Page 65 of Worship Him

"Destiny Lewis," I demand, my voice rough. "She was brought in from a car accident. Where is she?"

The receptionist, a young woman with startled eyes, fumbles with her computer. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'll need you to?—"

"I don't have time for this," I growl, leaning over the desk. "I'm her husband. Tell me where she is. Now."

She swallows hard, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "Let me check, Mr...?"

"Ryder. Adam Ryder."

Recognition flashes in her eyes. Good. Maybe now we'll get somewhere.

"Mr. Ryder, I-" She pauses, her brow furrowing as she reads something on her screen. My heart races, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

The look on her face doesn’t give anything away, but everything in me is screaming to not hear bad news.

"What is it? Just tell me where she is."

The receptionist looks up at me, her expression shifting to one of sympathy. My stomach drops. That look is never a good sign.

"I'm sorry, sir," she says softly. "She's not here anymore."

25

DESTINY

My grip on the steering wheel is tighter than it needs to be as I navigate the winding road to the cottage. I’m driving slower than I have to and it’s a good thing I’m alone on the road. Other drivers would have cussed me out for my snail’s pace, and I wouldn’t have blamed them.

Avery's soft coos from the backseat remind me to breathe. We're safe. We're okay.

"It's alright, baby girl," I murmur, more to myself than to her. "Mommy's got you."

The events of the past few hours replay in my mind like a broken record. The paparazzi car veering too close, pushing us to the side. Nearly losing complete control and going off the road.

My heart racing as I slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding disaster. It was a really close call.

Then the sickening crunch of metal as the paparazzi vehicle crashed behind us. It was the worst kind of sound, but also not what I expected, somehow.

Calling 911, my heart beating so fast that I was scared I’d have a heart attack right there.

I shake my head, trying to clear the memory. We were lucky. So damn lucky.

The hospital visit was a blur of concerned nurses and doctors, their hands gentle as they checked us over. "Just a precaution," they'd said, but the worry in their eyes spoke volumes.

Now, as the familiar landscape of the countryside rolls by, I feel the tension slowly leaving my body.

The cottage is close. Our safe haven.

I don’t even want to think about what could have happened, but of course my mind keeps going there. If Avery had been hurt?—

I shake my head, frowning. "Just don’t." I say to myself. Best to be grateful for being here with her and being alright.

My thoughts suddenly, unnecessarily, jump to Adam's words.

"I'm not condoning this type of behavior."

The hurt bubbles up again, threatening to choke me. The pain drives away all my previous thoughts. How could he? After everything we've been through?

I take a deep breath, focusing on the road ahead. The cottage comes into view, its familiar silhouette a welcome sight.

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