AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He drove out of the parking lot, pausing in the entrance. Left was out of town towards the airfield where his private jet waswaiting for him. Right was through the town and out towards the shelter. He turned left and drove about halfway down the road before shouting, “Fuck!”and turning around. Rebelle might be mad at him but he couldn’t leave without seeing her one last time.
His phone rang, interrupting Disturbed’sDown With The Sickness, a personal favorite of his. He saw the name flash up that he’d been ignoring and once again canceled Adrienne’s call. A moment later his mom called him and he canceled that too.
“You think she’d at least wait until the end of the day to chase me home,” he grumbled to himself. She rang again and once again he canceled the call. Then Adrienne called again and when he pulled onto the dirt road leading up to the shelter a sinking feeling settled in his gut. Why were they both ringing him? Adrienne had been chasing him for days, maybe there was an emergency. He was about to call her back when he spotted all the cars and TV vans.
“Fuck!” he shouted as he took in the number of reporters flooding the ground, crawling around the shelter. His temper flared, his blood boiling with rage and he had no trouble summoning his TV villain.
He drove right up to the home, barely avoiding running down the paparazzi, and got out. Lights flashed in his eyes, microphones and cameras were shoved in his face as questions were fired at him.
“Are you having a breakdown?”
“How’s your mental health, Viper?”
“What’s the widow like in bed?”
“How do you feel shacked up with a murderer?”
His steps towards the home halted and the burning lava flowing in his veins erupted. He spun, getting in the face of the last guy, his voice low. “Call her that again, I fucking dare you.”
He saw the reporter swallow, and he took several steps back but Will moved with him.
“William?” The soft, scared tone of her voice, combined with her saying his full name dampened his temper. He turned and saw her peeking out through a crack in the door, her beautiful whiskey eyes wide with terror and he needed to get to her. He shoved through the swarming crowd and then was inside the home, hauling her trembling body into his arms.
“It’s okay, I’m here. I’ve got you,” he murmured, stroking a hand over her silky hair. Trying to soothe her and himself.
“The things they called me…” her voice was muffled against his chest, but he could hear her chattering teeth.
“They don’t know what the hell they’re talking about. It’s not about you, it’s me. It’s my fault they’re here. I thought I’d bought myself more time, but I was wrong.”
She pulled back to look at him and the tears gathering in her eyes shredded his calm. He cupped her cheeks, thumbs swiping away the droplets that spilled over her lower lids.
“They called me a murderer but I didn’t do it, Will, I swear. Is that why you wanted to leave?”
“No, God, don’t think that. Of course, I know you didn’t do it. This is all just about selling news and me being out of L.A., plus the sheriff’s death has given them something to sink their fangs into. I can fix it.” He let her go to pull his phone out and dialed Adrienne, suddenly realizing exactly why she wanted to speak to him.
“I had a feeling I’d finally hear from you,” she said when she answered.
“Call off the hounds, Adri. I mean it, you crossed the line coming for her.”
“I know you’ve been feeding me bogus stories. You went back on our agreement, and so did I.”
“You’ve got five minutes to get them all out of here or I’ll start doing it myself.”
She tsked. “That’s not how this works and you know it.”
He sighed, exhaustion sweeping in. There was a time when he lived for the thrill of the negotiation but that wasn’t him anymore. “What do you want?”
“I’m glad you asked. An exclusive. No-holds-barred, no topic off limits, including your childhood and the trailer park.”
“Fuck you, Adri! Of all people you should get it!”
“I did, until you reneged on our deal.”
Rebelle squeezed his bicep to calm him down and he glanced at her, staring up at him, concern pinching her forehead. He met her stare, amazed that she wasn’t scared of his anger, only concerned for him.
She shook her head. “No, don’t give them that.” She must have heard what Adri said and still fought to help him keep his privacy.
The problem was he loved her, and there was only one thing he wanted to keep private. He would do anything to protect her.
