Now it was different. Now there was no guarantee that I wouldn’t be kidnapped by another psychopath, taken to some horrible place in the forest and never allowed to return.
I felt Aiden press a kiss to my cheek before he pulled away. I blinked rapidly, trying desperately to prevent tears from falling. His gaze was soft, concerned, but also filled with determination. His eyes told me that he wanted to protect me, but it was more than that. For the past several years, he had protected me from harm, whether it be through violence, drugs, r**e, or torture. He cared for me. Loved me. And now he’s willing to take those precautions once again, to save me from becoming something I despise so much.
“I’ve got to protect her,” Aiden muttered under his breath. He glanced at me briefly before focusin
