Page 49 of Risking it All

“What are you gonna do?”

“I have no idea right now. First, I need to talk to Reed.”

I shook my head. “No. You cannot bring him into this. He’s just going to turn me in.”

“You think I would let somebody get to you?”

“If you let Reed know where I am, you may not be able to stop them.”

“I need you to trust me right now. I promise I’m not letting anything happen to you no matter what.”

“OK.”

“My house is a fortress. Don’t answer the door. No one can get in here unless you let them in. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Sawyer, come back to me in one piece.”

“I will, mama,” he said, kissing my forehead before walking out of his bedroom.

Seconds later, I jumped when I heard the front door slam. Tears flooded my cheeks as I threw myself on the bed and buried my face in the pillows. No matter how despondent I was, the only thing I could do at the moment was wait.

At some point, Sawyer had come to bed. Not that I was asleep. After drinking a glass and a half of wine, I thought I could convince myself to get some rest. I had been lying there staring at the ceiling for a long time before Sawyer crawled into bed. Even with him back, I couldn’t sleep. His light snoring indicated that at least one of us could.

Instead of continuing to try to force myself to fall asleep, I got out of bed tiptoed to the kitchen. After tossing back the rest of my second glass of wine, I emptied the dishes before putting them in the sink. Fifteen minutes later, I had knocked out the kitchen. I walked over to the sink and tore off a few paper towels to dry my hands.

I almost jumped out of my skin when a pair of huge hands landed on my hips. Sawyer’s lips on my neck steadied my heartbeat. “Imagine my surprise when I woke up to a cold, empty bed.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to wash dishes while I was up.”

“And clean the entire kitchen. You mopped, Z. I didn’t bring you here to clean my house, mama.”

“I know, but I couldn’t sleep knowing the kitchen was a mess.”

“And I couldn’t sleep without you in my arms. I invited you here to have you in my bed, not in my kitchen.”

“Oh, wow.” I folded my arms over my chest as I turned to face him.

“Not like that, Zenia. I mean I brought you here to make sure you were safe, not because I wanted someone to cook and clean. I can do all that on my own.”

“I like pulling my weight, Sawyer.”

“I understand that, but I like having my woman in bed with me. A few dishes in the sink isn’t the reason you’re up mopping the kitchen at one in the morning. Talk to me.”

“What’s gonna happen to me now?”

“I don’t need you up stressing yourself, sweetheart. Come to bed.”

I sighed. “Sawyer, please. Just tell me how bad it is.”

“I don’t know yet, mama, but I also don’t want you worrying about it. I told you I would take care of you, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

“Even now?” I asked.

“I’m a man of my word.”

“You don’t have to put yourself in danger for me, Sawyer.”

“Let me worry about the danger. You worry about getting some sleep tonight.”