Page 101 of Hold Me Before You Go

In a flash, I was behind Grayson, against the wall, and he shot his arm out, shoving her back. She fell, her body landing on the hard floor. Her skin paled as she stared up at him, fear painted over her face now. He pointed a finger down to her, baring his teeth. “Try that again, and your fucking messed up brain will be splattered all over the damn wall.”

She nodded, her body shaking now.

Grayson got lower. “Do I make myself clear?”

She nodded once more. That wasn’t enough.“Answer me!”he roared.

Donna jumped and scrambled back; her voice filled with terror as she did as he demanded. “Yes. Yes, I’m sorry.”

He turned away from her, grabbed my arm, and then, we were gone.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Grayson

“Grayson,” Carrie called out from behind me.

I dropped my head and let out the breath I’d been holding. “We don’t have to do this now,” I told her, my voice soft. It had been two hours since Donna launched herself at my sunshine, and it had taken me that amount of time to calm the fuck down and get my blood lust under control. I wanted to kill that woman. Truth be told, I wanted to kill both of them and dump their bodies into a shallow grave.

But what kind of man would that make me?

Wouldn’t I be the monster Carrie was referring to Robert as?

I’d killed people. Not because I wanted to, not because of some twisted fucked up sport, but because it was necessary.

“Grayson, I’m okay,” my sunshine said to me, her voice closer now.

I knew that. I knew she was okay, and fuck, I was proud of her. She stood up for herself in there, not showing that crazy woman any fear. Carrie didn’t even flinch at the spineless insults thrown her way.

Finally, I lifted my head and looked out to the city, watching more snow fall from the heavens. “You’re one of the strongest people I know,” I admitted, my voice rough as I rose to my full height, pulling my hands from being braced on my desk. I turned to face her, taking in those stunning blue eyes and the loose curls that had escaped her bun. “Do you know that?”

She nodded. “Right back at ya.”

I shook my head, looking up to the ceiling. “She’s got no fucking clue,” I mumbled.

“Can I tell you something?” Carrie asked softly.

My eyes met hers again and I nodded once. “You never have to ask me that. Just tell me what’s on your mind, yeah?”

She took a small step forward. “I was surprised you didn’t…you know.”

I raised a brow and leaned my hips back against my desk. “I didn’t what?”

She chewed on the inside of her cheek for a moment. “Kill her.”

My shoulders stiffened. “Do you want me to?”

Before she could answer, Jake appeared in the doorway. I jerked my chin to him. “What is it?”

He gestured to his laptop he had balanced on his forearm. “Michael Humbly wants an update.”

My eyes shot to Carrie to find her already moving. “Tell him I’m okay,” she begged. “Tell all of them that I’m—”

“—no,” I clipped, cutting her off.

Jake and Carrie’s heads snapped over to me. “What do you mean ‘no’?” Carrie demanded.

I pushed off the desk, sighing. “If everyone in Astoria knows you’re safe, then Brandon will go after them,” I explained.

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