She shot off a quick message. Not a big deal, really. You focus on your stuff, I can handle it myself.
Malcom answered a few seconds later. Okay.
After putting her phone away, Petty let the warm water run over her fingers. The gentle rush slowly soothed her nerves.
It was Christmas, and Cabinda was way busier than usual. There were crowds everywhere. She had no idea if Abbot’s people would try to sneak in, but just looking at how things were now, she knew staying at Misty Vale was the safest bet before she could leave Cabinda.
She never tried to guess what was on Franco’s mind, not even the real reason he wanted her to stay at Misty Vale.
Back in the dining room, Petty caught Franco’s deep, unreadable stare and instantly looked away. “I’m done eating. I think I’ll go back and sleep.”
Franco’s eyes were impossible to read. He stood up, grabbed her scarf from the back of the chair, and walked over to her. “Let’s go.”
“I haven’t slept in the bed at Misty Vale for a while,” she mumbled. “I might not even be able to fall asleep.”
She reached for her scarf, but Franco wrapped it gently around her neck before she could take it. His voice was cool and steady. “Sleep with me. You slept just fine on the island.”
And just like that, any thought of going back to Belvedere Heights was gone.
Petty said nothing.
The island flashed in her mind, those two days and nights that felt like a dream from another life.
Franco had risked everything to save her then. He’d brought so much firepower, she was sure his grandfather must have noticed. She had no clue what any of it meant to Franco. He never explained, but she still remembered how he’d seemed ready to die with her in that storm.
Once they were back at Misty Vale, Franco meant what he said. He basically dragged her into his room that night, not letting her sleep anywhere else.
At first, she lay on her side, facing away from him. She just couldn’t get comfortable with his arm locked tightly around her waist. There was a faint scent of cedar in the room and, slowly, it helped her relax.
She yawned quietly a few times. Her eyelids started to droop. After a brief struggle, she gave in and let sleep carry her away.
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