Page 108 of Undeniably Enemies

That pulls me up short. I didn’t? No, wow, I didn’t.

“Fine, demon slayer, let’s fucking run.” I roll my eyes because I can be a petulant bitch when I want to be and start to jog alongside him.

Within minutes, we hit a path by the water and it’s the same path I was on, though this time it’s far more populated and open and bright given the time of day. I didn’t follow the woman code. I ran in the evening when it was already dark because I thought I was above it, and he took advantage of that.

“Jack?”

“I’m right here with you.”

His gaze flings left to mine as we run in stride.

“But what if?—”

“Nothing, and I fucking mean nothing, will happen to you when you’re with me. Not ever, Wren. I’ll protect you with my life.”

I can do this. I want to do this. I want my life back. My full life. Jesus, my palms are sweating and my heart is like a drunk mariachi band.

“Do you want to stop?” he continues when my steps slow a bit.

Yes. I really, seriously do. And it would be okay if I did. I know this. I’m here and I got this far and if I stop… then I’ll simply try again another day. But he’s right. Nothing will happen to me out here like this. No one will touch me with him at my side. But more importantly, it wasn’t random.

It was opportunistic. It was motivated. It was diseased.

“Wren?”

Fuck. Fuck! “Let’s keep going.”

“You sure?”

Am I? “No, but let’s do it anyway until I can’t.”

“You tell me when you’re done, and we’re done.”

“I’m not done.” Not yet. And now, I want to beat Jack’s ass. For real this time. Not just so I’ll let him buy me a smoothie or dinner. I want to outrace him. Outrun him. Outrun the past because fuck all of it. Fuck those fingers that I feel, the ones that curl at the edges of my skin, of my clothes, as they try to catch me and pull me back. His breath. His voice. His words. The sharp slice of his blade.

I puff out a breath because Jack’s right. I don’t want this to rule me anymore, and I used to love running along the river. He stole that from me, and I let him take over my life. I turned away from men and only had sex a certain way and felt anxious all the damn time. I don’t want to be that girl anymore.

I pick up my pace and test it for another minute. Then I run and run until I don’t feel that buckling tension choking me.He’s still there, but he doesn’t have to be. He can fade like everything else. I’m safe. I’m here. Nothing can or will hurt me.

“You’re cute when you think you’ve got me,” I taunt, going faster.

A grin lights up his features. “Winner buys breakfast.”

Ugh. Of course he picks now to flip that around.

32

“You’re sure about this?” I ask Jack as we stroll into the bookstore in the Prudential Mall, three hours after he bought us breakfast. Yes, I hate to admit it, but I lost. First time he didn’t let me win either.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he asks even as he throws me a questioning look.

“I’m just saying, once you start down this road, there’s no going back.”

“They’re books, Wren. I read those two you suggested and I’ve listened to a few others. No biggie.”

I raise a dubious eyebrow. “How late did you stay up listening to the one you finished the other day?”

If possible, I think Jack is blushing. He clears his throat and looks around the store that’s already decorated for the holidays with Christmas music being piped through the speakers. Thanksgiving is in less than three weeks, and this is easily my favorite time of year.

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