Cade digs his fingers in harder. “I will kill you. Much slower and much more painful than this. And I will enjoy every second. Remember that when you wake up.”
Then, Austin’s body slumps into Cade’s hand. And a second later, he releases him, and Austin crumples with his back against the wall and neck bent forward.
“What in the fuck happened?” Keanu’s hand is on his gun as he runs in, and his eyes fall to the pile of trash on the floor.
But Cade doesn’t answer. He’s already running to Stella and scooping her into his arms. “Just breathe, Stella. Just breathe. Just like that. Good girl.”
He carries her out of the room without a word, and I know they won’t be back tonight. He’s going to take her far away from this, fromhim. Brooke follows them out.
Becca.
I don’t need to turn around and run to her. She’s already by my side. And she does something I do not expect. Which is exactly what I should’ve expected.
“This is for Stella.” She spits out and pulls back, and kicks him across the face so hard that his face bounces off the floor.
That totally should not have turned me on.
“Keanu, take care of this,” I order and place my hands on Becca’s hips, lifting her up in one swift movement.
She instantly wraps her legs around my waist. And for once, she doesn’t demand to know exactly what I’m doing.
“Come on, love. Let’s go to bed,” I say softly into her hair.
THIRTY
Becca
Shock is still coursing through me as Cal lowers me onto my bed.
Holy shit.
My heart is pounding out of my chest, and I can’t get my thoughts out fast enough. “I can’t believe that just happened. I can’t believe he just showed up like that and kicked my fucking door in! Oh my God, is Stella even okay? That had to be so horrible for her. Are you okay? Is Cade—”
Warm hands grab my face and guide me up until soft lips stop the gibberish falling from my mouth. Cal kisses me gently, his lips rolling with my own.
He pulls away, resting his forehead on mine. “Better?”
I slowly breathe in through my nose to calm my heart. “Yes, very.”
“Good.” His lips find my own for a brief second before pulling away—again.“Ready for bed?”
“Very.”
The day flashes before my eyes. I feel like today was the longest best-and-worst day ever. I nod my head and head to my closet to change.
I still can’t believe that Cal cleaned up my house, he cleaned away everything I could never bear to look at. Never in a million years would I have expected that to have been my surprise.
Admittedly, at first, I was mad. Furious that he would dare touch a single piece of shattered glass or splintered wood in my parents’ house. But when I managed enough courage to walk into my father’s office—the same office where I had found his limp, cold body the day he took his own life—I only felt one thing. Thankful.
Thankful that I would never have to look at the splatters of his dried blood in person again. Thankful that I have someone who cares enough to look at the horror that lives in my mind and makes sure I never have to see it again.
Grabbing the PJs closest to me, I slide the navy-blue slip over my head.
Thanks to Cal, I know exactly what I’m going to do with the house. I’ve even made a decision on what to do with my own living situation. I think it’s high time I get a real home. One to fill with too many decorative pillows, photos of my past and present, and eventually, one to come home to with Cal.
Tossing my bra and panties on the ground, I shut the light off and head back into the bedroom. The lights are already off, the TV is playing music, and Cal is under the covers with an arm propping his head up.
He smirks. “I think that’s my favorite one yet.”
