Page 70 of Vengeful Secret

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Gray shifts to lie down, and I reluctantly disentangle from him.

“You should get some rest,” he says, kissing the crown of my head as I snuggle up next to him.

I put my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

It lulls me to sleep almost immediately.

I wake up with a start, thinking of our last conversation and how I wanted to comfort him more, but the bed is empty.

Last night was awful in so many ways, but Gray opening up to me makes my heart ache.

He’s always been so controlled, even when he was a little wild, especially when it came to negative emotions.

I lay in bed, turning to look up at the ceiling.

I meant what I told Gray. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I know now that he can protect me better than anyone else could.

He saved me last night. He kept me from a fate probably worse than death, and I’m so grateful.

I just hope he knows how much I trust him, even if I’m scared to death.

20

GRAY

I leaveSutton in my bed reluctantly, heading to the shower and standing under the water until it grows cold.

I’m shaken by what happened last night. Sutton was so close to being taken, and God knows what they’d have done to her.

I can’t even think about it without rage clouding my vision.

I’m determined to properly punish the guy who attacked Sutton, but for now, I have to focus on her. I have to focus on keeping her and Ciara safe.

Lara is already sitting at the kitchen table when I make it downstairs, and she smiles up at me.

“How'd it go?”

“Not great,” I mutter, sitting down across from her and grabbing a bagel. The spread this morning is light, just bagels, cream cheese, and cut fruit.

I’m grateful for the light breakfast. After the adrenaline of last night, my stomach is in knots.

“What happened?” Lara frowns. “Is Sutton okay?”

“No thanks to me,” I mutter, and then I look up at Lara’s frown, at how worried she is, and let my face go blank. I opened up to Sutton last night, but this morning, it’s time to put on a brave face. “She’s okay. She just almost got taken.”

“Did you bring him in?”

“Of course I did.” Part of me wants to hurry up and do the interrogation, but I can leave him to sweat for a while.

Lara nods, satisfied. “Well, then some progress was made. We have someone to question.”

I pour myself a cup of coffee, since a pot of coffee and tea are sitting on the table. Marisol always thinks of everything.

I take a sip, not responding.

Lara looks at me curiously, tilting her head, but she doesn’t push for more answers. Paige definitely would have, but Lara’s more like me, calmer, more stoic.

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