Page 64 of The Rules

"Patty—cancel the rest of my meetings. Tonight. Everything."

Kath continued walking, her steps unsteady but propelled forward by Ben's unwavering guidance. The sounds of his movements filled her ear—footsteps, elevator, a door slamming shut, the deep rumble of the parking garage, and finally, the click of his car unlocking and the engine roaring to life.

She didn’t speak. Couldn’t. Her breath snagged in her throat as she focused on walking, staying in the pools of light cast by the streetlamps.

With each step, the panic that had gripped her loosened its hold, replaced by a sense of determination fueled by Ben's unwavering presence. She wasn't alone anymore—he wascoming for her, and somehow, that knowledge made her feel safe.

Katherine faltered, her steps stuttering against the pavement as the gravity of her situation pressed down on her shoulders like a physical weight. But Ben's voice—that low, steady timbre crackling through the phone—became her lifeline in the encroaching darkness, each word a gentle command that propelled her forward when her own courage threatened to abandon her. "Keep moving. I'm coming."

She kept walking. Street after street. The footsteps behind her seemed to echo louder with each passing moment, a constant reminder of the danger that stalked her through the night.

She bit down on her lip, the pressure sharp, steady—something to brace against as the trembling threatened to take over.

A thought clawed its way up from the pit of her fear. She’d never said it. Not to him. Not out loud. But it rose in her throat like a scream—raw, exposed, terrifying.

Don't say it. Don't—

"Ben… I—I need you." The words slipped out too fast.

Too honest. Too late.

A beat of silence followed, and for a terrifying moment, Kath wondered if she'd made a mistake, if she'd pushed too far.

Then, she heard it—a growl of tires, acceleration, breathless energy shifting into raw urgency. His voice dropped lower than it had ever been, grounded, dangerous, and utterly focused.

"I'm almost there."

And for one terrifying second, Kath believed him.

She believed that when he got there, everything would stop hurting. She let herself believe he’d get there in time. That his presence could silence the fear clawing at her chest.

Because in that moment, with Ben's voice in her ear and his promise echoing in her mind, she felt something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in along time—hope.

Kath forced herself to slow—just enough to glance over her shoulder.

The man was closer than she thought. Much closer.

Too close.

A sound tore from her throat—a broken, breathless sob, raw with panic. Her steps faltered, legs trembling beneath her. The street stretched endless ahead of her, every step heavier than the last.

No cover. No help. No time.

Then—movement.

Her breath caught. He was here.

Relief surged like a wave, overwhelming and instant.

That she wasn’t alone. Not anymore.

She was safe now. He’d never let anything happen to her.

Safety. Familiarity. Something solid. And suddenly, she didn’t want to be brave anymore.

Her fingers loosened around the phone. It slid into her bag like an afterthought. Still tethered to Ben. But the line didn’t matter. Not in that moment.

She moved before she thought.