Page 29 of His Claim

“Not yet,” Murphy mumbled. “I’ll be inside in a few minutes.”

I nodded and headed inside.

The cabin was beautiful, and I was thankful we didn’t have to drive for hours like the others, but it didn’t seem as warm and inviting as it had when everyone else was here.

Ethel must have started a fire while I was gone with Gravel, and it roared warmly. I kicked off my shoes and headed over to the fire.

When everyone else was here, I didn’t have time to focus on anything I was feeling. The girls were always talking or doing something, and I was trying to keep up with them.

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. Then, the guys had almost gotten blown up, and I had even forgotten I now had purple hair. Well, some purple hair. It wasn’t even noticeable unless you knew it was there. Murphy hadn’t even seen it.

I sighed and plopped down in Gravel’s recliner.

Now, I had nothing to do but think about my feelings and thoughts.

My feelings for Murphy. What I was thinking about him being back in my life.

Basically, all of my thoughts were about Murphy.

If he hadn’t broken things off with me five years ago, I never would have left him. Even though the year we had spent together, he kept so many secrets from me, I still would have stayed.

What did that really say about me?

Had I just wanted to be with someone that I had been willing to accept whatever they gave me?

No, at least not fully.

I would have stayed because I knew there was so much more to Murphy. I could see it when he looked at me. His world might have been dangerous and so different than mine, but I always felt and knew that I was safe with him.

Like right now.

Even after being kidnapped and beaten, I knew with Murphy, everything would be okay.

I snuggled into the recliner and tucked my feet under me.

The whirlwind and excitement of the day hit me at once, and I was exhausted.

Murphy and I were going to have the talk he promised me back at the house. We needed to figure out what was going on, and I didn’t mean only about the psycho Brandt trying to kill everyone.

I smothered a yawn with the back of my hand and laid my head back. My eyes fluttered closed, and I finally slept.

Chapter Thirteen

Murphy

I should have moved her to one of the beds, but she had looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to wake her.

She had been through hell the past couple of days, and rest was the best thing for her. She was safe with me, and nothing would touch her as long as I was breathing.

All my feelings for Tatum from five years ago resurfaced when she was tossed at my feet yesterday. All of my doubts and worries about us together had also come to light again.

She was exactly the girl I wanted by my side, but all the danger and uncertainty my life came with was something I didn’t want to touch her.

She had already been through so much, and I knew there could be more.

I didn’t want her to think lockdowns were fun and something normal.

I stared into the fire, a cup of coffee in my hand and my head full of worries.

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