Page 18 of Rescued By Midnight

She sobs. “I have nothing.”

My heart fucking breaks. “You have me.”

For a long moment I hold her. I want to slay her dragons, soothe her fears, coax a smile from her beautiful face. Preferably immediately, all at once.

I don’t want to let her go, but because I have no idea what Brayden is doing, I need to get her in my car and away from here.

“Come on, Wonderland.” I help her into the passenger seat and make sure she’s buckled in. My hand lingers on her shoulder. I don’t want to stop touching her, like I need a constant reminder this isn’t a dream, she’s really here in front of me.

Thirteen months, I was out of my mind with worry. The world went on despite of it, though. I still had to eat, I had to sleep, I had to work. But always, beneath the surface, my heart was clawing at my chest, trying to get to her.

“I’m taking you to Cody’s and my place,” I say, peering over at her while we’re stopped at a light on Caro. “Is that okay? Or is there somewhere else you’d rather go?”

“I want to be with you.”

Fucking music to my ears. Someday, maybe I’ll hear her say those same words with a slightly different meaning behind them.

I’m well on my way to falling right back in love with her.

ALICE - NOW

Landon’s SUV smells like him—laundry detergent, fresh coffee, pancakes. Like a lazy Saturday morning. I’m still not sure what I’m doing here, but being enveloped in this scent calms my nerves.

For the first time since I ran out of Abe’s cabin, I think maybe everything will work out.

The drive passes quickly. I don’t know what to say, so I keep quiet. He said he’s taking me to his and Cody’s place. I’ve never been to their apartment before. We used to get brunch every couple of weeks, Before. Before Brayden put a stop to it, before our marriage, before Abe stole me from my life. But we always met at a restaurant, never at their place or mine. I don’t even know where they live.

When he drives up to a luxury apartment building and pulls into the parking garage beneath it, I try to hide my awe. I didn’t know they were loaded. All the other cars parked in here are high-end, with names I can’t pronounce.

Landon helps me out of his car, hovering as if he’s worried I’ll collapse at any moment. I want to act weaker than I am, because I liked it—too much—when he first hugged me. Impure. Maybe Brayden and Elder Wattle are onto something. I shouldn’t want another man’s hands on me so badly.

But oh, I crave Landon’s touch. Not in a sexual way. Well, maybe a little of that. But in an I’ve got you, you have me sort of way. Like how he hugged me and reassured me.

Luckily, Landon is oblivious to my thoughts. He punches in a code for the elevator, and then a second code when we get inside. “I’ll write these down for you later, so you can get in and out. The second code takes us directly to our apartment. Nobody else knows it—you’ll be safe here.”

I respond with a jerky nod, before adding, “Thanks,” because it seems like the polite, correct response.

The elevator arrives and we step into a small entryway. Cream walls, a dark wooden table for setting down keys or phones or wallets. I get my first real look at Landon since he bundled me into his car. He has on black sweatpants and a gray t-shirt. His muscles stretch the fabric and he seems taller for some reason—maybe because I’m standing closer to him than usual.

I slide off my cheap, too-tight shoes and follow Landon through a generous-sized living room and toward a hall. All the furniture, art, and design are understated in the sort of way that makes me think a lot of money is behind them.

This is hardly the den of sexual deviance that Brayden led me to believe I’d find if I kept hanging out with Landon and Cody. I don’t see ropes, whips, or chains. I don’t see bras dangling from the light fixtures, or used condoms littering the floor. This place is completely normal, comfortable, respectable.

Perfect and pure, unlike me.

Landon passes two doors before stopping at a third and opening it. “This is your room, for as long as you want it.”

Tears prick my eyes at his generosity. I severed our relationship three years ago with absolutely zero warning, and here he is, accepting me back into his life without a single reservation.

A plate of food sits on the nightstand, and some clothes rest at the foot of the bed.

“It looks like Cody set out some of my clothes for you,” he says. “We can throw yours in the wash if you want, and I’ll take you shopping tomorrow for whatever you need.”

My face heats. “Landon, I don’t—I don’t have any money right now. I mean, I know I have money, I just can’t get to it.”

“Hey.” He lifts his hands like he’s going to hold me, but then drops them. “It’s my treat, and I don’t want to hear of you paying me back. You’re my friend, and whatever you need, I’m getting for you.”

I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve any of it. “Where’s Cody?”