Page 127 of Moth to a Flame

Mine.

That reminder usually lends me strength. Landon’s shadow, the heat of his body, his authoritative words, they do it too.

Nevertheless, I don’t feel particularly strong right now. I feel…

Paralyzed.

From head to toe.

“I’ll burn this motherfucker.” I can’t see my sister anymore. All I see is the pavement beneath me after Landon’s hauled me over his shoulder. “Whatever I had planned, I’ll make it hurt worse. For this.” Landon’s gait is wide and confident. “For scaring you like this. Son of a bitch.”

We walk past people, turning into the alley where we’re parked. I’m being unceremoniously disposed into the passenger seat. Curse after curse, Landon puts my seatbelt on, kisses my cheek, then rounds the car to his side.

He’s reading his messages while he walks, eyes narrowing. The vein in his temple throbs.

Once he’s inside, he dumps the phone into the console and peels out and takes off to merge into traffic.

A car swerves at the last second before they crash into us. As long as we’re both alive, I don’t think Landon gives a fuck.

The rage consuming him bleeds into the car. It’s in the air just as much as my fear is. For my family, mainly. Lester has no way of knowing where I’ll be. But they…

“What if the new security detail they hired fuck up?” My voice is small, hardly recognizable. “He’ll hold my family captive. Like in that movie,The Strangers. Have you seen it? Have you seen it, Landon?”

Despite being on the highway, he cuts his glance at me. Black eyes bore holes into mine and he laces our fingers together.

“You’re strong.” Notyour family will be safe. Noteverything will be alright. “You’re strong. You fought me. You survived. You’re okay. You’re here.”

“I don’t know.”

“Say it.” He’s driving at a terrifying speed while he keeps glancing my way. “Say you’re strong.”

“I’m strong,” I whisper.

“Not good enough.” It hurts when he squeezes my hand like that. It’s grounding. “You’re strong. Again.”

“I’m strong.”

“Better.” Landon presses the gas harder, and we zoom past three cars in what feels like a second. “Louder now.”

“I’m strong,” I scream. I try, at least.

“You trust me.” Another squeeze.

“I do.”

Though it’s more of a breath than actually saying the words, he lets out a sigh of relief.

“You have every reason to. And I’ll give you another one before I leave.”

“What?”

No answer. I only get his strong profile staring at the road ahead of us.

“Landon, tell me what is it? You’re scaring me.”

“You’ll have to learn to really trust me.” He’s terrifying. Downright homicidal. “You’ll be a good girl and wait for us to get home.”

The rest of the drive is quiet.

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