Page 58 of Bullseye
I can’t help it. Pressure builds in my eyes, and they ache and burn. No matter how hard I fight them back, tears begin dripping from the corners of my eyes. It has been years since I’ve cried.
“Sen?” His eyes widen, and his harsh expression softens. “I’m sorry—”
Taking a deep breath, I nod. “My parents are assholes. Well, not so much my mother, but my father. Once he realized I wasn’t going to marry one of his friend’s sons and give him hedge fund grandchildren, he lost interest in me. Then I learned to ride a bike, and fix one, and then when I changed my look, he disowned me. I was an embarrassment to him.”
“Sen, I’m so sorry…”
My tears are flowing freely, and I realize they’ve been pent up for years now. It’s a release to let them go.
“Then my kid brother started hanging with the wrong crew, and now he’s in jail on a bogus charge relating to drugs.” I omit the part about Mikey and Tony who sent the brick and are now looking for me. I don’t want Avery getting any deeper than he already is. “My parents won’t have anything to do with him, so that leaves me. I have spent every dollar I can possibly make on his attorneys and trying to get him freed.”
“Seneca, I am really sorry. I had no idea.”
“No, you didn’t. But you were so willing to forget the Seneca you knew, and judge me on what, a picture you saw and some info about my past? Without knowing anything about me.”
“You’re right. And I was wrong.” He looks down at the seat between us and then up into my eyes.
Reaching out, he touches my cheek. His hand is so warm and strong and makes me feel protected.
Pulling myself together and wiping my tears, I glance at the windshield. “The windshield is covered in that wet, packing snow.” I nod to it. “Look.”
He gives his attention to the windshield and tries the wipers, but even on the highest setting, the snow falls faster than the wipers can clean.
“We can’t drive in this,” he says. “I’m going to pull the truck around to the side of the building where we’ll be protected on one side, at least.”
I take deep breaths as my heart races faster and faster. The severity of the situation is finally hitting me. What chance does one woman on a bike have againstallthese odds?
“Are you okay?” he asks, cocking his head.
We stay still as he stares at me. His brow is furrowed, and it’s obvious he’s concerned.
“It’s just, if you hadn’t come...” My voice is a squeak as I hold up my hand, pointing at the snow. “I would have died out here.”
“Hey.” Reaching out, he puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me to his chest. “There was no way I wouldn’t come. No matter where you go, I will find you. And protect you. Okay?”
Although it’s so wrong, it feels so good.
Nodding, I smile.
“Good. So I’m going to drive us over there.” He points to a spot by the minimart, and then we’re going to get you out of your wet clothes and wrapped up into some nice warm blankets I have in the back.”
“Really?” I ask, smirking.
“Absolutely. I told you I would do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if it means something as horrible as undressing you, wrapping my arms around you, and keeping you warm against my naked body.”
“Even something that awful?”
He puts the truck into gear. “Why, ma’am, I’d even make love to you if it meant keeping you safe.”
“Well, aren’t you the gentleman.”
Winking, he smiles. “Absolutely, little lady. You can just think of me as your own personal knight in shining armor.”
As the truck rolls forward, and Avery keeps me safe and literally sheltered from the storm, I wonder if he isn’t exactly that.
My own personalSteel Knightin shining armor.
Chapter Fifteen
