Page 146 of My Damaged Protector

I don't let her go until she's giggling. After kissing her cheek one last time, I get down from the bed.

When I'm at the door, I glance back to see her at the edge of the bed, a skeptical look still on her face. It guts me that I put that look on her face. I know the only way to take it away forever would be to come back just like I told her I would.

“I'll be back.” I wink at her. A smile reaches her face, and I open the door.

As I walk to my car, all I can think of is that I need a drink. To celebrate. I can't remember the last time I had a drink to celebrate.

My first stop is going to be at the fire station. I'll share the good news with Richard. I'll probably have to quit my job, which I know he won't like, but I know he'll be happy for me.

A new life is already mapping out in front of me, and I couldn't be happier.

I get the girl, the family, and the money too.

What could go wrong in the world?

42

SARAH

The momentthe door closed behind him, I rushed to the window he was standing by when I entered to look at him. He enters the lot with a smile on his face.

From the sprint of his steps, there's no doubting his happiness.

Oh, how I've wrongly judged him.

He cleared up all my doubts and made me a promise of the life I've always wanted. What else could be better?

He enters the truck, and I tell myself to stop looking at him now, but it's hard. I'm giddy with happiness, and he's the reason behind it.

God, I love him so much. How did it take me this long to see it?

His truck pulls away. I tell myself I'll stop looking the moment he hits the street. I don't. I watch him drive away from the hotel down the street until he's barely visible, and that's when I tell myself to finally look away. He's about to make a turn off the street anyway.

Out of nowhere, I see a car come from the corner he's about to turn into and hit his truck so hard that the truck starts to spin in the middle of the road.

I think I blacked out. I don't know. I'm not sure. All I know is, one minute I'm standing by the window watching the new chance I just got at happiness being shattered right before my eyes. The next, I'm on the floor, opening my eyes to the sight of the bed’s lower frame.

Pushing myself up, I allow myself a minute to gather my thoughts.

I was standing, so how come I'm on the floor?

Maybe all that happened in the past hour has been a dream after all. Lord, let it be a dream. It'll hurt me that Ian never told me he loves me, but at least he wouldn't be involved in an accident.

Shooting upright, I go straight to the window, staring down the street to see the road buzzing with crowds.

Oh God.

It wasn't a dream. Ian had an accident, and I passed out.

For how long?

He needs me! How could I have passed out?

I rush out of the room as fast as I can, jumping into the elevator.

The ride down feels like a journey to hell. Every second that passes and I'm not sure if he's safe drives me wild. When I finally get to the hotel’s reception, it's buzzing with crowds. As I run out, I notice the reception pointing me to two men. I don't stop to figure out why.

Taking my car will probably get me to the accident scene faster, but I choose to run. Every step I take forward gets me closer to the scene of my worst nightmare yet. By the time I make it to the scene, I'm a mess. Emotionally and physically. I dash straight for his truck, but he's not there.

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