“You come near her again,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous, “and I’ll make sure you never walk away.”
His lips curl into a sneer, and he has the nerve to laugh. “What’s the matter, big guy? Little flower girl got herself a bodyguard now?”
I slam him against the wall again, harder this time, and the sound of his skull hitting the brick makes a satisfying thud. His smirk falters, his eyes narrowing, but I don’t back down. I lean in close, my grip tightening, and I let every ounce of my fury seep into my voice.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with,” I hiss. “But you’re about to find out.”
The sneer slips from his face, replaced by a flicker of fear. He knows. He can feel it in the air between us—the threat that lingers in every word I’ve said. He tries to laugh it off, but it’s weak, hollow.
“Just… just having a little fun, man. No need to get all worked up.”
Fun. He thinks tormenting Perry is fun.
I slam him one last time, then let go, stepping back just enough to give him space to scramble away. “Stay the hell away from her, or you’ll regret it.”
He glares at me, rubbing the back of his head where I’d slammed him against the brick, but he doesn’t say anything. He’s not stupid enough to test me again—not today. He spits on the ground, mutters something under his breath, and slinks off into the night.
I stand there for a moment, letting the adrenaline pulse through me, trying to shake off the anger that’s still burning hot in my chest. My mind flashes back to Perry, to the way she looked when I walked into that shop—so damn fragile and broken. I can’t let that happen again. I won’t.
With one last glance in the direction the asshole disappeared, I turn on my heel and head back to the cabin. To Perry.
When I get there, she’s pacing the living room, her face etched with worry. The second I step inside, she’s on me, her arms wrapping around my waist, her face buried in my chest. She doesn’t say anything at first, just holds me like she’s afraid I might disappear.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispers after a long moment, her voice shaky but soft. “But I’m glad you did. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
My throat tightens at her words, but I can’t let her see how much they affect me. I need to stay strong, stay in control, for both our sakes. I pull her closer, my hand resting on the small of her back as I murmur into her hair, “You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He’s done.”
She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes searching mine, and I can see the gratitude there, the relief. But there’s something else, too—something deeper, something that makes my heart twist in my chest.
And that’s the problem. I’ve fallen too hard, too fast. My feelings for her are raw, intense, and they scare the hell out of me. I don’t know how to handle it, how to let myself care this much without risking everything.
I kiss her forehead again, softer this time, and step back. “Get some rest. You’ve been through enough for one day.”
She watches me, her brow furrowing as if she senses the shift in me. I’m pulling back, I know I am, but I can’t stop it. I need to protect her, but I also need to protect myself.
As she heads to bed, I stay behind, staring out the window at the dark mountain landscape. The fear creeps in—the fear of losing her, of not being able to protect her, of falling too deep and drowning in it.
I don’t know how to do this. But I know one thing for certain: I’m in too deep to turn back now.
Chapter Eight
Knox
I lie here in the dark, staring at the ceiling while the soft hum of Perry’s breathing fills the room. Her chest rises and falls in that slow, steady rhythm that always calms me—except for tonight. Tonight, it’s not enough to quiet the storm in my head. The moonlight filters through the window, casting everything in a pale, silver glow, but all I can see is the mess swirling inside me.
I’m falling for her. Hell, I’ve probably already fallen. The realization hits me harder than I expected, like a punch to the gut. I glance down at her, her face half-hidden in the pillow, her soft hair spilling over her shoulder. She’s so damn peaceful, trusting me enough to sleep soundly beside me, as if I could never hurt her.
But what if I do? What if I let her in completely, and then she tears me apart, just like the last time?
I shift, careful not to wake her, but the bed creaks under my weight. Perry stirs slightly, murmuring something in her sleep before settling back into her slumber. I exhale slowly, the tightness in my chest not loosening the way I need it to. I blink away memories of my six years in the military stationed in Libyaand Kuwait. Waking up to the sound of mortars and raids, not knowing which friend I might lose on any given day.
I thought I was over this. Thought I’d buried those old wounds and moved on. But being with Perry has stirred things up in a way I didn’t expect. She’s different. She’s broken through my defenses without even trying, and it scares the hell out of me.
I run a hand through my hair, frustrated at how I’m losing control. I’m not supposed to feel like this—vulnerable, exposed. That’s never been me. I’ve always been the one to keep things at a distance, to hold back just enough so no one can hurt me. But Perry’s already too far in. She’s dug her way under my skin, and now I’m terrified of what comes next.
The last time I let someone in like this, it ended in betrayal. I trusted her, and she walked away, leaving me gutted. I swore I’d never let myself feel that way again, never let someone get close enough to tear me down. And yet here I am, lying in bed with Perry, feeling everything I promised I wouldn’t.
I glance at her again, my heart twisting. She looks so damn innocent right now, like she doesn’t have a care in the world. But I know better. She’s been through hell, too, with that ex of hers lurking in the shadows, trying to ruin her life. She’s been strong through it all, never once letting me see how scared she really is. And that makes me want to protect her even more, to be the one she can lean on.
