Page 39 of Keeping Kara

“You don’t ever have to feel as if you have to entertain me. We’re friends, right?”

She nodded.

“Friends don’t care if they sit in the same room for hours and don’t say a word. We’re happy simply being in the same space together. Come on, I’ll help you out.” He held out his hand and she took it without hesitation, which made him feel good that she trusted him, at least a little.

As soon as she was on her feet, he let go of her hand and stepped back. She gave him a smile and headed for the guest room.

“I’ll go grab all the stuff the girls got you and bring it in.”

“Thanks.”

Chaos nodded and headed for his bedroom. It didn’t take too long to transfer all the bags to the guest room. “Feel free to head to bed. I’m sure you’re exhausted. I’m going to stay up for a bit longer.”

“If you’re sure you don’t mind…”

“Of course not.”

She nodded, then headed to the guest bathroom. Chaos heard the water running, and he figured she was brushing her teeth with the toiletries he’d put in there while she’d been in the shower in his room. She exited just minutes later, saying good night again before entering her room and closing the door.

Chaos immediately felt antsy with Kara out of his sight. He wanted to resume his earlier pacing, but he forced himself to sit on the couch and turn the television on low. He turned to a sports channel and stared unseeingly at the game that was on. His mind was spinning, thinking about everything that had happened in such a short period of time.

The creak of the guest room door opening had him whipping his head around to see what was wrong.

Kara was standing there, looking a little lost.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just…the window in the room…I checked and it’s locked, but there’s a bush right outside. What if…” Her voice trailed off.

Chaos could’ve kicked himself for not reassuring her of the safety of his home before she went to bed. “No one’s getting into this house without me knowing,” he told her. “I have a security system that I turned on after the pizza delivery person left. If anyone breaks a window, or opens one, the alarm will go off. If he’s still alive, he can’t get to you while you’re in this house.”

The instant relief in her posture said a lot about how worried she’d been.

“Okay, good.”

“You’re safe here. I promise.”

“I know I’ve been thanking you a lot, but I really mean it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Get some sleep. I’m sure it’s been too long since you’ve had a good restorative rest.”

“Yeah. Good night.”

“Night, Kara.”

She gave him one more smile before closing the door yet again.

And again, Chaos stared at the television unseeingly. As he remembered what happened to her, he was aware she had every right to be terrified that Nolan would find her once more. He’d kill her if he got his hands on her again. They both knew that.

A sound coming from her room had Chaos on his feet instantly, his head cocked as he tried to figure out what he was hearing. Walking silently over to her door, he listened, wondering if he should invade her privacy to see what was wrong.

It took a moment to understand the noise. It was the sound of a piece of furniture being moved across the floor. The door rattled slightly, and Chaos envisioned that was because the dresser—the only thing she could’ve moved on her own—had settled against the surface on the other side.

Chaos frowned. Hating that she felt the need to barricade herself inside the room. He understood the need, but he hated it all the same. He wouldn’t hurt her. Never. But she couldn’t know that for certain. He hoped deep down she had an inkling that he was a good guy…but she’d also thought her ex was a good man at one point.

Forcing himself to go sit back on the couch, Chaos rubbed his chest. His heart hurt. The things the woman on the other side of that door had been through were appalling. But unfortunately, not unique. Too many women and children were victims of domestic violence. Too many weren’t able to escape. To get out. To be free.

Determination welled up within Chaos. He’d see Kara free of her tormenter no matter what it took. Even if she never felt about him the way he was already feeling for her…as if she could be the most important person in his life. That she could be the woman he wanted by his side forever.