Page 5 of A Very Addicted Christmas

I wish Janie were here, but she’s probably warming her feet near a fire at the lake house.

The only person at my side is Declan who stays quiet and observant of the incoming guy. Young Thor closes in at about ten feet, and Declan steps forward, just to gain a better angle to protect me in case something happens.

He knows that I let fans approach.

“Hey!” Young Thor stops in front of me and holds up his phone, his cheeks reddened from the cold. “Can I get a selfie? My girlfriend is going to die when she sees I met you. She’s obsessed with your family—in a good way. She loves you guys.”

I almost breathe a sigh of relief. Glad that he didn’t think I was checking him out. Glad that he can’t sell thatfun factto a tabloid.

The realization that he has a girlfriend doesn’t really hit me in any sort of way. I’ve never really thought about being in a relationship. I know I won’t ever be in one.

“Yeah, no problem,” I tell Young Thor and I lean in a bit and smile at his camera. He snaps the photo and then nods in thanks before leaving.

Once I’m in the lodge, I decide to use the stairs instead of the elevators. My room is on the third floor anyway.

Declan walks ahead of me, and I tell him my plan.

I’m going to put on my swimsuit and then head to the indoor pool.

Once I exit the stairwell and enter the carpeted hallway, Declan is guiding me down the long hall. An elevator dings as we pass, and a few beats later, the silence tenses the air.

When people come off an elevator, they usually make some kind of noise.

Hairs stand up on the back of my neck.

My pulse skips.

I check over my shoulder.

It happens fast.

Two guys in ski masks and goggles. One is two strides up on me and he’s about to cold-cock me with his board.He begins to swing...

I duck, and Declan suddenly appears like an Avenger. He forcefully throws them backwards, and they stumble and drop their boards. They don’t pick them up.

They glance at each other. Maybe realizing that this guy is with me and he’s a lot stronger than a fifteen-year-old.

And they’re not going to get away with whatever they planned.

As I rise, my blood red-hot, I reach into my pocket and grip my switchblade. I don’t take it out, but my pulse hammers hard in anger.

I wish I were afraid.

But I’m not.

I don’t know what that says about me. That I’m not scared to die. Maybe.

“You’re crazy!” one yells at Declan and pulls off his ski mask. “We weren’t doing anything!”

The second guy lifts up his goggles and glares at me. “You can’t fucking sick your bodyguard on anyone who shares the same air as you!”

I glower, my muscles burning.

Declan is speaking quickly into his mic. Probably for back-up.

They’re acting like they didn’t just try to jump me. Just so they can save their asses. Maybe they wanted my wallet. Maybe it was something else. I won’t ever know. Because they’re never going to admit to it.

I stare unblinkingly.

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