Page 142 of Awestruck at Dusk
“It was all a mistake,” I finally said, my words breaking as I uttered them. The tears hit me without warning as I realized William was the first person I ever talked to about this matter. More than a year ago, he was there for me when I felt like I needed someone to talk to that wasn’t getting paid to listen. William cared right from the start. Even when I thought he didn’t. “She wasn’t meant to die. She was mistaken for someone else—a drug lord’s wife. She wasn’t the target. We were never—” I trailed off, unable to keep talking.
“Shit, Guille. I’m so sorry.” He took me in his arms, and I found peace in them as if he’d somehow had the power to remove all the turmoil flowing through my body.
Once I felt more at ease, I explained in detail what Caleb had written in the letter regarding my mother, including my father’s plans and the deal he made with the government to have them pay for my security detail. For life.
“As much as I craved for things to change, a part of me was still terrified because I didn’t know I—I had doubts. But now, knowing this … I’mfree,” I said to his chest, feeling it rising with every breath he took, “just like you always said I would be.”
I looked up to meet his eyes, his arms still wrapped around me, supplying me with all the sense of safety I would ever need moving forward. “I’m done living like this. Trapped. Withheld.” I sighed. “It’s over.”
“I’ll take it from here,” he said, cupping my chin. His lips met mine, and he reclined me on the couch. I couldn’t hold in a soft but desperate moan filled with desire as his knee parted my legs just slightly.
“Those little noises are making me want to stay,” he whispered against my lips.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing?” I muttered with a low, pleading laugh. “Staying?”
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do,” he said, pulling on my robe’s belt. “I meant it when I said I’m yours.”
How was it that he could make me feel this way? The feeling was so achingly deep that it made me want to stop time and savor it forever.
“Billy?” I said in a breath, my neck arching back as he kissed it.
“What are you trying to do to me, Billie?” His voice was almost melodic against my skin.
“Stay.” How many times I wished I could tell him that. And now I finally could.
“Yes, ma’am.” William slipped my robe open and kissed my exposed skin, but the sound of a heavy knock on the door made me shoot up from the couch. William glanced at me, and something told me this time it wasn’t Johnny.
I ran to the bathroom to throw some clothes on as another angrier, heavier knock that had Aaron written all over it threatened to take the door down.
“Coming!” William shouted back, anger oozing out of the single word.
“Open the door,Mr. Sjöberg!” It was definitely Aaron. They had probably tracked my location when I turned on my phone to talk to Alice when I arrived at the hotel. And I was expecting them to come and get me, but somehow it felt too fast like they weren’t planning on allowing me to enjoy my kidnapped freedom for a second longer than the time it takes to get from New York to Cape Town.
William took his time getting the door, and I rushed out from the bathroom as soon as I was dressed, stopping mid-way as Aaron flashed his disappointment-filled glare at me. David stood beside him, and I swear I caught a slight smile drawing on his face before he switched his features back to security detail mode.
“Field trip’s over, Miss Murphy,” Aaron said with his firm bodyguard stance in place. I spotted a woman and two men from the hotel staff standing behind them. Their faces scrunched up with concern. I closed the distance between William and me, and I searched for his hand, weaving our fingers together. Balking.
Aaron angled his head imperceptibly, taking in the situation before him. “We have direct orders from your father to take you back right away, Miss Murphy.”
I snorted and looked up at William with a half-smile, just marveling at him, at how his presence alone gave me the strength and the courage I needed to feel like Icouldchange things around for myself.
That I deserved my freedom.
He smiled back a smile of a proud accomplice. We didn’t need to say a word. He had my back, and I knew it. He would fight with me to the death until I was finally free.
My hand squeezed his one last time as I said, “Aaron, please inform my father that if he wants me back, he’ll have to come and get me.”
“Sounds about right.” William laughed at my words, and that’s how I knew he was the man I deep down always knew, hoped, and wished he were—perfect for me in every way. He wasn’t afraid of my father, nor did he crave his approval. He’d always putmefirst.
William walked back to the living room, grabbed my bag and disappeared into the bathroom for a second. He came back, handed my bag over to me, and swapped his glasses for his sunglasses, tucking them on his shirt’s collar. We were definitely leaving. I picked up my jacket from the coat rack beside the door.
“Let’s go,” he whispered, taking my hand and walking out of the room, shoving Aaron and David gracefully out of the way. He shut the door and pulled me toward the hallway.
“Miss Murphy!” Aaron shouted as they followed close behind us. I didn’t look back. It pained me to put Aaron in this position, but it wasn’t personal. I just had to make a statement.
“There’s a decent shower with everything you’ll need in my trailer,” William casually said as if we weren’t trying to be stopped from leaving together. “I tossed a fresh pair of underwear in your bag, and I’ll make sure you’re fed once we arrive. I’ve got a bunch of books in there too. You won’t miss me.” He laughed.
We made it to the lobby.
