Page 96 of Left in the Dark

Then he walks away, leaving me with those words and my masked man.

“He’s right. You’re safe with us.” His other hand cups my face, rubbing my cheek. The sensation is so familiar it brings tears to my eyes. “Trust me, Delaney. I won’t fail you.” He holds up a small device. “I’m gonna put this in your ear. It will allow us to hear what’s going on. My associate is taking control of the hospital cameras, so we’ll have eyes on you.”

I stare into his dark eyes, somehow reassured despite everything to the contrary. Nodding, I lift onto my tiptoes and throw my arm around his neck. “Thank you for this.” My voice shakes from the threat of the tears looming inside me.

A perfect stranger has done more for me than anyone else in this town.

His arm wraps around me, and he pulls me closer. “You’re welcome. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid, okay?”

I step back, nodding. “I promise.”

“Come on.” He’s holding my hand as he guides me toward the hospital’s side entrance. The dim lighting makes me uneasy, but it’s quiet compared to the main entrance. “Time to see your mom.”

CHAPTER 62

Delaney

Tears fill my eyes as I stand at the foot of my mom’s bed. Large bandages are wrapped around her head, and tubes and machinery surround her. She looks so tiny and frail, breaking my heart.

Choking back my sob, I hurry to her bedside. I gently touch her hand, my gaze moving from her bruised hands to the parts of her face that aren’t covered by bandages.

“Hi, Mom. I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get here.” I don’t bother telling her my asshole father prevented me from seeing her. It would likely only upset her if she could hear me, possibly making her condition worse.

“I’m sorry this happened. I wish I would’ve told you to stay with me longer. I feel so guilty for letting you go.”

Shit. I probably shouldn’t have said that, either.

Sucking in a shaky breath, I slowly exhale it.Do what she used to do with you, Delaney. Talk about positive things.

Stroking her hand gently, I give her a recap of recent events, describing the cabin in the woods that I’m currently staying at. I stick to the positives, leaving out my masked man and my father, brother, and his two asshole friends.

“My favorite holiday is coming up. I really should decorate. I’ve been slacking there. I don’t even have any mums or pumpkins on the porch.”

I keep talking until my phone buzzes. I pull it from my purse, seeing the message from Unknown, telling me I need to leave.

Releasing her hand, I move the chair to where it was when I entered the room, then hurry back to her bed. Learning over, I kiss her cheek. “Keep fighting, Mom. I need you. I wanna make up for all the lost years.”

Tears stream down my face as I hurry to the door. I pull it open and slip out, quietly shutting it behind me.

The hallway is clear as I walk to where my masked man instructed. Anxiousness courses through me, knotting my stomach, until I exit the hospital.

When I round the corner of the building, my Michael Myers masked man steps from the shadows.

I pause, tears coursing down my cheeks.

He unfolds his arms, holding them open. I run to him, needing his comfort.

He holds me tightly against him, stroking my hair. He doesn’t judge or tell me to stop crying. He lets me purge all my sadness onto his strong shoulder, my tears soaking his hoodie.

When I pull back, his thumbs wipe away my tears. His eyes are full of pain, and it speaks to the depths of my broken heart and soul.

Lifting onto my tiptoes, I plant my lips against his masked ones. “Thank you. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for this.” I kiss the mask again before pulling back. “Anything you want, I’ll do.”

His hand slides to the fall of my hair. “You don’t owe me anything. It’s not right your father has kept you away from your mom.”

I stare into his dark eyes, falling in love with the masked man I hardly know.

But I know one thing. He has a giant heart hidden beneath that muscular chest.

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