Page 9 of Possessive CEO

My vision comes into focus and I see Ethan standing beside me, his handsome features etched with worry and concern. Oh, God. I can’t leave him. I can’t leave Ethan. After that kiss we shared, it feels like my soul is now bound to him.

But I have to. I have to.

“Emily, you are telling me what’s gotten you so scared. You’re not leaving this car until you do.”

Ethan’s deep baritone voice pierces through the fog of my panic and anxiety. The way he takes charge. The way he commands. The way he can see through someone’s bullshit.

“Ethan… I can’t,” I tell him lamely. But I want to…so much.

“You can and you will.”

He takes my face between his massive hands and kisses the top of my head, and all I want to do is curl into him and let his body shield me from everyone.

The door opens and I see my sister on the porch, face already full of questions. But she’s wise enough to see that Ethan is not dangerous, so she nods and goes back inside.

“I’m waiting, Emily.”

With an audible sigh, I brace myself for the inevitable panic to creep in as my mind goes back to where this all began, to how it all began. But…nothing. In Ethan’s arms, I feel safe…for the first time in my life.

“My mom’s ex-boyfriend—Janus,” I start, fidgeting with the buttons on his shirtfront because I can’t look him in the eye. “Five years ago, he lived with us. He worked as a security guard, but his alcoholism got him fired from his job. For some reason, he managed to keep his gun, which he used to threaten me. If I didn’t give him money, he’d wave it in front of my face and point it to my little sister Melissa. When Mom found out what he did, she broke up with him and kicked him out of the house. But he started showing up at my workplace, asking for money, and threatening me when I refused.”

Ethan lowers his hands to my thighs and I focus on them. Such strong, big hands. “I told Mom we should move as far from him as possible, and she agreed. This is our third move. We’ve been living here for a year. And I thought he’d never find us. I thought…”

With a shaky breath, I look up at him and try to smile. “I’m sorry. My life is so messed up. Thank you for the job, but I guess… I guess this changes things. I can’t–”

His hold on me tightens and his mouth flattens into a thin line. “The only place you’re gonna go to is right by my side. You go in there, tell your Mom and sister to pack up everything, and you’ll check into a hotel until we find your family a new place to stay.”

I try to interrupt him but he shakes his head. “I’m not asking, Emily. I’m telling you because it’s either you listen to me or I toss you over my shoulder and do everything myself.”

Relief and gratitude make me choke on a sob and I bury my face in his chest, the feel of his arms around my shoulders more than I can take. Has my luck finally turned around? After years of suffering and living in perpetual fear, have I found…my home?

“You need to understand something, Emily. I am here now, which means you no longer have to carry your burdens alone. I’ll fucking carry them for you. Do you trust me?”

I can only nod, but that’s all he needs because he says, “Then leave everything to me. From this day forward, all your problems are mine. You don’t have to think or worry about anything anymore. I got you, baby girl. I got you.”

This only makes me cry harder because ever since I can remember, I’ve always looked after myself, Melissa, and Mom. Mom hit the bottle and was too depressed to find a job, so it was up to me to make sure we didn’t die from hunger, make sure Melissa could go to school and not be laughed at, and make sure we had roofs over our heads.

It hasn’t been easy. My own needs were put in the backseat. I didn’t even have the luxury to admit I was tired because I knew what quitting meant. It didn’t just affect me but my whole family.

Giving Ethan complete control of my life is…freeing. Like a huge load was lifted off my shoulders. Like the heavens just opened up to me and decided I’ve suffered enough. Like I could finally breathe. I don’t have to spend every waking hour being anxious. I can finally…live.

* * *

Ethan checks us into a hotel,and our faces, as we step inside the most expensive suite, must have been comical. It’s bigger than every place we’ve ever stayed in. It’s bigger than all of them put together.

“I’ve told security not to let anyone in unless it’s me,” he says as he closes the door behind him, the sound of my sister excitedly rolling on the bed is now muffled. “I’ll pick you up in the morning to check out apartments or houses.”

“We may not be able to afford that,” I sigh, rubbing a hand on my forehead.

“What did I tell you, Emily?”

Gazing up at him under my lashes, I’m still taken aback by how he looks. He’s not even doing anything, just looking down at me and I’m already starting to get wet. “Not to worry about anything anymore.”

“So that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. Go to sleep. You’re safe here. You’re safe with me. Tomorrow, we’ll find a place for your family to stay and you’ll be staying with me.”

“Wait, what? What do you mean?”

The corner of his mouth lifts and something wicked gleams in his eyes. “This is the last night we’re spending apart.”

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