Page 5 of You Are My Every Reason

“That’s what family is for,” West says.

“I’ll put soft feelers out, but you might want to get her to talk. The sooner the better so we know exactly what we’re dealing with. When you start poking around, things start crawling out,” King tells me, and I know he’s right, but I’m not going to push her.

Right now, my girl trusts me. I’m not going to shake that.

“I’ll see what I can do.” I’m not making any promises. I don’t know how I know this, but deep in my gut, my instincts that have kept me undeterred in my loyalty belong to the girl in my bed over anyone else.

If anyone could understand that, I know it’s the two men standing in front of me.

ChapterFive

FALLON

The weight is heavy, pulling me under. No matter how hard I fight, I can’t break free. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out, not even air. I gasp, shooting up. My surroundings are unfamiliar. Panic begins to set in.

“Hey.” Warm hands cup my face. I grab them and try to pull them away. I kick and slap, my feet tangled in something heavy, but oxygen fills my lungs. I blink, trying to see through the darkness, light slowly bleeding in, but I don’t stop hitting. “You’re safe.”

Safe.

The word pierces through the panic, and my vision begins to clear. Shadowy familiar eyes come into focus, reminding me where I am.

“Rich,” I whisper before flinging myself at him, my legs still trapped, but he pulls the blanket free, scooping me into his arms.

“I got you.” His hand runs up and down my back, trying to soothe me. My heart pounds in my chest, threatening to break free. “Breathe for me, doll face.” He starts to rock back and forth to calm me. I bury my face in his neck, breathing him in. The smell of him is so calming. It shouldn’t be. I don’t know this man, but he has this effect on me. Somehow I trust him more than I’ve ever trusted any other male in my life, and that’s saying a lot for the short amount of time I’ve known him.

“There you go,” he whispers, his voice gruff. “Just match your breaths with mine.” Rich keeps running one hand up and down my back, still rocking with me in his lap. I’m not sure how long we’re like that, but everything inside me starts to calm. “You said my name.” I swear I can hear a smile in his voice. I want to look, but embarrassment starts to settle in as everything starts to come back, the dream of drowning and being pulled under the water.

Oh God. I hit him in my moment of panic. My hands have a slight ache to them. I’ve never hit anything in my life. I jerk back to stare at him, and I see a reddening scratch mark on his face. I touch it, a small gasp leaving me.

“It’s okay.” He takes my hand and kisses the tip of my finger. I jerk it back from his hold. “Sorry.” Why is he saying sorry? I hurt him, after all. My eyes start to sting with tears. “Oh shit, no. Please, don’t cry.” Rich’s eyes grow wide.

A knock sounds at his door before it starts to open. I bury my face back into his neck. “I heard a scream,” a soft voice says.

“I think she had a nightmare, but now she’s about to cry.” Rich sounds panicked.

“What happened to your face?” the woman asks.

“I’m sorry!” I burst into tears. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Don’t cry. Jesus. Please,” Rich says. I keep my face pressed to his neck.

“You can’t order her not to cry. Not really how that works, Rich,” the woman says.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“I think you’re okay. She’s wrapped around you like a koala bear.”

“I’m sorry,” I mutter again.

“Dollface, there is nothing to be sorry for.” He starts running his hand up and down my back.

“I think I should go. Leaving this tray over here,” I hear the woman say before the door closes again. I relax a fraction.

“I’ll lock the door so people can’t just walk in. I have a nosy family that wants to be helpful,” Rich tells me.

“I’m sorry.” I can’t stop apologizing.

“Babe.” He lets out a sigh. “Nothing to be sorry for.”

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