Page 7 of Say It's Forever

Good girl.

“But I have to go back.” Her words invoke a level of protectiveness I never knew existed inside of me to come rushing forth.

“Fuck no, you’re not. You’re staying right here until I know you’re not in danger.” I don’t know a ton about the group. I’ve overheard the people in town speak about them. They called them a cult. I need to dig deeper into them and learn everything I can. I’ll need to know every single detail if I’m going to protect my girl.

“I have to.” Snow springs to her feet, but her legs give out on her. Before she falls, I wrap my arm around her, pulling her into me. Her hands came to my chest. She doesn’t push away from me. In fact, her body seamlessly molds into mine, as if she has always been mine.

She has been.

“I can’t let you go back to a fucking cult, Snow.” I can’t get the edge out of my voice. It's a miracle she made it out and to me, the one person in this town that could keep her safe from them. I'm confident that they will come looking for her soon. When the storm dies down. And when they do, I’ll be ready and waiting.

I wouldn't wait for the storm to die down, but I'm a different kind of man.

“My sister. I told her I’d come back for her.” A sister. Fuck. I think of having to leave my brother behind. I wouldn't be able to do it. I get the sense she won't be able to either. Even if it’ll put her back in danger and what I'm guessing in an arranged marriage. My hold on her tightens at the thought of her getting married to someone else.

Over my dead fucking body.

“All right, I’ll get your sister for you.”

She opens and closes her mouth. “Really?”

“If it keeps you from going back there. Yeah.”

“You’d really do that for me?”

I think I might do anything for her…. Except let her go.

6

WINTER

It couldn’t be this easy, could it? What are the chances that the first person I found is willing to help me get my sister back? My father always told me no one ever does anything for free. What does Garrett want? I really don’t have anything to offer him.

“I can’t pay you or anything. All I have is in that bag.” I start to hold up what I have in my hand but jerk it back.

“I’ve already seen your panties, Snow.” I drop my face to his chest to hide the blush that has spread across it.

“I’m being serious. I don’t have anything to offer you in return for helping me. I mean, you’ve gone out of your way and done enough for me already.” There is no way I can let him go through with this. His life would be at risk. The thought of something happening to him because of me does not sit well with me. “You can just take me to the sheriff in town, and they can help me.” I lift my head from his chest to look into his eyes. They’re a gray color, and they remind me of a storm, changing when things intensify. And my last words have them doing exactly that.

“We’re not involving the sheriff. I’ll handle this my way. There are not many people we’re going to be able to trust,” he says, his eyes softening a bit as his hand comes up to cup my cheek once again. I lean into it, loving the comforting feeling. I know by the way he’s staring at me that he’s not going to take no for an answer.

I should just leave and keep him out of this, but his words keep flitting around in my mind about not being able to trust everyone. Joseph and Heaven’s Temple have a far reach. They may keep to the compound, but from what I’ve overheard, there are men in power outside to make sure things stay in order.

It’s crazy how before Garrett, I’d never even thought about trusting a man, and now I’m willing to so easily instill my trust in him in less than twenty-four hours.Be brave, I remind myself.

“Okay. I agree.” Instantly I feel his body relax. “But I have a few conditions.” Speaking freely is all new to me. I would never speak to a man on the compound in this way. Women don’t make demands on men there. Not without suffering consequences, anyway.

“Go on.” Garrett must sense my hesitation.

“If I stay here like you suggested and I let you help me get my sister, then I need to repay you in some way.”

“Snow.” When Garrett says my name, it sounds gruff. I feel his fingers flexing on my back, pushing me closer to him. “You don’t have to do anything. Just stay here.”

Just stay here? That’s part of why I want to pay him back in some way. He’s going to let me stay in his home. I’m not sure for how long, but I have to do my part. Everyone is supposed to chip in. Well, at the compound you are. The women at least.

“I could cook and clean,” I offer. “My sister is a better baker, but I–”

“Snow.” He cuts me off. “How about we worry about that later?”

---