Page 178 of On a Fault Line

“You don’t believe me?” Why doesn’t he believe me? “I saw him.”

“I just know he wasn’t there, Princess.”

“How do you know? Tell me.”

“Because when I was informed by Chris to come to the river to help you, I was paying Tanner a visit at the prison and was on my way back to the area.”

“Oh.” My mind races back through the nightmare. Was it truly a bad dream or was I remembering key information? “But…he was in the crowd. I saw him. He was watching me.”

“It wasn’t him,” Collins insists. “He can’t be in two places at once.”

“Yeah…”

“We looked through all the pictures and security footage. We also questioned everyone we could that was present that day. Nothing seemed out of place.”

“I’m going crazy. And I’m going to forever be plagued with the memory of that man.”

Collins hugs me to him, cradling me in his arms.

“Don’t you realize that you are so much bigger than that one moment from your past? I get that it has changed the course of your life, seemingly forever. But you have another life still to live.” Collins fixes the stray pieces of hair behind my ears. “You have a second chance life where you can be strong and fierce and empowered with the knowledge that some people do suck. But finding the good ones will be easier for you now. Don’t treat your tragedy as new lenses in your vision. Treat it like a turning point, where you now can start living your best life—letting go of what happened to you in the past. There will be many more moments. Better ones. But don’t you want to be able to recognize them before they pass you by?”

“I do,” I say softly. But I don’t sound very convincing, even to my own ears. “What if Ican’tdo it?”

Collins rubs a hand down the back of his neck. “You know how those dark thoughts—the ones that stay buried deep within your soul—can come out when you are at your lowest and not your best? That was where I was after I got discharged from the military. I thought my entire life was over. Then Graham hired me to work security and gave me a purpose again. I proved myself to be loyal and an asset to him. But then you were drugged, and your brothers needed extra protection and someone to help them discover what happened to you.”

“So they shifted your responsibilities.”

“Yes. And I accepted the new position because you were going to be my redemption. It was fate in a way, and I wanted to be the deliverer of the karma meant to take down the entire drug operation. I couldn’t fight and win against those who drugged me and set me up in the military, but I could seek out justice for you. I will always want what is best for you, Princess. Always.”

He kisses me on the forehead, as I snuggle deeper into his warmth.

“What is best for me is you, Collins.”

“I’m starting to believe that as well.”

35

COLLINS

“The contract ends in five days,” Penny reminds me, as if I could somehow forget.

I’ve been dreading this day since the moment we signed the deal. I knew I’d catch feelings, and I hate myself for not being strong enough to resist this girl’s charm.

But Penelope Josephine Hoffman has burrowed herself into my heart, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it other than embrace the love she has to give to me.

And with doing that, I need to talk to her brothers. I owe them an explanation, but it has to wait. First, I need to clear this earth of Tanner. Maybe when he’s gone, they’ll be in a more relaxed state to even consider the possibility of me being with their sister.

“I don’t want you worrying about anything,” I tell her. “Just focus on taking care of yourself and going to your meetings with Margo. I’ll handle the rest.”

Penny looks at me with trepidation, my words losing their calming effect.

I know her worry is real, as it mirrors my own, but I can’t have her stressed and be able to concentrate on doing my job.

Hearing my phone go off, I rush to get it off the nightstand.

Every time it buzzes, I feel my heart flutter off rhythm, thinking it’s go time.

“Everything okay?” Penny asks, trying to look over my shoulder.

---