Page 110 of I Don't Need Your Protection

“Please,” I beg. “Don’t hurt me.”

Another guy grabs my other arm and they lead me further into the forest. I try to thrash and free myself, but their grip is too strong.

“Help!” I yell. “Someone help me!”

The third guy chuckles. “No one can hear you, girlie.” His evil voice sends a shiver down my spine. Oh my gosh. I really am going to die tonight.

“Please, what can I do?” I beg for my life. “Is it money? My grandfather will pay you a thousand percent more than whoever hired you. Please let me go. I’m just a kid.”

They ignore me as they continue dragging me to wherever.

“Help! Someone help me!”

“Shut her up,” one of the guys orders another.

As he slams his hand over my mouth, I bite his finger. The guy I bit curses under his breath.

“Help!”

But I know no one is coming to save me. Not Caleb. Not the security guards. No one.

Suddenly, one of the guys, the one not holding me, is slammed into a tree. His body goes limp on the ground. One of the guys clutching me lets go as he fights whoever attacked his friend. The last guy releases me as well to fight their attacker.

Squinting through the darkness, I take in the tall body and large muscles.

Caleb.

He came. He’s here for me.

He’s fighting both guys at once. They’re nearly as buff as him and he’s doing crazy moves to take them down. It doesn’t look like he’s having an easy time. They punch just as hard as he’s punching them.

My eyes shoot to his face as I watch them pummel him. “Caleb,” I whisper, more tears entering my eyes. The thought of something happening to him…

He manages to knock out one guy and now it’s one versus one.

There are voices in the distance and then security guards swarm us. For a second, I think they’re on the other side, but some help Caleb while others dash off to search for more people who might be a threat.

One security guard takes hold of my shoulders. “Are you all right, miss?” he asks.

I don’t answer him, I just look at Caleb. He and the others have neutralized the enemy and Caleb drops to the ground, breathing heavily. He’s pretty banged up.

“Caleb!” I drop to his side. “You’re hurt.” I touch his face and he winces. “I’m so sorry.”

“Addie.” He places his hands on my cheeks. “You’re okay.” There’s so much relief in his voice that it makes my heart sing.

“We need backup!” someone calls from one of the security guard’s communication device.

Caleb waves at the guys. “I got Addie. You guys go.”

They nod and take off.

Caleb still has his hands on my face and he stares at me like he can’t believe I’m sitting right beside him in one piece.

“Addie, you’re okay,” he repeats. “You’re okay.” He strokes my cheek with his fingers.

“I was scared you abandoned me,” I whisper.

He shakes his head. “They ambushed me outside Sophie and Raven’s room. They caught me off guard and locked me in a supply closet. I managed to break down the door and ran to the forest. I was so scared. I thought something happened to you.”