Page 50 of Forever Touched

“You’re safe now,” he said, the earlier violence in his voice replaced by soft reassurance. “He can’t touch you anymore.”

Hearing the words out loud, I finally broke.

The dam on my emotions burst wide open, and a wretched sob tore from my lungs. Everett lifted me into his arms, cradling me close as I cried. He was covered in blood and gore, but I didn’t care.

Because I suddenly feltsafe. Safer than I could ever remember feeling.

Unable to speak, unable to do anything but cling to him and cry my eyes out, I barely noticed when he carefully wrapped me in a robe.

“I’m getting you out of here,” he said, lifting me once more. The words didn’t register at first, not until he adjusted his hold to make a phone call. “Loch, I’m taking her to the lakehouse. Meet me there.”

I immediately stiffened in his arms. “E-Everett. I c-can’t.”

“You almost gotraped,” he said, so forcefully that my heart stopped. “There’s no way I’m letting that happen to you ever again.”

Shocked, I didn’t respond until he was storming through the suite toward the exit.

“Everett, I can’t leave.Everett.”

He halted inches from the door he’d just violently destroyed. “You told me you weren’t being forced to work here against your will. Thenproveit. Let me take you away from here.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Well, I’mmakingit that simple. You aren’t staying here.”

Before I could protest some more, he marched through the exit and into the hallway.

“Everett, please. I really can’t,” I insisted, squirming to be letdown. His arms tightened, causing me to suck in a sharp breath.

“You’rehurt,” he growled, slightly loosening his grip.

“Not much. I’ve had worse.”

Realizing my mistake, I savagely bit my tongue, but it was too late. Fury whipped through me, so intensely that it stole my breath away.

“Everett,” I gasped out, shocked to my core.

“I can’t do it. I can’t let you stay here. You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”

“But,Everett—”

“No. I won’t budge on this. Nothing you say will change my mind.”

As the fury continued to whip through me, my shock turned into panic.

The emotion. The fury. It was him. It wasEverett.

I couldfeelhim.

Before I could completely freak out, he came to a dead stop.

“Your Highness, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect to see you here. Is something wrong?”

My heart started to pound. Turning my head, I spotted Mistress standing directly in front of the elevators, along with Heath, Rocky, and the other bouncers.

Belatedly realizing that Everett wasn’t wearing a mask, I broke into a cold sweat. He must have lost it in the fight with Torres.

“I’m in no mood to speak with you right now, Madame Faircroft,” Everett replied, that dangerous edge to his voice returning. “Now get out of my way before I make you.”

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