“…he said Neil knew where I was.”
“Hazel, I?—”
“I was the star witness at his trial!” I glance up, glaring because if I can be angry, it doesn’t hurt so much. “What better way to get back at all the people who landed him in prison than starting with me. He kidnapped me and assaulted me, planned on selling me to men who’d do the same! That monster is going to find me, and?—”
Easton yanks me into his arms again, not letting me say it, not letting me say the truth. “I won’t let him, Hazel. I swear to you. Iwillkeep you safe. I’ll doanythingto keep you safe.”
I want to believe him. I want to hear Easton’s words and be comforted, but everything feels like it’s spinning out of control, taking me down with it.
“I need you to breathe for me, okay?” He lifts my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Suck in a breath. That’s it. Nice and slow. Count to four. Then hold it, and let it go for six.”
I know these breathing exercises. My therapist in LA used them. It’s stupid, but I let Easton guide me through just taking breaths.
He must’ve learned this after his time in the military. God, what kinds of things did he see there?
“You’re doing really good, Hazel. But I need you here, in your body. Can you tell me five things you can see?”
My eyes well up, but this is good. I know this training, and I can use it.
“The floor. The coffee table. The TV.” Which is thankfully turned off right now. “My legs. And you. I can see you, Easton.”
“Yes, you can.” He nods, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Four things you can hear.”
“My breathing. The wind outside. Jade’s game upstairs. Your voice.”
His smile is a little wider now, and I lock onto it, grounding myself in his presence.
“Three things you can smell.”
“The bacon from before. The dish soap fragrance on my skin. Your aftershave.”
Easton is right here. Easton is right here, and he’s walking me through this. He’s here for me. Just like he said he would be.
“Two things you can feel.”
“The couch under me. Your hands on my shoulders.”
“One thing you can taste.”
I shortcircuit slightly, my eyes tumbling to the ground as I try to think of something. It’s not supposed to be that hard. It’s not supposed to be another stressor.
But then Easton’s hands move up to my face, and he pulls me close, planting a gentle kiss on my lips.
When I lean back, he gives me a hopeful smile, and I return it. “You. I can taste you.”
“Good job.” His hands rub up and down my arms again, and I take in a shaky but full breath. “We’re going to get through this together, okay? I’m right here. And you know what? I’m going to call the sheriff. I’m going to tell him about all this and insist he do something to help you.”
Nodding, I relax into the couch, grabbing a pillow from behind me and clutching it to my chest. Easton doesn’t go far. He stands right in front of me, pacing while he makes the call.
I hear him talking, but I don’t really pay attention to it. As much as he’s calmed me, my mind is still racing with what-ifs.
What if Easton can’t protect me? What if Neil is too much for him?
Easton might protect people for a living, but I can’t ask him to drop his other clients to help me. He’s already got so much on his plate, and there are people who need him.
And what about Jade?
She’s totally innocent in all this, and if something happened to her, I would never forgive myself.
