AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 10
LANDON
I thought I was having a heart attack when my phone notified me that Piper had left the building. Considering I was in a meeting with my core team at SP, I knew she didn’t have an escort. Fear and anger were warring inside of me, and I didn’t know which one would win.
I barely said a damn word as I stormed out of the office, but my guys were hot on my heels. When we approached the alley where the tracker in Piper’s phone told me she was located, we could hear the shouting. It was in that moment fear won out.
It took Easton and Weston to restrain me from barreling into the alley. All I could see was red as my greatest fear was being realized. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the only woman I’ve loved hurt because I wasn’t there to protect her. I could hear Piper’s sweet voice trying to diffuse the situation and it felt like my heart was being sliced into ribbons with each word.
She was so fucking brave.
I was so damn proud of her.
I was so afraid for her.
Blaze got in my face and gritted out, “Hale and I are going to go and get your girl. You’re too close to this and you running in there like a damn bull is not going to help matters.”
I heard his words, but they did nothing to calm me. He nodded at the twins restraining me which is when I noticed Remington pulling strings with the police. It helps to have friends in all kinds of places. It still didn’t relax me, but I knew people would be hauling ass to get here as soon as they could.
I was seething. I was screaming in my head with all the fear my body could hold. I was beside myself with the thought that it wouldn’t be enough, and they wouldn’t be able to save her.
I could only imagine what my life would be like without my sweet Button in it.
Easton tried to soothe me, “They’re going to get her. You know Hale and Blaze. You’ve trusted them to have your back and now it’s time for you to trust they have Piper’s back.”
I choked out, “I can’t lose her, I just got her.”
Weston chuckled under his breath, “It took you fucking long enough to get your head out of your ass, but you don’t need to worry. You’ll have plenty of time to give her all the reasons to wonder why she loves you back.”
I snapped my head over to him and glared with the fury of a thousand fucking supernovas. It didn’t do a damn thing to wipe the smirk off his face. When I realized he was intentionally getting a rise out of me so I could focus on something other than Piper being in danger, my body sagged slightly.
“Thanks for having my back,” I whispered the words, but I know they heard me.
The moment I heard Blaze shout, “Clear,” I shook off the arms holding me and raced around the corner into the alley. The battle between anger and fear was back and I know Piper could read it on my face, but I was also so fucking relieved to see her safe and whole. With her running toward me, I braced for impact and was so fucking happy to hold her in my arms again.
The promise I made her to spank her ass is so very real, but the glimmer in her eye, even after her ordeal, tells me she’s looking forward to it and will take her punishment like the good girl she is. I don’t know how long I hold her, basking in her warmth and how big her fucking heart is, but it’s not long enough.
She looks up at me, confusion on her face, “How did you know I was out of the office? How did you find me?”
I smirk down at her, “I’ve been tracking your phone since the moment you started working for me, Piper."
I could have told her it was only since the attack, but I’m not going to ever lie to my little Button. Not today, not tomorrow; fucking never. She needs to know how I’ve always felt about her, how deep that love has always been, anyway. I won’t apologize for my obsession with her, and I have no reason to do so.
Her eyes widen and she jerks slightly in my arms, but I hold her tight, not letting her move away from me. I’m barely holding on here as it is. I could have lost her.
I shake my head slowly, “I’m not going to apologize for it. I’m not sorry. I won’t lie to you. I did put an alert on it since the threats though, which I didn’t do before. I would just check in on you sometimes and see where you were. I didn’t go and see what you were doing, but it made me feel better when I would know where you are.”
“Landon,” she sighs as if I’m the most exasperating man she’s ever known, but the way the tips of her lips turn up I know she’s fighting a smile. “I should be pissed at you, but,” she shrugs, “I just don’t have it in me.”
“It’s my love language, Button, get used to it.”
Piper throws her head back and laughs, but when the police approach us about her statement, she turns serious. I hate it, but it’s necessary. They can ask their questions, but I’m not letting her go while they do. I don’t think I can.
It takes far too long for us to get through the questions, which include my team producing all the evidence against the woman who was brandishing a gun and threatening the love of my life, but I grit my teeth and bear it. Barely.
It’s not until I have Piper back at my place that I feel like I can breathe easier. It was close. Too fucking close.
Piper reaches for the handle of the car, but glances back at me before her hand connects. I don’t know what she sees on my face, but whatever it is makes her drop her hand. I’m around to her side and hauling her up and over my shoulder without really thinking about my actions. I stomp us down the street and to our place, knowing there’s no fucking way I’m stopping for anything.
