Page 61 of Your Worst Fear
Or was that simply worry?
I tore my hands through my hair after stepping away from her and faced the mess behind me.
Maybe love was knowing I couldn’t stand here with the knowledge that danger was about to burst through that door and take one of us from the other. And if it was, that had to be enough.
I grabbed her hand, deciding to deal with Tyler’s body later. Right now, I had to keep my girl safe.
Chapter 20
Grace
Henley steered me through the maze of hallways to exit the building. I tripped over my feet twice with the pace he set.
“You’re leaving the body there?” I asked, knowing it was a big risk.
He seemed too focused on the destination in mind to say a word back, but I was worried. Henley could go to prison if that body was found, and I’d lose him.
“Henley. Tyler’s?—”
He spun so fast, I fell back. He caught me by the arm and backed me to a wall, crowding my space. His hands caged me in. “Donotsay his name.” His breaths were heavy, chest rising and falling drastically with each one. “He means nothing to me. The implications, the blood staining that floor. None of it matters. But you… You are everything, Grace. So please, for the love of fucking God,pleasekeep up.”
I blinked, seeing something melt behind the steel defense he currently had up. Was that a confession? AnIlove youin his own words? I knew he had a bad past, but could it have made it this hard for him to listen to his heart? If it had, I could forgive him for the deflation I’d felt minutes ago when he’d not said it back.
I’d take it all back—the hate, the attempt to take his life—if only I’d have known.
It was hard not to feel like my heartstrings were being played with when the man I’d fallen for had knocked me out in an alley not too long ago. Justified? Yes. Confusing? Even more so.
I nodded. “Okay.”
His head mimicked my movement, like he was trying to convince himself this would all be okay if I simply listened to him. Unfortunately, I didn’t think it’d be that easy.
Intertwining his fingers with mine, we continued on our way. As we reached the exit, he slowed, keeping an eye on our surroundings. The building was so silent, every distant creak had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge.
As quietly as possible, he inched open the door, peering through the crack to survey outside. The coast must’ve been clear, because he led us outside and beelined for his truck. He opened the passenger door for me, and that’s when we heard it.
At least three cars were speeding up the road, unable to be seen through the thick fog. But the sound… It was as if an orchestra were playing a piece that only brought death.
Once my ass hit the seat, Henley slammed the door shut and ran around to his side. The truck started, making my heart pound faster. I could pretend the cars approaching weren’t driven by people with a hit on our heads, but I’d belying to myself. People only drove like that when they had an agenda. Theirs just so happened to be us.
Henley sped down the road, but we weren’t quick enough. In the rearview mirror, three cars lined up in a perfect row appeared, their headlights off. They seemed to speed up once we came into view through the mist. Henley pushed the truck harder, but I got the feeling we’d be no match for the sports cars.
“Put your seatbelt on,” Henley barked, eyes darting between the road and the rearview mirror.
In our rush, I hadn’t realized I’d forgotten it. I quickly buckled, gripping the strap like it was a lifeline.
“You know these roads, right?” I asked. With the denseness of the fog, it was hard to see more than thirty feet in front of us, if not less. All it’d take is one tree or a cliff and we’d be dead at this speed.
Henley’s hand reached over to squeeze my thigh. “Like the back of my hand. But these fuckers don’t.” He glanced over at me, and I envied how he was able to keep such a calm demeanor despite the situation at hand. Of course, he was stiff. On edge. But if he hadn’t been talking, I wouldn’t have thought this was anything more than a race between friends. “I’m going to keep you safe.”
I leaned my head back against the headrest, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment. I believed him, but it was hard to settle my nerves when my life seemed to be in everyone’s hands but my own.
“Ussafe,” I corrected, opening my eyes and resting my hand over his. I gripped it firmly. “You’re going to keep us safe.”
His jaw ticked. “If it comes down toit, Grace?—”
“You’re going to get us both out alive,” I interrupted, not allowing him to speak any other possibility into existence.
His hand gripped the wheel harder, but he didn’t try to tell me differently. I allowed myself a peek out the side mirror, and my stomach dropped.
