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I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I’ve told her the truth and there isn’t anything else to say. “I’m sorry if that hurt you,” I hedge.
When I glance over her shoulder again, I almost let the tears fall when I see Hale and Blaze walking on silent feet toward us. Relief tries to fill me, but I push it away. I’m not safe yet. I won’t be until I’m in Landon’s arms.
Where is he?
“Hurt me?” She spits her words at my feet, full of venom and hatred. “You destroyed me.” I want to scream and ask why she’s not taking out her anger on Ezra, but I know that would be stupid and unhelpful. It doesn’t matter that I’m the focus of her ire and I need to keep myself together. Just a little bit longer. “He’s mine. I’m his biggest fan. I’ve been to all his games. He loves me,” her words are spoken with such desperation and pain it takes my breath away.
“I promise,” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, “I’ll stay away from him. You can have him.”
I don’t know if my approach will work considering telling her the truth hasn’t helped, but when her shoulders relax slightly a little bit of hope blooms inside of me. Blaze and Hale are so close, I can see the fear in their eyes. Hale puts a finger in front of his lips as if I wouldn’t keep quiet about their approach or something.
Yeah, announce to the person who is clearly in a mental health crisis that the calvary has arrived? I don’t think so.
“He’s been tainted now,” her lip curls up with her words. “I’ll be dealing with him next, but you’re first on the list. You stole him from me. I want him to feel the same pain I did. There’s only one way to do it and I’ve been waiting and watching for the perfect opportunity.”
It’s a flurry of movement when Blaze reaches out and hits her wrist in such a way that she drops the gun. It clatters to the ground at the same time Hale wraps his arms around her and she starts to thrash. The tears I’ve been holding back now fall down my cheeks.
“Clear,” Blaze shouts toward the front of the alleyway at the same time police cars screech to a halt at the entrance and Landon comes around the corner.
My feet move without conscious thought. I start to run to him, needing his arms around me, needing his warmth. Hell, I’ll even take his anger right now. I’ll welcome it and accept it.
Because I was stupid, and I made the wrong decision. I put myself in danger.
When I reach him, I don’t slow down, but he’s ready for me. I hit his body at full speed, and he grunts from the impact.
“I’m sorry,” I sob the words and cling to him as his hands soothe up and down my back. I’m shaking in his arms and try to burrow deeper into his chest. “I’m so fucking sorry, Landon. I know you’re mad. You have every right to be mad. I was stupid. I shouldn’t have left the office. I’m sorry. I love you so much. I’m sorry.”
He makes a shushing sound and pulls me back enough from his chest that he’s able to cup my cheek with one of his hands and angle it up so he can look into my eyes. There is anger there, which I expected, but there’s also relief, concern and love. I latch onto that and hold firm.
“I might turn your ass a beautiful pink with my hand later, little Button, but right now,” he lets out a relieved sigh, “I just want to hold you.”
The woman starts screeching and I crane my neck around to find the police cuffing her. Her eyes are crazed when she looks at me. They’re full of so much hatred that it causes me to shiver. Landon holds me tighter and lets out a low growl causing me to look back up at him.
“Are you okay, Piper?” His eyes are full of so much concern and worry as he looks down at me.
I nod slowly and swallow hard, trying to get my thoughts and my body under control. It feels like I’m right on the edge of losing it, but I can’t. Not right now. I need to be strong. I know I’m going to have to answer a lot of questions.
“She’s sick,” I whisper and close my eyes, trying to find a glimmer of empathy. It would be far too easy to write her off or to blame her for her actions. Yes, she’s responsible, but it’s clear she also needs help. I’d rather focus on that than how much she scared me. “She’s obsessed with Ezra.”
“Ezra Payne,” Landon growls his name with a look of possessiveness in his eyes. I hide my smile because, even if I’m not going to admit it, I love the way Landon cares about me and the way he shows it.
“Yeah,” I close my eyes and try to keep it together. When I open my eyes again, he’s looking at me with infinite patience. “You know we’re only friends, Landon. It’s all we’ve ever been.”
“I know,” he sneers, “I still don’t like it.”
I chuckle under my breath and nod. “I know, but it’s all we’ll ever be. He has his own soulmate and it’s not me.”
Landon pulls me closer to him and even though it’s completely inappropriate given the situation, I can feel the evidence of how much he wants me pressed against me. “You’re mine, Piper,” he grits the words through his teeth.
“I know.” The screeching is dulled when she’s helped into one of the police cars and it calms me; I find I can breathe easier. “She thought I was stealing Ezra from her because of the dinner. It’s why she was targeting me. She thought taking me out would pave the way for her to be with him.”
Landon cups my cheeks, his eyes boring into mine. “I will never let you be harmed.” He kisses my forehead and murmurs against my skin, “You were so damn brave and I’m proud of you.”
When he wipes my tears away, I feel bolstered by his faith in me and his strength. The day isn’t over, not by a long shot, but I know he’ll be at my side. Not just today either; I know he’ll be right next to me for the rest of our lives.
