AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rebelle matched his stare. “I’ll protect her no matter what.”
“That’s what worries me, Belle. Nothing is going to happen to her, besides I’ll be here.”
“You have drinks with the guys.”
He groaned. He’d forgotten about that. “Okay but after that, I won’t be long.”
She turned away from him, wiping down the surface. “Actually, maybe you should stay at the cabin tonight.”
Her words landed with a blow. “What?”
“I think we need a break and it’ll be good for us to be apart, with you leaving soon and all. It’ll give us a chance to get back to reality.” She wouldn’t look at him and he could feel panic rising up as the truth he’d been hiding from leapt out from behind the wall he’d put in front of it.
He was losing her. She was sliding through his fingers and yet, he had to let her.
“If that’s what you want…”
“I think it’s what’s best,” she said, her tone flat. He helped her tidy, then moved Daisy so she was in the home.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
Rebelle nodded, folding her arms over her chest and he hated the awkwardness between them. He wanted her back already, knew he was losing her and he hadn’t even left yet. Fuck, leaving town was going to be harder than he thought. He turned and stalked out of the home before he grabbed her and begged her to go back to what they’d been just that morning.
*
Rebelle glanced through the telescope, looking at the stars and trying not to think about the hurt look on Will’s face whenshe asked him to stay away tonight. It had hurt her too. She hadn’t wanted to do it but she was stung by his dismissal of her concerns.
She had grown to read people’s behavior and she recognized it when it was shitty and suspicious. She had expected Will to believe her and have her back, not dismiss her suspicions. She’d thought they were a team, but it just showed her that you could only rely on yourself.
Maybe it was better this way. Rebelle didn’t like how attached to him she was getting. She was beginning to rely on him, to expect him to always be there and that wasn’t what she wanted. Now she feared the idea of him leaving her all alone with the shelter and business and she didn’t like how much that bothered her. She was used to being on her own. She hadwantedto manage the shelter on her own. He was a distraction that she couldn’t afford.
They were kidding themselves anyway. They’d always had an expiration date. What she hated was that she already missed him. Missed sprawling over his naked body, their damp skin connected, covering him with her own like she was owning him. Protecting him even. She missed hearing his booming laugh that used to terrify her and set her nerves on edge. Now it set them on fire. Missed him enough to be out in the chilly fall air looking up at the stars because now they somehow made her feel close to him.
She sighed and got up, heading inside for her phone. She grabbed it, scrolling through WhatsApp and smiling at the pictures Justine sent of Harley, the newest Rebelle’s Angel. Harley was gorgeous, the spitting image of her mother and Blake would make the best girl dad.
Rebelle hovered over her chat with Will, wanting to talk to him.
“Jesus, you saw him three hours ago,” she scolded herself, dropping her phone. “You don’t need to speak to him. You. Don’t. Need. Him.”
This is why she needed to separate herself from him, before she grew any more attached.
A low rumble filled the home and Rebelle frowned before she realized it was coming from Daisy’s crate. Rebelle peered into the crate and saw Daisy huddled in the corner, tense, her eyes wide and growling.
“It’s okay, Daze. It’s just me,” she cooed, trying to soothe her but the rumbling continued and grew louder. Bryan sat up from his place on the couch and began whining. Rebelle thought she heard a noise outside and a chill trickled down her spine.
They were warning her.
So many thoughts raced through Rebelle’s mind and fear tried to choke her but she focused on her breathing, just like Justine taught her. She grabbed for her phone and dialed Jae.
“Rebelle?”
“Jae, I think someone’s here. They’ve come for her, get the police here now, please,” she hissed.
“What? Are you okay? Oh my God, do you want me to come?” he panicked.
“No, you’re too far away. I’ll call someone else just get the police here. I’ve got Daisy with me.” She huddled down by a window, trying to see out into the pitch black and so thankful that she had left the lights off in the home to stargaze.
“Jesus, Rebelle. Stay on the line.”
