Page 58 of Subbing For Santa

“Aggie!” I call, and Fallon laughs.

“Huh. She’s just proving my point. She can’t hack it, Griff. Get rid of her.”

If I didn’t love my little sister, I’d fucking put a bullet through her skull right now.

When Aggie doesn’t stop running, I watch her disappear around the corner and know she’s heading for the front door. Fuck.

Leaving my sister’s snickers behind, I take chase, my heavy feet pounding on the timber floors as I try to catch up to my woman.

When I round the corner, I see Aggie bolting out the front door, leaving it wide like she can’t waste any time closing it, and her feet carry her down the front steps.

“Aggie!” I boom, and I hear a squeal fly from her lips as she disappears from sight.

Fucking hell, Aggie. Don’t do this.

I continue my chase, reaching the front door and leaping down the front steps as I see Aggie's head over the top of the cars, darting between the parked vehicles.

“Stop, Aggie!” I yell, but she doesn’t stop or even look back. She keeps running.

Leaping over the front of Oswald’s car to take a shortcut, I run towards my car, knowing that’s where she’s headed, and I see her panicked face as she darts out from between the cars, reaching my driver’s side door.

As she grabs the handle, I reach her, my hands gripping her shoulders and spinning her to face me before I push her, not so gently, against my car.

“Stop!” I growl, her caramel eyes wild with fear and tears. “Don’t fucking run from me, Aggie. Don’t you get it? That’s exactly what they expect you to do. If you leave, you prove them right, and fuck me, Aggie. I was sure you were brave enough to handle this.”

“Handle this? Are you serious? I’ll be lucky to leave here alive.” She screeches, and I frown.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your dad wants to see me tomorrow. He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Aggie whisper-yells.

“What?” My brows furrow before I shake my head. “No, baby. He just wants to chat with you. Granted, it may be an uncomfortable chat, but he’s not going to kill you. My family isn’t like that.”

Her brows shoot high. “Really? Your family isn’t like that?” She points back towards the house as anger consumes her. “Your psycho sister just bailed me up in the fucking bathroom. She knows about the sex club, Griffin. Let’s not forget how she said you would kill me if I tried to walk away from you!”

Fucking Fallon! I’ll make her pay for this.

“They were just words.” I try to gentle my tone, hoping she hears my honesty. “She’s testing you. She’s pushing you to flee to prove you don’t have what it takes to be in my life. She’s trying to see how brave you are.” I reach out and take her hand in mine, bringing it down between us.

“Newsflash. I’m not that fucking brave.” She snaps, and I smirk.

“Yes, you are, baby. I know it in my gut that you’re the right woman to stand by my side.”

Her shoulders fall at my words and she shakes her head. “What if I’m not? What if you’ve invited me into your life and I see too much? You know, and I know, I’ll end up dead.”

“You watch too many movies.” I grin and she frowns.

“How do you think the movies get written? By research and facts.” She deadpans and I shake my head.

“Please don’t leave me.” I say softly, hearing my voice break a little, and I reach over and cup her face. “I need you. By my side. Please.”

Aggie’s big caramel eyes study mine for a long, drawn-out moment, and I feel like she can see into my soul.

“Does your whole family play head games?” she asks quietly, and I shrug.

“Newcomers are always tested.” I brush some of her golden blonde strands off her face before cupping it again, and she finally relaxes into my touch.

“You should have warned me, Griff.”

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