Chapter 58: A LEAD

Arianna

“Arianna.”

The hands get rougher and more demanding.

“Arianna.”

His smile is terrifying when those mismatched eyes lock on mine in open hunger for me, not hiding his eager gaze on my breasts. It feels dirty. Filthy. I feel stained.

“Arianna!”

Someone shakes me back from that place and I gasp for air when I try to figure out what happened and where I am. The tears doesn’t seem to stop when my body trembles in dreadful agony and I feel sorry for myself to be this miserable and weak.

Vincent’s face comes into focus, his golden eyes filled with worry and rage for the man who caused this fear in me.

Realizing that I’m still in his lap and this is a man who will never hurt me intentionally to scare me has me sobbing harder when I grab his jacket and bury my face in his neck, smelling that citrus wonderful scent and fresh coffee aroma drifting from the cup on my desk when he made it for himself before waking me up to ask me about clients who might be suspects for the one who contacted me and almost killed us when they tried to shoot us near the restaurant building as we walked to Vincent’s car.

Feeling a hand on my nape, he squeezed my neck gently but firm enough to keep me sane so I don’t go back to that place,” Baby, you’re absolutely killing me,” he rasps in pain,” Talk to me. What happened? Did that bastard touched you?” The last question is filled with rage for me and I felt his urge to unleash something dangerous within.

The silence is painful.

Vincent squeezes his eyes shut, his hand almost crushing my nape,” Tell. Me. Did he fucking touch you?” It was an order, his tone low and gruff.

There was no escaping from this one so my whisper came out clear,” Yes.”

His jaw clenched painfully and I heard his teeth grinding against each other like you would sharpen a blade. Dropping his head on my shoulder, his body began shaking but not from fear. From complete rage and shock that he wasn’t there to prevent it from happening. Of course not, we didn’t know each other personally at that time because he saw me a year or so later in the bookstore. Only I knew that he existed.

Winding his arms harder around me, he tightened his hold on me to maximum extent but I relished his warmth and strength. I felt safe and protected from any kind of harm directed towards me.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers,” I’m so fucking sorry.”

His apology for something he didn’t do is making me even more sad but I try not to break down,” It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“Tell me everything. I want to know everything so I can make his death even more painful. He fucking touched you. Hurt you. I should’ve found about him sooner. He wouldn’t have made you cry and feel scared again if I had gone after him. Scums like that doesn’t deserve to live after hurting what’s mine,” he bits out.

I gulp.

I didn’t want to talk about it. I wanted to forget that day but at least it will put Vincent at ease. It should be scary to hear about his plans to murder someone but I felt good that he’s even willing to kill somebody for me. That’s how much he loves me.

So I did. Explaining how it happened from the moment I met that man and till the moment the case was closed. Every little detail.

Since Vincent originally lived in the capital state city of Indiana-Indianapolis when I just lived in a small town near the Lake Mist in Brookville, he didn’t handle my case since he didn’t really have a business being there except for the books he was writing for publishing. The local cops and jury did all the work instead of him so it was possible that he didn’t heard about me. It was not like I was almost murdered or actually killed to make him come investigate.

With my story coming to an end, I felt his muscles tense, like he was a violin string waiting to spring up, his dark energy shifting around us like he was ready to go kill but calmed down from crying, I lifted my head to look at him.

His eyes blazed with fury but I didn’t care.

Taking his face in my hands, I timidly smiled,” I’m here. I’m safe right now. You will protect me, I know. I’m okay, Vince,” kissing his lips, his face was completely frozen in silent rage, body stiff and not responding. It felt like he is already there, murdering that man in his mind. Wishing for blood.

He only stopped because of me and I was too upset to be left alone. He would’ve already gone after him by now.

Golden orbs slowly refocused on me and he exhaled harshly, resting his forehead on mine,” I wasn’t there,” he murmured in pain,” I should’ve been there. I fucking failed you, baby. It feels like my heart is ripped open and the only way to mend it is if I kill him with my own hands, to make you forget him, to make him suffer for what he did to you. Six fucking months is nothing,” he snarls the last words,” You were almost…fuck,” he swallows hard, his eyes glazing with emotion I couldn’t believe I would see someday.

A lone teardrop slides down his cheek and if I weren’t in love, it would be moment to do it all over again.

“Vincent…”

“What is it, baby? I will do anything you ask.”

I pause and then,” I might have a lead to know where he is. We don’t need necessarily to track his location for going after him”

Vincent immediately follows with a grim look,” Secret Whisper.”