,” I drawl, turning away from him so he can’t see the flush in my cheeks from his words. I might play it off as annoying, but there’s no denying his jealousy does inappropriate things to me.
“Don’t care,” he retorts as he moves to stand beside me. Glancing down, he offers me his elbow.
