Page 39 of In the Light of Day

There is bedlam all around me and I'm given a hard shove by an unknown person. It's like I'm in a fever dream watching everything unfold around me as I scramble to stand up when a strong familiar set of arms embraces me only seconds later.

My hero coming to save me once again.

Chapter 31 - Ace

This is a bit of a surreal moment. One I never thought I'd be living in but as the minutes ticked by and nothing happened, my anxiety eased. The gut feeling I was having earlier must have been wrong. Everything is going better than expected and Nova's family is giving us a wide berth. Other than the intentional stares and obvious talking about us, nothing has happened. We have danced, spent time with Lizzy and gotten to know Philip's family. I never thought we would ever get to a place where we could comfortably be in the same room as Nova's Mother, but here we are.

As I move through the group of people hovering around the bar I know I have a smug look on my face as I wait in line. The man in front of me places his order when the barmaid gasps, bringing her hand to her face, looking past the man to the area I've just come from. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as the tendrils of irate screaming can be heard over the sound of the music playing. Quickly turning, one second is all I need to make sense of what I'm seeing. Nova is holding her cheek, surrounded by several people yelling at her as Phillips's family is pushed out of the way. They must have been waiting for me to leave her side, the sudden guilt I’m now feeling for leaving her exposed like that is making my chest ache.

I failed to do the one thing I said I was going to.

Protect her.

I roar, the pain of failing her and needing to protect her overflowing in a sound so pained people step away from me. Her cousin Thad snickers at whatever is being said as I push through the crowd starting to form around them. Pulling my beretta free, I've only managed to take two steps when the man standing next to Thad grabs onto her arm, a crazed look in his eye as her aunt raises her palm ready to strike ...again.

Standing almost a foot taller than the crowd around me has its benefits and I lift my gun above their heads, my aim strong and true, a welcome comfort as I pull the trigger.

The first screams ring out from the sound of my single gunshot. The crowd scrambling in panic, but I keep pushing through. Nova's eyes are unfocused and I can see she's disassociating. A shock to her system that has no doubt taken her right back to some of the trauma she's been trying to move on from.

Her aunt holds her hand in the air, or what's left of it. My bullet found its target. A small price to pay for touching my woman in hate.

No one touches what's mine.

No one touchesmy wife.

Her mother stands nearby screaming god knows what to whoever will listen, which no one is. Her father, as usual, is nowhere to be seen. Blood and chunks of flesh are spread around and my eyes meet those of the man who grabbed onto her, holding her tight ready for another strike. I take aim for a second time, prepared to inflict the same damage to the hand he dared to touch her with but he seems to sense what I'm about to do and before I can pull the trigger, he shoves Nova to the ground. My focus redirected as the crowd of people scramble around her. It feels like an eternity before I reach her, despite it only being seconds. Scooping her into my arms, I hold her tightly against my body, her small frame trembling into me as she repeats the wordsI am snow, I am snowover and over as she clenches her eyes tight.

Fuck.

I am irate, the sudden rage that takes over is all encompassing. Swinging my arm out, gun cocked, ready to kill every fucker that dared to hurt her.

“I WILL KILL ANYONE WHO TOUCHES MY WIFE,” I roar.

My gun moves between the several people who stand blocking the exit from us. I can see Lizzy crying in Phillip’s arms, his parents close by consoling them. I know I will need to make amends with them over the chaos I've caused but nothing will stand in the way of protecting Nova. Thad scrambles to pass an elderly couple, the man who was holding on to Nova close behind as they push their way through the kitchen door. In the dead of the night, they will receive a visit from me. What they started will not go unpunished.

Holding Nova tightly against me in one arm, she clasps my hand to her. Her fingers find the raised ridge of the scar across my hand while I continue to aim my weapon at anyone who gets in the way. We reach my truck and I get into the driver's seat with her still cradled against me. Bringing the engine to life, I fishtail out of the car park, away from all of the people who should bring love to her life but don't, and vow that we will never put ourselves in this position again.

Chapter 32 - Nova

I Will Rise - Steelfeather, Ashby?

The gentle rise and fall of Ace's breathing is so soothing it’s hypnotic. That, combined with the hum of the truck engine and I've almost forgotten how I've ended up in his lap to begin with.

“I’ll keep you safe.I promise I'll keep you safe,” he mumbles into the top of my head.

Taking a peek, I see the edge of the lake we stayed at last night twinkling in the moonlight. We’re almost back and I’m relieved that we decided to stay far from the venue when looking into accommodation.

Our tiny room gives me comfort as we pull into the same parking spot we left only hours earlier. Ace turns off the truck and we sit in silence for several minutes. His chest rises and I can feel his mouth open as if he's going to say something but nothing comes out. In the end, I nuzzle into his chest, finding solace in his clean linen smell.

“We should go inside. Get ready for bed,” I say, hoping to ignore the elephant in the room just a little bit longer.

“Whenever you’re ready. I had some food delivered while we were driving.”

His words are soft but I can still hear the worry laced within them. How can so many years of work, trying to overcome and better myself, all but disappear as soon as I'm confronted by my past again?

I thought I was better than this.

Tilting my head up I kiss the side of Ace's jaw, his eyes seeking mine in the moonlight. This might just be one of the few times the darkness doesn't bother me, because, for the first time, I'm starting to realise the monsters weren't lurking in the dark. They were out there all along, but it's up to me to surround myself with those that bring me joy and happiness ...and love.

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