Page 22 of Save Us

Once I check in on Lay quickly, I'm going to drive around the area and see if there's anything I can find to link back to this fucker. He can’t be moving around without leaving some sort of trace behind. I’m not a former cop like Rhys is, but I quite frankly don’t give a fuck. All I need is determination to find him and the abundance of pure rage inside of me to fuel my search.

The drive over is a blur of turns, red lights, and distracted thoughts. To keep myself from being talked out of coming, I opted not to call Lay on the way over. I need to keep it as calm and casual as I can or Lay will catch on faster than a cheetah catching their prey. She's insanely observant, something that's never been an issue before this.

Pulling into the parking lot of the coffee shop, I park and shake my hands out to release some of the tension. Fuck, I feel like I'm about to betray her. It's not as if I'm going to see another woman, but the guilt riding me makes it feel as if I am. I need to squash it and fast.

The walk up to the brewery building is ominous at best. From the outside, besides the police cars in the parking lot, you can't tell much of anything has happened. I know inside has to be a different case, though.

Walking into the remnants of the bar, I clench my fists at my sides as my suspicions are confirmed. The place is indeed fucking trashed. The newly put up drywall is smashed and smeared in red paint. The boxes of flooring that Lay spent hours agonizing over are broken and strewn all over the place. You would think some teenagers decided to throw a party and go crazy with the vandalism with the state of this place. The only shining sign it's not teenagers is the red painted note on the plus wood flooring.

You can't run. You can't hide. Your death is only a matter of time.

-J

The fury that sparks from his message stops me in my tracks, causing me to stare at it, memorizing each threatening word. He left this message for my woman. This psychotic fucker keeps threatening my fucking woman with death and other dispicable shit. I don’t know how Rhys and Adam see this stuff and just trust in the police to get him. Especially as this is the second fucking time he’s been after her. How much faith can they have in the system? Mine faith is at zero.

“Hudson?” Lay calls out behind me in confusion.

Blinking away some of the rage, I turn to see my girl walking up to me with Ashe on her heels. “Hey, Sweetheart. I know you said not to bother coming, but I wanted to stop in to check on you before I head to Mom’s.”

Lay closes her beautiful grey eyes with a sigh. Pulling her into my arms, I hold her tightly against me, wanting so badly to erase everything that has to do with Kevin.

“I’ve been better,” she says, leaning into my chest and placing her hands on my waist. The baby bump keeps us from snuggling any closer while standing up. “I’m more tired than anything. I’m tired physically, but also mentally and emotionally. I just want this whole mess with Kevin behind us.”

“I want it to be over, too. I want our family safe,” I confess, kissing the top of her head and squeezing my eyes shut.

Lay sniffles against my chest, breaking my heart even more. “Why won’t he leave me alone? Why is he still so obsessed with my death? It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Because he’s fucking pyschotic,” I growl angrily. My sudden display of anger surprises Lay, causing her to jump and pull back from me. Guilt swarms me as I look into her confused, slightly uncomfortable face. “I’m sorry, Lay. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“That’s okay,” Lay murmurs, grabbing both of my hands in hers. “It was less fear and more surprise. I just wasn’t expecting such an angry tone from you. I know this is hard on all of us. Please be honest with me, are you okay?"

Breathing out deeply, I take my hands back from Lay and run one through my hair. "I'm struggling a bit, but I'll be okay. I just need to get out of my own head for a while." Pausing for a moment to get my thoughts straight, I decide a bit more honesty is in order. "I want so badly to keep you safe and having all of these threats be out of my control is hard. I need to protect you and the babies, I just haven't figured out how yet."

"Oh, Hudson," Lay whispers, reaching out to stroke the scruff on my cheek. "I know how badly you wish to keep us safe. Nothing in life is without risk, though. We're all doing the best we can, yourself included. With you by my side, I know we're going to come out of this safe and sound."

"Thanks, Lay. I should be comforting you and yet here you are, comforting me." I laugh awkwardly, the sound gruff and without humor. "Do you need anything before I head out?"

"A kiss?" Lay bats her eyes sweetly.

"Always for you," I murmur deeply, leaning in to press my lips against hers. She softens against me, seeking comfort and solace in our kiss. It ends too soon for both of us, but considering where we are, it's for the best.

“Drive safe, Big Guy,” Lay says, stepping back from me with a smile. “Tell your mom I say hello.”

“Will do, Lay. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I can see the effort she's putting in to look calm and unaffected by it all for my sake. It would work on someone who's never been close enough to understand her on an intimate level. Not for me, though. Those beautiful grey eyes can't hide the pain and fear swimming in the depths of them. Not when I've seen every range of emotion dance through her eyes before.

Walking away from her, in the midst of a major lie, feels like swallowing nails. Lay needs to be able to trust all of us, but she needs to stay alive first. I’m doing the right thing. I am. My girl is not okay and I intend to change that. Her fear is my fear, her pain is my pain. I will erase the threat to ease those burdens from her. It's the only way.

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Alayna

Myeyesconstantlyflickaround, the feeling of being watched strong since last week at the destroyed bar. I don't know if the feeling is because I now know for sure he's unraveling his devious plan again, or if it's because he's stalking my every move.

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