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I glance over and see Bailey is with Zeke. My brother is examining her cheek, which is red and starting to swell. “What are you going to do?”
“The car, Aurelia.”
I don’t argue, mostly because I can tell my brother is hanging on by a thread. I go to the car. Ryan is standing next to the driver’s door.
He casts a glance in my direction before resuming his watch of Zeke.
“You hurt?” he asks.
“I’m okay,” I assure him.
“They’ll pay for touching you.”
I give him a small smile before getting into the back seat. I don’t watch what is happening. Instead, I tip my head back and close my eyes.
The door opens and Ryan gets in the driver’s seat.
He doesn’t say anything for a moment. Then his eyes go to the rear-view mirror. “You’re safe now.”
“I’ll never be safe.” Charlotte is never going to stop. I’m always going to be looking over my shoulder.
He doesn’t respond to this because he knows the truth too. Charlotte is persistent, and she gets what she wants. Right now, what she wants is me.
Finally, he speaks.
“Don’t give up,” he says softly.
The back door opens and Luke ducks down. “Come into the house. We need to talk. You too, Malone.”
I climb out, keeping close to Ryan as we walk past the men who are being held by Winters and Ford.
When we go into the house, Bailey is sitting at the kitchen table. She comes to me as soon as I step into the room, her arms wrapping around me.
“I’m so sorry,” she says against my ear.
“Don’t be.”
“I knew we couldn’t fight them. I messaged your brothers.”
“You saved my life,” I tell her, genuinely meaning it. She did. If she hadn’t sent that message, I’d be halfway back to Charlotte’s by now.
“I should have done more,” she says, her fingers trailing over my swollen cheek.
“You did what you could,” I assure her.
“Come and sit,” Zeke says. “Malone, you too.”
I do as I’m asked, as does Ryan, but he seems a little on edge as he does.
Kane and Luke lean against the counter, listening as Zeke speaks.
“Charlotte’s not going to stop. We need to keep you safe,” he says.
“I don’t think there is anywhere.” I can’t hide the bitterness in my words. I feel attacked, scared.
My parents have a long reach, and we all know that.
“We’ll deal with our parents. We’re assigning Malone to your protection.”
