I did everything I said I would. I bought a few guns and they were strategically placed all around the house. I installed a security system and cameras, and last but not least, the panic room. Godrick said since it was a part of the house, for it to come out of company expenses, so the guys and I built it, and my perfect intern brought us coffee and sandwiches the entire time. She answered calls too, mailed invoices, and other things like that. I didn’t want to overwhelm her, but she did great. Abigail seemed to really like the job too, and a part of me knew she just liked to have something to do.
She had a degree in Business but didn’t remember a thing about it. She never had to work again if she didn’t want to. She could be my little intern forever, my sidekick when it came to building houses, and I’d be a happy man. I could have her close and given the circumstances, Godrick would approve.
I had some time off saved up, and I wondered if I should sweep her away somewhere new. We could sell this place and disappear, and the killer could never find her. When I told her that, she balked, saying she wasn’t going to run. She liked it here, and my sister was here, and the only way she was leaving was in a body bag.
Yeah, I didn’t laugh at that. It wasn’t funny.
Like right now, she wasn’t home yet from going shopping with Lucy. I sat by the door, shotgun in hand, waiting. The situation had consumed me. I became obsessed with protecting her and having her near me. I hated to let her out of my sight, but I could tell she needed to get away from me. She needed to breathe. I was suffocating her.
I couldn’t help it.
She had no idea what it was like to feel this heavy dooming weight on my chest, the fear of losing her. I loved her so fucking much, and I was scared out of my mind that the best thing that had ever happened to me, would die and no longer be a part of my life.
I barely slept.
I barely ate.
I needed it to be over.
We were no closer to finding the killer than the day Officer Cortez told us about it. He had been true to his word and sat outside in a cop car until he was relieved, and someone else took his place. The killer hadn’t been seen. For all we knew, he wasn’t even in this city, and I was losing my mind for no goddamn reason.
Would we have to live like this forever? I hoped not, but I would if it meant keeping her safe. Lucy’s car finally pulled into the driveway, and I pushed the chair back under the dining room table, set the shotgun in the corner, and laid on the couch to pretend to be asleep. I didn’t want her to think I was fussing over her and that I was resting like I told her I would be.
But didn’t.
I closed my eyes, which did feel really good to do, and the door opened, but it was too late. I was already sinking into a deep sleep, and nothing could wake me.
I wasn’t sure when I woke up, but it was dark out, and I had a blanket over me.
The house was quiet.
Just how long had I been asleep?
Abigail.
“Baby?” I called out for her, swinging my legs over the couch as I rubbed my eyes awake. “Baby? Abigail?” My heart pounded in my chest when she didn’t answer. I flung the blanket off and ran toward the bedroom where she usually was. She said it was the place that made her feel safe because she met me there.
My chest felt tight. I clutched my heart to try and calm down, but my worst fear, a bloody image flashed in my mind of her dead, her brown eyes unblinking as she stared at me. I gripped the sides of my hair and stumbled into the bathroom where the light was on, and the panic gripping haze faded when I saw her in the bathtub, headphones on, and eyes closed.
Jesus fucking Christ. She scared the shit out of me. I ran to her, dropped to my knees, and gathered her in my arms, not giving a fuck that I just got soaked, and bubbles were all over me.
“Logan? What’s going on? What’s wrong?” She shucked the headphones off and hugged me back.
“I woke up, and you didn’t answer me.” I held the back of her head with my hand and took a few deep breaths. I never wanted to feel that fear again.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to take a bath and relax. I didn’t wake you because you’ve been so stressed out. I only wanted you to rest.” Her wet palm laid on my cheek, and I leaned into it, like the lovestruck man that I was.
“I know,” I nodded.
“You have to stop this obsessing.”
“I can’t. I’m too afraid of losing you,” I admitted, staring into her deep brown eyes as they looked at me with sadness. “You don’t understand how much I love you,” I said. “You consume me, Abigail. You’re here,” I tapped my temple. “You’re here.” I placed her hand on my chest so she could feel the wild beat of my heart. “You don’t understand how much I love you. I can’t put it into words.”
“I do know because I feel it, Logan.”
I loved how she said my name. It was with more confidence. Her speech got better every day the more she spoke, but there were some days where I had to force the words out of her, and not having to do that would kill me. I loved taking care of her too much.
Emotions bubbled up in my chest, and everything I had been hiding the last few weeks threatened to spill out of me.