“Oh my gosh, where is it?”
Dax narrows his eyes. “What?”
I look around the space. “My bracelet. I don’t have it. They couldn’t have taken it, could they?”
Dax leans against the wall, craning his neck. “If it’s not here, maybe you dropped it at the mall?”
“No, I remember touching it when we were on the bed together.” I swallow hard, feeling every jerk in my stomach. “Crap. I can’t have lost it.”
He squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t panic. We’ll find it.”
I shove him off me, pacing across the room. “Oh my gosh, where is it?”
“It’s over there.”
I turn back, finding Dax holding his ribs and pointing at a spot two feet away from me.
I spy a shiny gold chain on the dusty ground and sigh. “Oh, thank goodness.” I bend down and collect it. “Sorry for getting so anxious.”
Dax shrugs. “It’s okay. It’s your favorite.”
“It must’ve come off when Stitch grabbed me.”
“That guy is gonna pay for laying a hand on you.”
I clasp the bracelet around my wrist and make it back to Dax. “He didn’t hurt me.”
Dax’s jaw flexes and his knuckles crack. “Still didn’t give him the right to touch you.”
“At least they’re gone.” I pan over his hunched position against the wall. “Will you be able to ride back to Victoria Falls? Ashworth Estate is another twenty minutes past town.”
He frowns, shaking his head. “Nope. You’ll have to take us there.”
I choke. “What?”
He cracks a smile and throws an arm around my neck. He tousles my hair and then kisses the top of my head. “I’m just playing. Your face was priceless.”
I slide his hand off my head. “It’s bad enough what the helmet does to my hair. Don’t you wreck it too.”
He laughs. “You seriously need to chill. I don’t think there’s a scenario where you’d actually look bad.”
“You don’t need to keep flattering me,” I tease. “I already said you could move in with me.”
Seventeen
TheridebacktoAshworth Estate was excruciating. All I could think about was my first time meeting Dax after he’d fallen off his motorcycle. Now, the abuse from his brother mixed with his fatigue has me terrified he’ll fall unconscious again.
Before getting on the motorcycle, he changed into his leather jacket for extra protection against the elements. While we ride, there’s noticeable pressure between his shoulder blades. I think he senses my fear and is doing everything he can to remain alert. His speed slows now and then, and I call out that it’s okay to pull over.
Stubbornness got us here. Dax didn’t stop the motorcycle, and soon I’m hitting the intercom buzzer outside Ashworth Estate.
After Murphy answers, I reply with, “It’s me, Vanessa.”
The gates open, and Dax starts the motorcycle again. His loud exhale cuts through his facade. His fatigue takes over, and this last stretch is the most agonizing of the entire journey.
He parks the motorcycle by the front stone steps of the manor. I’m quick to get off so I can get him inside. When Dax gets off the bike, I notice a shakiness in his legs.
“Oh my gosh. Are you okay?”
