AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Seriously, what?”
“Are things going to go back to the way they were? Are we going to lose this?”
I loved the people we were when we weren’t in Atlanta. I didn’t want things to go back to the way they were.
“I hope not,” he said, kissing the tip of my finger. “But don’t you think I’m wrong for you. I mean, I know I’m bad for you.
I shook my head.
He couldn’t be more wrong.
I ran my finger along his bottom lip, enjoying its softness.
“No. I don’t think that at all.”
“Then tell me what you think,” he requested, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“I think my dad sent you to me.”
He chuckled, turning his face away.
“I’m serious,” I said, capturing his cheeks in my palms and turning his face back to mine. “I think he knew I’d need you. He knew I would need your strength.”
His face grew serious, his smile melting away. “No. I’m the last thing your dadwould want for you. I know I’m not worthy of you, Everly, but I’m too damn selfish to stop this.”
My heart melted for him. “Then don’t.”
33 Aiken
THERE WOULD NEVER BE ANOTHERfor me. All the years I wasted fucking random women and walking away like it was no big deal, and it took an eighteen-year-old with a beautiful heart and a gorgeous smile to turn it all around.
We left Flagstaff early, getting on the road toward Atlanta. Worry scratched at the back of my mind because of the conversation we had the night before. I didn’t want to lose what I had with Everly, but once we were back in the real world, it was inevitable.
I wanted to protect her at all costs, even if it meant keeping her away from my life and all the bad shit in it. I didn’t want her near the dealing or the fucked-up people we dealt with, but I wasn’t sure I could stay away from her until I was living the legal life.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
I looked over at her, my heart aching just looking at her beauty.
“Nothing,” I lied.
My eyes scanned her face, taking in her faded bruising. I hadn’t brought it up again, but at some point, I would find out who hurt her.
“Think you’re ready to tell me about those?” I asked, motioning toward her bruises and changing the subject while hoping it didn’t upset her.
“That depends. Are you going to do anything about it when we get home?”
Fuck, yes, I was.
“You want honesty?”
She nodded. “Always.”
My fingers tightened on the steering wheel just thinking about choking the life out of the bastard who hurt my girl. “Whoever he is, he has to pay, Everly.”
And he would.
Maybe I wouldn’t kill him. I was enjoying being with Everly too much to be taken away from her and sentenced to life in prison, but I would get him close. He would wish he was dead when I was finished with him.
