Page 2 of Vengeful Guard

Declan and Gray won’t be able to save me.

No one will be able to save me. Once he gets me in that van—it's over.

He slams me against the van, and I crumble to the floor, black dots filling my vision.

Stay awake, Paige. You can’t pass out, please. If you do, you’re dead.

More gunshots ring out, and a man screams, but it all seems so far away.

I try to shake it off, but the world is fading around me. All sounds are under water, my body weighs a thousand pounds, and my eyes lids weigh even more than that.

My hair is yanked on again, but the pain is almost dulled.

I’m numb. Unfeeling. Unresponsive.

Doomed.

The hand pulls me to my feet, hauling me toward the open side door of the van.

I have to react, to fight!

I flail, kicking, biting, scratching, but I’m too weak.

More gunshots. More people shouting. A thud behind me.

I’m crumbling to the floor again, his hand no longer holding me.

And then Declan is there, kneeling before me, hauling me up.

I wilt against him. “Is it safe?”

Now

“I told you I’m fine, Lara. Why can’t you believe me?”

“I do, sis. But I was also there last week when you woke up screaming during our sleepover. I have a right to worry.”

I sigh.

She does have a right to worry. And though I refuse to tell her, she also has every reason to.

I’m such a mess. But I refuse to also be a burden. Refuse to let what happened to me take a bigger hold in my life.

A little over a month ago, all I could think about was when I’d get my first boyfriend, when I’d finally be able to lose my virginity, which was becoming an embarrassment at my age.

When I’d be able to find love. Get married. Have a family of my own.

Now? All I want is to have a dreamless night. To be able to go outside my door and not be paralyzed, stuck in that moment, terrified that it will happen again.

“I know, I’m sorry. I promise I’ll let you know if I need anything. Deal?”

She huffs. “Fine. I’ll hold you to that.”

I smile. I love my sister to death. All my siblings.

“Fine. Now it’s time to get some rest. I can barely keep my eyes open.” Which is not a lie, but I won’t be closing them if I have any say in it. No way do I want to get thrown into that day again.

“Bye, sis. Love you.”

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