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“No. I want to tell you. It’s part of my past, and I want you to know everything about me.” I take a deep breath. “I was on patrol with a guy I’d been through the academy with, Noah West. He was a great guy, and we were friends as well as work colleagues. Anyway, it had been a quiet shift, and we were parked when this car sped past us doing way over the limit. I was driving, so I hit the siren and started after him. It didn’t take long to realize the driver wasn’t going to stop. It was raining heavily, and we were already doing over one hundred and twenty. Noah said a few times we should stop, but I wanted to get the guy, so I carried on.”
I drop my head as that night comes flooding back to me. It’s something I’ve conditioned myself not to think about, locking the memories away in a box in my mind. Hallie brings me back to the present as she squeezes my hand again.
“We hit some water, and I lost control skidding off the road, hitting an embankment, and the car rolled. Noah… didn’t make it.”
“Sawyer, I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
“It was my fault he died. I should have listened to him and stopped the pursuit.”
“No, Sawyer. It was an accident.”
“An accidentIcaused. There was an investigation, and they deemed I was exonerated, but I couldn’t forgive myself. So, I quit. That’s when I met Logan.”
“You know now it wasn’t your fault, though?”
“I think I’ll always blame myself, but now it feels like the right time to go back.”
“You’re going to give up close protection to become a cop again?” She sounds surprised. “Because of me?”
Lying down on the bed, I pull her down with me. “I want a normal life, Hallie. Meeting you made me realize that.” Rolling her onto her back, I move over her, my arms on either side of her head. “I can probably count on my hands how many nights I’ve spent at my place in the last six months. I don’t want that anymore. I want a life… a life with you. One where I get to go to bed with you in my arms and wake up the same way.”
Her eyes widen at my admission. “You do?” she whispers.
“I do. What do you want, Hallie?”
She bites down on her lip. “I want that too. Are you sure?”
I lean down and brush my lips against hers. “I’ve never been surer of anything,” I whisper against her lips. “Plus, I’ve lived with you for almost three weeks, I think I know all your bad habits by now.” I smile and wink at her, and she smacks me gently on my chest.
“Hey! I don’t have any bad habits.”
“I’m joking, baby.”
She holds my gaze, sadness crossing her face. “I was so scared when you went to check out the cabin. I don’t know what I would have done if…” she trails off, unable to finish what she was saying. I roll off her and wrap her in my arms, her head resting on my chest.
“It’s okay. I’m fine,” I reassure her.
“If he finds us and hurts you because of me—”
“That won’t happen.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t know that. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
I increase my hold on her, knowing exactly what Bryant is capable of. I hope to God she isn’t aware of all he did to those poor girls he’d abducted and murdered. He’s one sick bastard, and there’s no way I’ll ever let him anywhere near Hallie again. I know I can’t convince her of that, though. She’s scared, and after everything she’s been through, I can’t blame her.
“Let’s not think about him, okay?” She nods. “Do you still want to talk to Jess? You can use my phone while I fix us something to eat.”
“Yeah, if that’s okay. I could do with my best friend.”
I pass her my phone and unlock the screen for her. “Take as long as you need. I’ll make us some dinner.” I kiss her before heading downstairs.
I find my parents, Brooke, and Liam eating pizza in the den.
“Hi, sweetheart. How’s Hallie? Where is she?” my mom asks, her voice full of concern.
“She’s okay. She’s upstairs on the phone with her friend.”
“Did you guys talk?” Brooke asks.
