Page 150 of Nowhere to Hide

My Safety Locke.

I closed my eyes. “Please don’t do this.”

“Don’t ask me not to protect you, Priscilla. You can’t ask me that.”

“Protect me here.” I could hear the panic in my voice.

A few people turned to look at us, but I didn’t care. I only cared about keeping this man safe. Period.

“You’re protected here. That’s why I can go.” He cupped my face. “I couldn’t save Milligan.” His voice was raw. “I didn’t get to him in time.”

My eyes stung. The pain was still so raw inside of him. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I knew their wedding would trigger Alyssa’s ex-husband. Reynolds was unstable and his threats escalated the closer it got to the day of their wedding. Even if we were being paranoid, it was better to be safe than sorry. Milligan didn’t listen. He only had eyes for Alyssa and wanted to make the day perfect.”

I gripped his wrist. “Oh, God.”

“Reynolds killed her and left her for Milligan to find on their wedding night. While we were at the reception. Milligan went off in a rage. Alone.”

I covered his hand on my cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

“I couldn’t save either of them. I won’t let anyone take you from me, Cilla. I can’t find you in a pool of blood again.”

I curled my fingers around his, bringing it to my lap. “That won’t happen.”

“You’re right. It won’t happen because I’m ending this.” He stood, our fingers still joined.

I dragged him back before he could walk away from me. “Locke, please.”

“You’re safe here at the lab. Please, promise me you won’t go anywhere. Promise me you’ll stay safe.”

My eyes filled. “You come back to me, you hear me?” I stood and gripped the front of his T-shirt. “I can’t lose you. I just fucking found you.”

He grinned. The one that actually reached his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.” He lowered his mouth to mine.

The kiss was soft, and I could taste my tears on both of our lips.

He pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you, Cil.”

Then he walked away from me.

“You can’t say that and just leave!” I shouted.

He didn’t turn around. Just kept walking resolutely toward the four men dressed just like him. I didn’t recognize them, but the way they walked together told me they were people he trusted.

A hand found mine and I turned to see Nyx at my side. “He knows what he’s doing. You know he used to be an Army Ranger right?”

I shook my head. “He’s got Milligan in his head. That worries me.”

Nyx sighed. “He’s still carrying that guilt.”

“He told me.”

Nyx’s eyebrows rose. “Finally. We all blamed ourselves. A reception full of the most badass people I know, and Alyssa’s ex still found a way inside. Locke was the only one who was worried. We convinced him he was being paranoid.” She sighed. “We all have to live with that. But the old Locke has been around since you brought him back to us.”

“Bringing danger to your door, great trade-off.”

“Stop it.” She gripped my hand.