Page 61 of Trapped and Tackled

Keller: I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Night.

I breathe out a sigh of relief and am about to place her phone back down when another message appears.

This time, my blood runs cold.

Craig: You can’t stay away forever, Leni. I think about you all the time. About what I’m gonna do when I get my hands on you again.

Craig: Our friends are starting to wonder what happened and you know how I detest lying.

Craig: You better come back, Leni. Even if I have to drag you back myself.

Craig: I’m not letting you leave me, baby. You know we belong together.

Craig: You know you’re mine. You understand that, right?

Craig: Because I love you, Leni. And I don’t know what I’ll do if you don’t come home to me.

Craig: I don’t know what I’m capable of. I don’t say that to scare you, baby.

Craig: I say it because I love you. I’ll always love you.

Craig: And I’m coming to bring you home, sweet Leni.

Craig: I’m coming for you.

Rage consumes me as I read each message. My vision blurs as anger strums in my veins and horror pounds in my temples.

I clench Leni’s phone harder.

That motherfucker.

The ex-boyfriend.

How dare he put his hands on her. How dare he threaten her. How dare he even fucking message her.

I gaze down at the sleeping angel in my arms and know that I’m done for.

I’ll cross every line and blow up my entire fucking career to keep her safe. Because the way I feel about her, hell, I don’t know what it is but it’s something.

And for the first time in a long time, it—she—is the only thing that matters.

Chapter 15

Leni

“Morning, Sunny Leni.” Talon grins as I open my eyes.

“Hey,” I say, momentarily confused. I glance around the space of this dated, but clean, bedroom and the events of the night before come rushing back.

Toby and the boat.

Marlowe’s concerns.

Keller holding her up.

Toby’s hateful, hurtful words.

His fist cocking back.

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