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I’m panting, maybe hyperventilating. Panicking? I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing right now.
“Piper,” Landon’s deep growl has me screaming and whirling around, the card clutched to my chest. He takes me in with the sweep of his eyes before he takes a step forward. “What’s going on? What’s that card?”
I shove the card behind me in the most juvenile move I’ve used since I was a fucking toddler, I’m pretty sure. “Nothing,” my voice comes out too high pitched and I wince. I shake my head and try to grab hold of my hurt and my anger at this man. He doesn’t have a right to ask me what’s wrong. Not now. Not ever. My voice is stronger this time, “Nothing. Nothing is going on. The card is just some stupid prank.”
I turn back around and try and shove it back in the envelope, but it’s impossible. My hands are shaking too hard for me to do it. The next thing I know it’s being ripped out of my hands. I turn around to look up into the thunderous face of Landon.
He reads the front of the card before opening it. His eyes widen before he lets out a roar which has me freezing and almost peeing my pants. Easton and Weston come tearing into the reception area, both with guns drawn and startled looks on their faces. He doesn’t turn toward them, instead his eyes are locked with mine and I can’t look away.
I can’t.
I wish I could.
He holds out the card, “Find out who the fuck sent this to Piper. I want everything you can find out. Now,” he barks, making me jump in my seat.
I move my toes a little to try and roll my chair away from him, but I don’t get far. The moment Easton, who does most of the IT stuff around here, grabs the card, the twins let out their own growls and Landon’s large hands grip the arms of my chair. I’m not sure if I stop moving or if he’s holding me in place.
Does it matter?
I squeeze my eyes shut and my lungs seize. I can’t breathe. Is this what drowning feels like? Why can’t I breathe? I should be able to. My body is supposed to know what to do. Why doesn’t it know what to do?
When Landon’s hands land on my knees, I gasp and my eyes pop open. I expected to see his eyes filled with anger and for it to be directed at me, but they aren’t. Oh, he’s angry, but I, somehow, know it’s not directed at me. There’s also concern there and…something else I’ll have to try and understand later.
“Piper,” he whispers as his thumbs move back and forth on my knees, grounding me, “I’m sorry I wasn’t ready to listen before, but I am now.”
I want to reach for him. My body begs for me to leap into his arms. I desperately want him to give me comfort, to prove to me that solid exists, that stable is at the tips of my fingers instead of this feeling of freefall.
“I grew up with Ezra, Celeste and Stella. They’re my best friends. Stella couldn’t be there, but we all get together once a month. We don’t normally go out, but Ezra’s championship win was something to celebrate. Not that I really follow or understand hockey,” my words come out in a rush, bubbling and tripping and stumbling as they do.
Landon’s entire body softens and then I’m in his arms. The fear, the panic, the naked vulnerability catches up with me and I start sobbing against his chest. I’m not even sure if it’s from relief that he’s not ignoring me anymore or if it’s fear of what the card means and what could happen next.
He wraps me up tighter and holds me closer.
“It’s okay, Piper,” he whispers against my head, and I can’t get close enough.
“You were a real jerk,” I hiccup the words, but I know he hears them by the way he chuckles under his breath. I jerk back from him and when he looks down at me, I see the regret there. The little part of my heart which is fueled by hope, warranted or not, sees layers of regret in his eyes. Is it real? The accusation, the reason for my hurt, for my bruises, slips from my lips, “You wouldn’t even listen.”
Landon’s eyes soften. “I know. I was a complete ass. I’m sorry.” Something becomes steel in his expression, his jaw clenching. “You’re going to stay with me and I’m going to keep you safe.”
I open my mouth to protest, but the way his eyes glint and the way it seems like he grows in stature right before my eyes as if readying to be my knight, to be my savior, stops me.
Would it be so bad to let him take care of me? Just this once?
