Page 72 of Unmasking Her Shadow

She’s safe. I have her.

When we get home, I make sure she’s comfortable in the recliner with a drink and a blanket before I get started on dinner. A shower will have to wait. I need to make sure she eats something before she falls asleep. I can bathe her while she’s passed out, but I cannot feed her. My eyes continuously dart to where she’s sitting. I can’t help it.

She’s home and she’s safe.

I know better than most that this night could have ended in tragedy. Even though it didn’t, it’s still a nightmare that is going to taunt me. That life is fleeting and can change in the blink of an eye. We haven’t had enough time together yet. Although forever together still wouldn’t be enough. I need her for this life and for all eternity. And the thought of even having to survive one moment without her is terrifying.

Ryker assembles the baked potatoes, and I plate a large T-bone steak beside each one.

“I need another plate,” I tell him, and he looks at me funny when he sees the fourth steak, but hands me one anyway.

I cut up Sam’s steak for her, and when she see’s me doing the same to the extra one she chuckles, “What are you doing?”

“Cutting Nyx’s steak up for her.”

“You cooked one just for her,” she gushes.

“She deserves far more than a steak, but it’s the least I can do.”

I don’t even scrape it into her bowl. Instead, I place the plate on the ground next to the dinner table so she can eat with us. My food is cold by the time I finish cutting both of their steaks into small pieces, but it’s okay. My girls needed to eat first. Before I can put my fork down to help Sam when she struggles, Ryker beats me to it, scraping her potato into a pile to make it easier for her to scoop it. If she had let me, I would have fed her. She grumbles, but he threatens to feed her himself, so she relents.

“The captain is stopping by in a few minutes to get her statement,” Ryker announces after his phone rings and my stomach churns. We haven’t discussed everything yet. I was waiting until I had her fed and bathed and snuggled up next to me before she told me. So I could hold her. But he needs to get information while it’s all still fresh in her mind.

Nyx alerts us of his presence before he knocks on the door.

“Be nice to this one,” I warn her.

My hand rests on Sam’s thigh as I sit next to her on the couch, letting her know I’m here. She recounts the entire night, starting from the moment he ambushed her in the parking lot until Nyx pulled him away from her. It’s incredible how well she’s holding it together while it feels like there’s a violent storm thrashing inside of me. She confirms what Chloe suspected. He was responsible for the missing women. Now it’s just locating the bodies. I never imagined such a vicious monster lived within him, or I would have ended his existence the moment I had him within my grasp.

Pike and the other officers he brought with him stay in the living room with Ryker talking while I take Sam to the bathroom. Once the door clicks shut behind us, I wrap my arms around her. Burying my face into the crook of her neck, I breathe her in. Not her scent, but her strength.

“Come on, fierce little wolf, let’s get you cleaned up.”

I make sure the water is warm before helping her undress and then myself.

“Hold your arms up out of the water and I’ll wash you.” She can’t get her bandages wet, so this shower is all on me.

“I didn’t tell Pike everything.”

My body stills at her confession, the sudsy washcloth hovering over her stomach. Swallowing hard, I continue washing her, dreading what is about to come out of her mouth.

“He found me because of the 911 call I made when I found his finger.”

Fuck, this is all my fault.

“He was there in the woods when you took your mask off for the first time and said he got it on video. I was his ultimate endgame, but he wanted to make you suffer too. He said if I stayed quiet, he wouldn’t show the police the video and pin the murder on you. It was all for entertainment.”

“I’m so fucking sorry, pup. I should never have gone after him just to keep up my ruse with you. My selfishness got you hurt and almost killed. There’s no way I could ever make it up to you, but I’m going to try.” I kneel, sliding the washcloth up and down her legs and in between her thighs. “Spread your legs a little more.” I keep the touch innocent. Cleaning every inch of her body.

“If this never happened, he would still be out there on a raping, murdering spree. We saved more lives tonight that what we know.”

“Don’t try turning this night into something good.”

“Ki—”

“Don’t.”

I’d sacrifice every person on the planet to keep her safe. And that’s the difference between us. She would give up herself to save another. And I wouldn’t let that happen. Let the world parish. I just need her.