Page 51 of Twisted Hearts

“What I could to let him know it was serious. Your stories are yours to tell, but that does mean Shannon should know as well.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re afraid a man might show up here andhurtyou. Don’t you think she should be aware, too?” Before she could say anything, because her face said she seriously didn’t like it, I held up a hand. “We’re getting pictures of your dad and the Johanssens. I want Malcolm and Shannon to have them in their office, in their store. Everyone should be alerted—”

“No!”

“Addi.”

“I don’t want them knowing. It’s so humiliating!”

She jumped off the couch and I followed, setting my wine glass down even while she clenched hers in her fist. This? This was her fear?

“You can’t be serious. You could be in danger. It’s not only my job to keep you safe, but I want to because I like you. Shannon and Malcolm have offered to help you knowing very little. They’re owed that, aren’t they?”

All the fight and fury dissipated, and she took a drink of her wine. “It’s embarrassing. To be my age, to have lived under someone’s expectations for so long…it makes me feel weak and stupid—”

“You’re not.” And I wouldn’t let her keep trashing herself. I went to her, curled my hands over her shoulders, and gave her a gentle shake to get her attention. “You’re beautiful. It took strength to leave and strength to ask for help. You might be embarrassed, but primarily, your safety is my concern. Don’t you think Shannon should know the situation?”

Her shoulders slumped beneath my hands, and I dropped them, brushing my palms down her shoulders and arms as I did. I wanted to touch her. Kiss her again.

Now wasn’t the time, but as I stepped back and retook my seat, she seemed to come around.

“You’re right,” she mumbled. “I get it. I just don’t like it.”

“I don’t blame you.”

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her as she took a small sip. I watched her throat working, the worry edging in at the corners of her eyes.

“Everything will be fine soon. Jaxon’s already down in Charleston digging, and he’s the best.”

She collapsed back into the couch and sighed. “I just keep wondering how this became my life.”

“I think a lot of people think that at some point in their lives, whether it’s for better or worse.”

“I’ve certainly found my worst.”

“Hey.” Leaning forward, I scooted closer. Without thinking too much about what I was doing, I slid my arm over her shoulders and pulled her to me—exactly like how I had wanted to do earlier in the day at Jaxon’s office. “It’s all right to feel however you want to feel about all of this.”

“I think what bothers me is that even though I’m worried about what’s going to happen, the threats they made to me…I’m more scared that I have no feelings whatsoever about what might happen to them once everything’s over.”

“They’ve hurt you. It’s okay to want them to hurt, too. It’s totally natural.”

I held her for a moment while she rolled the thought around in her mind, and when she seemed okay, I pulled back and took a drink, one long sip.

The silence was deafening. I could leave her to thoughts, or, after the stressful day she’d had, knowing there’d be more of them to come, I could give her a better ending.

Grabbing the remote, I flipped on the television.

“How about we forget about this shit for the night, turn on a movie, and ignore everything for a few hours?”

Not that I’d ignore it completely. I was still on alert, but that was natural, wouldn’t end any time soon, and she didn’t need to know that.

Slowly, she turned to me, a smile forming. “Can I choose the movie?”

I held out the remote for her. “Anything you want.”

“Anything?” Her tongue appeared, poking the corner of her mouth.

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