Page 12 of Forbidden Valentine

“Can I meet him?” I ask.

“Yeah. We can go by there tomorrow. I already told him about the alleyway,” he says.

“When?” I ask.

“I called him when I went to get my truck.”

“I’m sorry for asking so many questions,” I say with a sigh.

“It’s okay. This is your ass on the line. Ask whatever you want to know,” he says. “We are in this together, but I promise you will never go down for it.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“If the cops somehow know that you were there when he died, just say that a man in a skeleton mask and all black clothing saved you, but you were afraid that telling the truth would make him come after you. They’ll know it was me and not question a thing further.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because they know I only go after the guilty ones,” he says. “Try to rest, love. I’m right here.”

I close my eyes and snuggle into his chest. I quickly lose the fight against my exhaustion and fall asleep wrapped in my professor’s arms.

Chapter Four

I scream and slingmyself out of bed, but Gunner catches me before I can get too far. My entire body is trembling as he pulls me back into bed and against his chest. “It’s okay. It was just a nightmare,” he says softly.

“H-He was hurting me. I just wanted him to stop,” I sniffle.

“I know, love. You’re okay,” he says as he holds me tightly against his body. “You are safe now, Mila. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Fuck, it felt so real,” I sigh. “What time is it?”

“It’s about ten,” he says. “Veronica has been blowing your phone up all morning.”

“Ah. Yeah,” I say. “I should call her.” He leans over and grabs my phone off the nightstand to take it off the charger. Right as I go to call her, she calls me.

“Hey,” I say, answering the call on speaker.

“Hey, where the fuck are you? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Sorry I didn’t text you. It was uh… crazy,” I say.

“Was your date with Charlie Jensen?”

“Yeah, why?” I ask.

“He is missing. His dad is losing his goddamn mind,” she says. “He wants to talk to you, but no one knew where you were.”

“So, I left the date early because he straight up tried to drug me. The server and manager saw. I… texted someone and they came and got me.”

“Who?” she asks.

“I need you to do me a favor and I’ll explain everything in person, okay?”

“Uh. Okay,” she says.

“I need you to bring me some clothes,” I say. “I can text you the address.”

“Girl… Who did you go home with?” she asks.

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