Page 22 of Rescuing Nathaniel

This man was responsible for everything she’d been through. He’d spotted her, chosen her to be the next victim of the ring, and then stolen her away from her life and the people who loved her.

Without thinking through the consequences, Nathaniel pounced.

The man lay dead at his feet from a broken neck before he even processed what he was doing.

It would have been smarter for Nathaniel to wait it out, hope the man didn't see Ava, and then headed back to join his team. But waiting could have given the man time to spot Ava’s hiding place and he couldn’t let that happen. Better to have him dead and no longer able to tell anyone anything than risk a whole bunch of those men converging on this area.

Still, he had to get moving quickly now. Soon the man’s friends would realize he was missing and come looking for him. What had drawn the man back, he had no idea, but he knew Ava hadn't made a noise, if she had, he would have heard her.

Reaching into the leaves, he scooped Ava up. Her pretty blue eyes were wide with fear as she looked up at him.

“You killed him.”

The way she said it made it difficult to tell if she was afraid of him for killing, although he couldn’t imagine why she would be, she knew who the man was and what was at stake for them, but still his heart clenched at the thought that she might see him for the monster he’d always been afraid lurked beneath his surface. The monster that grew from his DNA, the monster he couldn’t help but fear his harsh upbringing had nurtured. The monster that on his bad days he worried he might one day turn into.

“Thank you.”

When Ava’s lips brushed across his cheek, that monster retreated, washed away by a soothing balm.

Ava wasn't afraid of him.

She didn't see him as a monster.

Although maybe that was worse. If she didn't see the real him, she wouldn't know what a danger he could be to her.

Clutching her against his chest, Nathaniel ran, wishing with all his heart that it was as easy to outrun the monster who lived inside him as it was to run from the one he’d left dead on the jungle floor.

CHAPTER6

March 2nd

2:43 P.M.

It was onlywhen the world seemed to be spinning around her so fast that she felt like she was about to throw up, that Ava conceded defeat.

“Nathaniel?”

As soon as she said his name he was there, right at her side, sliding an arm around her waist as though he already sensed what she needed.

“You ready to take a break?” There was a slight hint of reproach in his voice, and she knew it was because he’d already told her several times that she was pushing herself too hard and they needed to take more regular and longer breaks.

But they couldn’t do that.

Cigarette and mothball man had come back. She had no idea why, she hadn't made a sound, and it was clear he hadn't known anything about Nathaniel. One moment she’d been hiding in the leaves, counting the seconds and hoping Nathaniel returned quickly, and the next, she’d looked over to see the man from her nightmares standing right there.

At first, she wasn't sure if he’d seen her, but he didn't move any closer to her hiding spot, and it looked like he was searching around. As though he knew she was close but not where exactly.

Then her avenging angel was there.

Mere seconds after she’d spotted Nathaniel approaching, he’d killed the man who haunted her nightmares, and she couldn’t be more grateful for that.

Actually, she was grateful for everything Nathaniel had done for her, including the fact that he was there with her, a steady, sturdy presence that she could lean into when the world just wouldn't stop spinning.

“Yeah, I'm ready for a break,” she managed to whisper, and was so glad when he eased her down to the ground and propped her up against a tree. Although he’d carried her at first so they could put as much distance between themselves and the dead body he’d left behind as possible, as soon as he said he thought they were far enough away, she’d insisted on walking.

Not a plan Nathaniel had been happy about.

So they’d compromised. She’d walk for a while then he’d carry her, then she’d walk for a while, then he’d carry her. This was her third go walking, and honestly, she wasn't sure she had the stamina for a fourth.

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