I collapsed on top of him, attempting to catch my breath. His arms wrapped around my back and he placed a kiss on my forehead.
“My baby.” His voice was low and gentle, breaking through the walls I’d put in place to protect him. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Nothing.”
A whimper caught in my throat, and I moved off him.
Confusion twisted his expression. “Ten, what did I say?”
My feet landed on the soft carpet of the bedroom and I made a mad dash to the bathroom, closing the door behind me before I completely fell apart. Covering my mouth in order to silence my sob, I turned on the shower and stepped under the spray of water before it even had time to warm up. I sank onto the seat, curled into a ball, and wished I could go back in time and change the fact that Layne had shown up in my life again. Loving him would kill him. I would fuck something up and Jack would kill him. I couldn’t live with that.
Sobs racked me under the lukewarm water as I searched every corner of my brain for a plan to keep the people I loved safe from an evil monster. But I wasn’t sure how. Jack was smart, strong, and had already stepped into my life without me even realizing it. I didn’t know how long he had been watching me and following my every move.
“Ten,” Layne said softly before opening the shower door.
I shook my head, my wet hair clinging to my face. “Don’t.” I held up my hands in a feeble attempt to block him, but he scooped me up and held me anyway.
“I can’t lose you,” I said, sobbing. “I can’t.” I hiccupped as I placed my palm against his cheek. “You’re the air I breathe. You gave me life when I didn’t even think it was possible. And now …” I curled up against him and buried my face in his neck.
“Babe, what do you mean? I’m not going anywhere.”
I didn’t know how long we sat there, but eventually my tears ran dry and a numbness sank deep into my bones.
Layne turned off the water and stood with me in his arms. “I’ve got you. I’ve always got you,” he whispered. His soft words grazed my ear and pierced my heart.
I’d never had a guy dry me off before, but Layne took extra care with me. The soft plush towel dried every last tear and water droplet from my body.
“Let’s get you tucked in.” Layne wrapped me in the towel and guided me to bed. He turned the covers down then hurried to the dresser and grabbed some warm pajamas for me. I held up my arms like a small child while he dressed me, then he brushed and dried my hair with the dryer.
After he got me settled into bed, he placed a sweet kiss on my forehead and tucked the blankets under my chin. “I’ll be right back.”
Although the covers were warm, I shivered. How was I going to keep everyone safe without sharing my terrifying secret? I was Jack Flannery’s daughter. But it went way deeper than that.
Minutes later, Layne strolled out of the bathroom in low-slung sweatpants.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked, joining me under the covers. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him.
My teeth stopped chattering almost immediately, not because I no longer felt cold, but because, at least at that moment, I felt safe.
Layne nuzzled my neck. “I know you talked to Franklin.”
There was no reason to beat around the bush. “He’s my father.”
Layne’s arms tightened around me. “This changes nothing, babe. I love you more today than I did yesterday. When I lost Nicole, I never dreamed I’d find tomorrow with someone.”
I rolled over on my other side and faced him. “I’m the daughter of a serial killer. His blood runs through my veins. You should be afraid of me.”
Layne propped up on his elbow, his expression growing intense. “Listen to me.” He cupped my chin with his fingers and tilted my head up. “I know who you are. I fell in love with you before we ever learned who your father was. If you’re scared, then hold on to that. I’ve loved you for a long time.”
I placed my hand on his and leaned into his touch. “Earlier tonight …” My words caught in my throat. “When I was in the bathroom before we came home …” I pulled away from him and sat up in bed. If I confessed to Layne that I had seen my father, his life would be in danger. Pulling my knees to my chest, I looked at him. He was so trusting, so gorgeous. This man in my bed had proven over and over again that he loved me. Maybe it was time that I took another step and told him the truth. “Matthew didn’t talk to me.”
Layne’s brows knitted together in confusion.
“I’m sorry. I lied to you.” I hopped out of bed, paced back and forth, and waited for his anger.
An exasperated and confused expression settled over him. “Why? I don’t understand. Did you want me to be jealous? Because I am. I’m man enough to admit it.”
I shook my head. “I was trying to protect you. He said if I told anyone, he’d kill you all and make me watch.” My heart rate skyrocketed. “Jack Flannery cornered me in the bathroom tonight.”
“Jesus.” Layne jumped out of bed and hurried over to me. “Did he hurt you? Are you all right?” He ran his hands over my face and shoulders, scanning me for any indication that the monster had hurt me.
“Oh God. What if I’ve done the wrong thing by telling you? Layne, I can’t lose you. I’d never forgive myself if he found out and killed you. Or Benji or Avery.” The pitch of my voice rose with each name. I wrung my hands together, my fear escalating. “I shouldn’t have told you. I should have just lied to you and let it go.”
His fingers tightened on my arms. “We’ll go to the FBI.”
I stumbled backward, horrified at the mere idea. “No. No, we can’t. I’ve already taken a huge risk by telling you, but I don’t know what to do. He’s going to come back.”
Layne sank down on the edge of the bed, staring at me. “What do you mean?”
“He said he doesn’t want to hurt me, and although he didn’t go into detail, I got the impression he wants to get to know me.”
“Hell no!” Layne’s shoulders slumped forward, realizing his voice was too loud.
“I have to leave.” I dropped to my knees in front of him, my eyes never leaving his as the truth crashed down around me. “If I’m not around, he won’t hurt you or anyone else I love.” I shot up off the floor and hurried to my dresser. “I can’t tell you where I’m going. Don’t look for me and don’t come after me.” I tossed my clothes on the bed, then flung the closet door open and rifled around for something to put them in. I had some money saved up that would get me a few states away, but I would have to find a job soon, maybe even change my name again. I’d disappeared once—I could do it again. “That will work.” I crawled into the closet on my hands and knees and dragged out a medium-sized duffel bag.
Layne watched me, wide-eyed, while I hurried to the bathroom and grabbed my toiletries. I quickly shoved my belongings in the bag, then realized I was still in my pajamas. “Shit.” I shimmied out of them, added them to my other clothes, and pulled out a pair of jeans and a black sweatshirt.
“You can’t tell anyone why I left.” I slipped my tennis shoes on and hefted the bag on my shoulder. “This is it. We have to cut all communication.” My chest tightened as reality slapped me in the face again, but it didn’t matter. I would rather give Layne up and allow him to live a good life without me than attend his funeral.