Page 46 of Erik's Redemption
God, she hadn’t had a headache like this in so long. It was an all-consuming pain, like a migraine. Even with her eyes closed, the light in the room hurt. She shifted her head, trying to ease the pain.
Suddenly, the light disappeared. There was the shuffle of movement around her, then that hand on her cheek again. So warm and familiar.
“I’m just gonna sit over there, Angel. Sleep. I’ll check your levels in an hour.”
Panic swelled in her chest that she was going to lose him again. That the darkness that had been a constant companion over the last week was going to return.
The warmth disappeared from her cheek, and immediately she reached out, trembling fingers wrapping around his wrist. “Don’t leave me!”
The strong beat of his pulse thrummed beneath her fingertips. He was so still and quiet, she almost wondered if she hadn’t said the words aloud.
“Please…” she whispered. “Hold me. I need you.”
The pulse beneath her fingertips beat faster. When his wrist disappeared, fear crawled up her throat. But then there was the rustle of clothing, followed by the bed dipping behind her.
The second he touched her, the second he held her against him, relief filled her. Finally, she allowed sleep to tug her under, because in Erik, she found safety.
CHAPTER 16
Hannah’s heart beat hard in her chest as she climbed through the bedroom window. Cool air brushed across her skin, the night quiet around her, apart from a few dogs down the street and some cars from the highway a mile away.
The second her feet hit the carpeted floor, a chill swept over her skin…at the sight of her old bedroom. At the memory of what had taken place here the last time she’d slept in the single bed.
A nausea she couldn’t stop rumbled in her belly, clawing at her throat, threatening to break free. She forced it down. She forced all memory and emotion to remain caged inside her and silent.
She had to be strong, at least until she found the bracelet. It had fallen off at some point that awful night, and she felt naked without it. Bare.
She just had to remind herself that there was nothing to be afraid of. Clarence was in jail, all the foster kids had been removed, and Robyn was probably passed out in the living room, an empty bottle of whiskey no doubt near her head. The woman rarely made it past six.
Quickly, she set her backpack on the floor, then hesitated. She rummaged through the bag before her fingers slid over the cool handle of the gun.
She shouldn’t need it, but having it close felt safe. She sat it on the bedside table and shuffled through the still crumpled sheets. It had been a week since the incident, yet nothing looked touched.
She pulled the bed apart looking for the bracelet. Where was it? It had been her mother’s—the only thing she owned from her. She had to find it!
When it wasn’t on the bed, panic tugged at her. Every second that ticked by had her belly feeling sicker. All she wanted to do was get out of this hellhole of a house.
She lowered to the floor, searching the carpet with her hands. The dread was just spidering through her limbs when she reached farther under the bed, her fingertip brushing on something small and hard.
Hope lit inside her. She reached just a bit farther, wrapping her fingers around the jewelry, then pulling it out. The second she saw it, tears pressed to her eyes. This last week had been a nightmare. The attack. The police. The questions. But having this bracelet back in her possession…she almost felt okay again.
She rose and carefully slipped the jewelry around her wrist before doing up the clasp. A hint of moonlight reflected off the bracelet.
She had it back. Everything would be okay.
She took a step toward the window, cringing when her foot hit the bedside table. The furniture rocked, and she lunged for the lamp, but she was too slow. It tumbled to its side. It didn’t break, but the thud was still loud in the quiet night.
Her heart thumped. It was fine. Robyn rarely woke after she passed out.
Hannah had just lifted the gun to slip it back into her bag when heavy footsteps sounded in the hall—footsteps that were too loud to be Robyn’s. Steps she’d recognize anywhere.
Fear stole her breath. She eyed the window but knew it was too late.
The door flew open, and there, standing in the entrance, was her very own monster. A man who’d dragged her through hell. A man who’d tried to do despicable things to her.
He frowned, his gaze brushing over her face, then her body. A slow smile curved his mouth, but there was nothing friendly about it. “Hello, Hannah. This is a nice surprise.”
That voice…so familiar. And so utterly terrifying.
