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“Get the fuck outta my way!” I snarl, pushing through the panicking crowd. And there she is, sitting in her chair with eyes wide and terror etched all over her beautiful face. She’s still screaming, and it feels like somebody has taken a rusty blade to my insides.

“Easy, darling,” I say, wrapping my arms around her.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say, scooping her in my arms. I can feel her trembling as I walk out of the bookshop, my heart beating like a fucking jackhammer. Every step we take feels like a battle—the crowd, the noise, the goddamn chaos that’s following us.

“Felix,” she mumbles into my neck.

“Darling, you’re safe now,” I try to reassure her as I open the car door, slide her inside, slam the door shut, and sprint to the driver’s side. I slide behind the wheel and start the engine. The roar of it is somehow comforting, drowning out the fucking madness we’re leaving behind.

As I drive, I try to piece together what could’ve set her off like that, but nothing comes to mind. I don’t know why anyone would want to hurt her, but I swear to fuck, if I find out who’s responsible, they’ll regret it.

“Just breathe, Aurora. We’ll deal with this shit,” I tell her as we pull up to the house. I climb out of the car and walk around to Aurora’s side, opening the door and scooping her into my arms. She’s so light, like a delicate flower, that I’m afraid I might break her if I squeeze too tight.

With careful movements, I lower Aurora onto the soft couch, her body trembling like a frightened bird. The fear in her eyes is palpable, and my heart clenches at the sight. I need to know what happened. I can’t protect her if I don’t have all the information and don’t know what I’m up against. My fingers clench into fists as I try to control the anger and frustration bubbling inside me.

“Darling, can you tell me what happened?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady and calm despite the rage boiling inside me.

A heavy silence hangs in the air as she stares blankly at the wall, her eyes searching for some hidden meaning within its surface. I sit beside her, my hand reaching out and brushing against hers in a small gesture of comfort. After what feels like an eternity, her lips part, and she speaks, her voice trembling with fear.

“I saw one of the kidnappers at the signing,” she says, her words shaky and uncertain. The memory of their encounter causes a visible shiver to run through her body.

Fuck. My fists clench, and I feel my nails dig into mypalms. Just the thought of that motherfucker approaching her makes me want to rip his head off.

“Did he say anything? Threaten you?” I demand, trying to gather as much info as possible.

“Nothing specific,” she mumbles, still gazing at the wall. “Asked where I got the story from, and then told me he would see me soon and that I’m still his.”

“Fuck him,” I growl out, anger filling every cell in my body. “Spike needs to find out who this bastard is now. I’m gonna hunt him down, nail him to my wall, and take my sweet fucking time killing him.”

“Please, Felix,” she whispers, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t let him get me again.”

Her body trembles in my arms. “Never, darling. I swear on my life, he’ll never lay a finger on you again.” I pull her close, feeling her heart race against mine and hold her tightly as she sobs into my chest. “You’re safe with me, Aurora. Always.” My words are laced with determination and a fierce protectiveness for the woman in my arms.

As I look down at her tear-streaked face, something inside me explodes. This fucker who hurt her will pay for what he’s done. I can feel a simmering rage building within me. He won’t know what hit him when I’m through with him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Aurora Henry

My head throbs and I’m drowning in darkness. My eyelids flutter open, but all I see is a haze. I try to focus on the room’s details around me, but it’s like trying to catch smoke with my fingers.

“Here, eat,” Felix’s voice cuts through the fog. He’s holding a spoonful of soup, urging me to take it. I part my lips, and he shoves the spoon into my mouth. The taste is bland, but I swallow it, not caring about anything anymore. My throat burns from days of disuse, but I don’t complain.

“Good girl,” he says, his dark eyes watching me like a hawk. As he moves, his tattoos seem to writhe and slither like they’re alive.

The days since my book signing have been a blur. I’ve been curled up in bed, drifting in and out of sleep, barely registering anything around me. And Felix has been there the whole time, feeding and caring for me. It’s weirdly tender, considering who he is.

“Come on, one more bite,” he urges, holding out anotherspoonful of soup. I sigh, opening my mouth again. At least he hasn’t tried to do anything else to me while I’ve been like this, so small mercies, I guess.

“Enough,” I croak, pushing his hand away when he tries to bring the spoon to my lips again. “I’m not hungry.”

“Darling, you need to keep your strength up,” he murmurs, setting the bowl aside. “I’m here for you, no matter what. But you need to fight too.”

“Fight?” I chuckle darkly, the sound catching in my throat. “What’s the point?”

“Because I love you,” he says, his voice raw and vulnerable. But it only makes me angrier. He’s everywhere, consuming me like a fire until there’s nothing left but ashes.

“Fuck it,”I mutter, forcing myself out of bed on the fourth day. My body aches, and my head is pounding, but I can’t stand another second of lying in this goddamn room. Felix watches me closely as I pee, his dark eyes never leaving me. I hate how he hovers over me like I’m some fragile porcelain doll that’ll shatter if he looks away.