Page 30 of Felix (4 Seats #2)

Chapter Thirty

Aurora Henry

“ F ine,” I spit out, slamming my fist on the table. “One more pop-up signing and that’s it. No more promoting this goddamn book.”

It isn’t fair. I only wrote the thing to exorcise my demons, but of course, it had to go and become my biggest hit and best-selling book. Figures.

“Death and destruction really do sell,” I mutter under my breath, trying to make sense of it all. It’s been two days since I watched Felix beat a man’s head in, little pieces of brain stuck to his knuckles like sick confetti. And yet, I don’t feel scared of it. Why?

“Darling, are you sure about this?” Felix’s deep voice rumbles next to me, his dark eyes filled with concern. The tattoos on his arms flex as he leans in closer, and I can’t help but trace the scar at the base of his throat with my eyes.

“Y-yeah,” I stammer, trying to regain my composure. “I gotta do it. Just one more time, then I’m done with the book. ”

“Alright,” he agrees, a hint of reluctance in his tone.

I sigh, feeling a strange mix of comfort and uneasiness. His love for violence and control scares me, but at the same time, I know he’s obsessed with protecting me from harm.

“Fuck this suit,” I mutter under my breath as I adjust the tight collar around my neck. The pantsuit is suffocating, constricting me like a damn snake. My fingers fumble with the buttons, cursing myself for agreeing to this bullshit signing.

“Darling, do you need help?” Felix’s voice is low and seductive, his hands hovering near my waist.

“Thanks, but no,” I snap, not wanting to show any weakness. “Can you drive me to the damn thing?”

“Of course,” he replies, unfazed by my harsh tone. He knows I’m tense and anxious about the book signing.

I haven’t driven since I was nineteen. Fucking city life makes it easier to catch trains and buses rather than deal with the hellish traffic.

Now, I have to rely on Felix or taxis to get around.

His place is twenty minutes from the city, close enough but far enough to give some semblance of privacy.

“Let’s go then.” I grab my purse and shove my phone into my blazer’s pocket

“Sure thing, darling.” Felix smirks, opening the door for me. I slide into the passenger seat, hating how good it feels to let someone else take control.

“Drive fast, will you? I wanna get this shit over with.” I sigh, leaning back in the seat as Felix starts the engine. His fingers grip the wheel with ease.

“Whatever you want, Aurora,” he says, pressing down on the gas pedal. The car lurches forward, and I can feel the engine’s power humming beneath me.

“Shit,” I whisper, feeling both excited and terrified by the speed. Felix glances at me, his dark eyes probing my thoughts.

“Are you scared?” he asks, his voice barely audible over the engine’s roar.

“Of you? Hell no.” I smirk, trying to play it cool. But this book signing, hell yes, leaving it unsaid.

“Good,” he replies, a wicked grin on his face. “Because I’ll always be here for you whether you like it or not.”

“Thanks, Felix,” I say, trying to sound grateful but knowing his presence is both a blessing and a curse. His obsession with protecting me is a double-edged sword, one that could easily cut me if I’m not careful.

The moment I exit the car, Felix’s eyes linger on me, dark and possessive. “You sure you don’t want me to come in?” he asks, concern etched into his features.

“Positive,” I insist, swallowing my anxiety. “It’ll take hours, and you’ve got work.”

“Alright. I’ll be back when I’m done with my drop-offs. I’ll wait for you in the car.” He leans out, planting a rough kiss on my lips that leaves me breathless.

“Thanks, Felix,” I whisper. With a deep breath, I force myself to walk into the bookstore.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter under my breath as I settle behind the signing table. There’s already a line snaking its way out the door. For four goddamn hours, I scribble my name onto page after page, each one a reminder of the darkness that birthed my bestselling book .

“Love your work,” one fan gushes while I sign their copy. I manage a tight smile, stifling the urge to tell them how fucked up they are for finding pleasure in my pain.

“Thanks,” I mutter, fighting against the suffocating feeling that threatens to overwhelm me. Four hours might as well be an eternity, and I just want it over.

Is it time to go yet? I’m desperate to escape, to crawl back into the safety of Felix’s arms, even though he terrifies me.

But there’s something intoxicating about him, something that keeps me tethered to his side.

Maybe it’s how he protects me like I’m his prized possession or the raw power that pulses beneath his skin. It’s hard to say.

My heart is hammering in my chest as I look up at one of the last few lingerers. A tall, slender man with brown hair locks eyes with me, those familiar green orbs piercing through me. He places my book down, and his voice sends shivers down my spine.

“Where’d you get the story from?” he asks, a sickly sweet smile on his face. The familiarity of his voice makes my skin crawl, but I can’t place it.

“From… my own experiences,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. His eyes bore into me, and my mind races, trying to figure out why this man seems so fucking familiar.

I sign the book, and as I hand it over, his hand touches mine. I shiver, feeling like a thousand tiny needles are pricking my skin. This man scares me.

“See you soon,” he whispers, leaning close to my ear. “You’re still mine.” He turns, walking away like he just dropped a fucking bomb on me. My body freezes, terror clenching my throat. I know him. I know that voice. He was one of the men who kidnapped me all those years ago.

I scream, my voice raw and desperate. Tears blur my vision as panic overwhelms me. But then, strong tattooed arms wrap around me, pulling me into a solid chest. I smell cedar and old blood, and something in me relaxes, even though I know I shouldn’t.

“Easy, darling, easy,” Felix murmurs into my hair, his presence a strange comfort amidst the chaos in my head.

My head snaps up from Felix’s chest, and I see the shock on everyone’s face around me. My publicist’s mouth is hanging open like she has never seen a full-blown panic attack before.

“Let’s get outta here, darling,” Felix says, scooping me up into his arms as easy as lifting a damn pillow. He strides out of the shop with me cradled against him, and nobody even tries to stop us.

“Felix,” I mumble into his neck, breathing in that familiar cedar and blood scent. It’s fucked up, but it’s what grounds me right now.

“Darling, you’re safe now,” he reassures me as he opens the car door, sliding me inside.

As we drive home, tears pour down my face, unstoppable. I want to tell Felix everything about the man who came back from my past just to fuck with me, but I can’t find the words. They cling to my throat like a goddamn noose.

“Hey,” Felix says softly, glancing over at me. “Just breathe, Aurora. We’ll deal with this shit.”

I nod, trying to steady my breathing, but it feels like I’m drowning all over again. The world outside the car window blurs, and all I can think about is how that sick bastard is still out there, promising to come for me. And I know, deep down, that this fight is far from over.