Page 90 of Heresy

Perfect.

Smiling at Brinley despite the hatred rolling behind her eyes, I keep my voice neutral when I say, “Excellent. I’m going to need both of you to come outside.”

Brinley’s brows pull together in confusion.

Fear bleeds into her expression, that lethal sneer fading quickly.

Ending the call, I can’t help but think that Ivy was right.

This situation doesn’t need a man’s touch. This part would be better cleaned up by a woman.

Brinley

I’ll admit it.

I panicked.

Lost my mind.

Fucking froze like a deer in headlights when Ames and I were forced off the road.

But I expected worse than just bumping over a field of grass.

As soon as the car left the smooth pavement of the road, I thought we would crash into a tree, the car would flip and explode, glass would shatter and the engine would come toward us, crushing us in place.

None of that happened, obviously, but the threat was real enough for me to fold over myself as if that could have protected my body from damage.

When Ames was pulled from the car, not even the tiny shriek that left her lungs alerted me to the fact she’d been grabbed. I couldn’t focus on anything. My heart felt like it was coming out of my chest, and my lungs were so constricted, I couldn’t take a full breath.

For a moment, I would have sworn to you I was dying.

It didn’t help that my door was opened immediately after that, and who I’d hoped would be a stranger checking on our welfare turned out to be the last person I needed to see.

Shane’s voice only made the panic worse. I was helpless to do anything but sit there. Helpless to do anything but let him pick me up from that seat.

The fact that he was trying to help me scrambled my thoughts even worse.

Shane is a monster.

At least according to the governor, he is.

But in that moment, and until he got me in his car, all I wanted to do was cling onto him because his deep breathing and his whispered words were calming me down faster than any other person has ever accomplished.

Panic attacks aren’t new to me. And it’s why Ames knew to tell him what was happening. I’ve had many people attempt to talk me down from them before.

So why was it Shane’s strong arms that calmed me down the most? Something about his touch made me feel …safe.

I didn’t want to consider that question or that feeling as he tore down the road toward wherever it is he’s taken me. Instead, I forced myself to remember why I hate him.

By the time he opened the door, I was ready to fight tooth and nail to get away from him. It didn’t matter that he somehow calmed me down. It couldn’t matter that his arms felt safe.

Maybe it was the panic that made those feelings erupt in me. Maybe it was that I survived what I thought would be a terrible wreck that actually calmed my heart.

It couldn’t be him.

Because, in the end, and with him, I’m not safe.

Now I’m so on edge that my hands are balled into fists, and I’m ready to punch and kick, pummel and tear his face off, if that’s what’s necessary to get away from him.

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