Page 47 of Guarded from Corruption

I don’t want to distract you. But maybe we can talk about this after.

His reply is immediate.

Definitely.

A pause, and then.

I’m going to stop texting now. Need to focus. But I’m with you. Okay? I’m right here. I’ve got you.

Oh.

Did I think I was only falling for him? I’m pretty sure it already happened.

It’s a comfort as I lie in bed, forcing my body still as I pretend to sleep. When the fear claws at me so viciously it’s a physical pain, I soothe myself with thoughts of Niall.

I tell myself, he’s here. Right outside.

My Niall, my protective boyfriend, won’t let anyone hurt me. Won’t let a strange man touch me inappropriately.

He’s got me.

Like his team told me before I got in the Uber to come back here, they’ve all got my six.

Niall won’t let anything bad happen.

It’s almost enough to lull me to sleep.

Almost.

But I’m still awake when they come.

So I can hear the slight sounds of them entering my apartment.

If I’d been asleep, like the last time, I wouldn’t notice.

They’re so quiet.

First, the front door closes with a tiny snick.

A small creak in the hall.

A breath in the doorway of my bedroom.

Fabric rustling by the side of my bed.

Terror explodes inside me. Not moving is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

My brain screams silently, I don’t want this, I’ve changed my mind, I want Niall!

But I’ve come this far. And I owe those women who can’t help themselves.

So I focus on Niall as they grab me.

As a man covers my mouth, his gloved hand clamping around my jaw.

As another man grabs my wrists and pins them above my head, hissing beside my ear, “Don’t fight. Or I’ll hurt you.”

I think of Niall when the needle stabs into me.

---