Page 89 of By Your Side
I kissed her then, soft and certain, letting her feel everything I couldn’t quite put into words yet. The relief of finally knowing, the rage at Eli, and most of all, the promise that she wasn’t in this alone anymore and not ever again.
When we pulled back, her eyes shone with something fierce and fragile all at once. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” I said, pulling her against me again, holding her like I never wanted to let go.
Chapter 30
Paige
My hands were shaking so hard I nearly dropped the phone. Hunter’s thumb pressed circles into my palm, steadying me, but my voice still trembled when I said, “I’m calling Ren.”
He didn’t argue, just stayed right there beside me, solid and unmovable, while I scrolled to Ren’s name and hit call.
“Paige?” Ren’s voice was rough, like I’d dragged him out of bed.
“It’s Eli,” I blurted, my throat tightening. “Hunter and Spencer set up cameras in the tavern. They caught him—on video. He was in there last night, messing with the freezer.”
For a heartbeat, there was nothing but the sound of rustling on the other end. Then Ren’s voice sharpened, all business. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I swallowed hard, fingers tightening around Hunter’s. His steady warmth kept me from coming apart. “We have proof. Spencer will send it to you.”
“Good,” Ren said firmly. “This changes everything. He’s not just harassing you anymore, Paige—this is criminal. I’ll call the police. We’ll press charges. This will shut him down in court.”
My breath hitched. The words should have felt like a release, like finally being freed from a weight I’d been dragging for months. But instead, hot tears slid down my cheeks.
Hunter pulled me closer, tucking me against his chest, his jaw pressed tight against the top of my head. His whole body thrummed with quiet fury, every muscle wound up like a spring.
“Did you hear me, Paige?” Ren asked. “It’s going to be over now. We’ll make sure of it.”
I swiped at my tears with the back of my hand, nodding even though he couldn’t see. “Yeah,” I whispered. “I heard you.”
“Is Hunter with you?” he asked, his voice softening just a fraction. “You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“Yeah, he’s right here.”
“Good. I’ll take it from here. Sit tight. Don’t let Eli near you. I’ll be in touch as soon as I’ve spoken with the police and his attorney.”
“Okay,” I said, my voice breaking. “Thank you, Ren.”
When the call ended, I let the phone slip from my hand onto the quilt. My body shook, all the adrenaline I’d been running on finally catching up to me.
Hunter caught my chin gently, tilting my face up to his. His eyes burned with a heat I’d never seen there before—not just protectiveness, but fury, the kind that came from watching someone you loved be hurt time and time again.
“He’s done,” Hunter said, low and certain. “You hear me? He doesn’t get to touch you, doesn’t get to scare you, doesn’t get to hurt what’s yours ever again. Not while I’m here.”
That was what undid me. Not Ren’s certainty, not the promise of the law stepping in—but Hunter, holding me like I was the most essential thing in the world, swearing he’d keep me safe no matter what.
I pressed my face into his chest, tears dampening his skin, and whispered, “I don’t know how I’d do this without you.”
“You won’t have to,” he said fiercely, kissing the top of my head. “Not ever.”
Hunter didn’t let go of me for a long time. His hand stayed pressed against my back, warm and sure, like he could hold all the broken pieces of me together with nothing more than his touch. And maybe he could.
When the tears slowed and my breath evened out, he pressed one last kiss to my hair and eased back. “Stay here,” he murmured.
“Where are you going?” My voice came out small, and I hated how raw it sounded.
“Kitchen,” he answered, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “You need something in your stomach.”
