Trapped (Bullied Book 4) (Bullied Series) Vera Hollins (best large ereader txt) 📖

second of it.” He moved my hair away from my neck and left a kiss under my ear. I let out a satisfied sigh, my eyes fluttering closed. “I can’t get you out of my head.” He placed another soft kiss on my neck. “I can’t stop thinking about you or when I’m going to see you again.” He drew away. “You’re all I can think about these days, and it sickened me that I couldn’t even do anything. It was like my hands were tied again because I had to make things right and avenge Emma.”

“How about now? You wanted them dead. Do you…do you feel like you’ve failed her?”

He looked out the window into the evening darkness. His brows furrowed as he mused on something. Slowly, the corner of his lips quirked up.

“No. You were right. She wouldn’t want me to destroy or sacrifice my life. She would want me happy. And I’m happy because I have you.” He looked at me. “I’d rather see them dead, true, but they will get what they deserve because I’m going to make sure they’re serving life.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“My dad has connections. It would be no problem to convince a judge to sentence them to life without parole, and at the worst prison in the state. A lot of nasty stuff can happen there that will make them ‘reevaluate their life choices’,” he said, quoting Bobby Q’s words. He smirked, and I was offered a glimpse of that cruelty I’d seen when he held Bobby Q at gunpoint. “I guess the video I kept all this time won’t just be a torturous reminder of those days. It will come in handy as evidence.”

“I’m just glad they won’t be able to hurt anyone anymore.” I palmed his cheek and smiled. “It’s over.”

He smiled back at me. “It’s over for them…but it’s just the beginning for us.”

My heart contracted. My lips curled into an even bigger smile, but then the door burst open, and a barrage of questions filled the room. I jumped away from Blake’s bed like I’d been caught red-handed as his parents pushed their way through a crowd of reporters with cameras and microphones that had flocked to the corridor outside Blake’s room.

“Mayor Jones, what can you say about the kidnapping?”

“Mayor Jones, is it true that your son was kidnapped four years ago?”

“Sir, we heard your son was shot in the head. Is that true?”

“Is he alive?”

“No, you’re looking at a vampire,” Blake said in a low tone with a sneer.

The security officer kept his parents separated from the reporters, shielding them as they came inside. The reporters pushed forward to get some photos, but the security officer didn’t allow it.

“No cameras allowed,” he said, preventing one of the reporters from getting in. “You’re not allowed to enter. Step back.” He closed the door, which left Blake, his parents, and me in awkward silence as they stared at me. I blushed.

“Hello,” I said quietly to break the ice, giving them a small wave.

“Jessica Metts?” Nathaniel said.

“You came back from Hartford to see me,” Blake said, his face blank. “Surprise, surprise.”

Daniela and Nathaniel approached his bed and stopped on his other side, splitting a look between Blake and me.

“We were supposed to return tomorrow, but once we got the call, we came as quickly as possible,” Daniela said.

She was a picture of composure as always. There were no worry lines on her face as she looked at her son; there was nothing. If it was my mother in her place, she would be a bawling mess by now. However, I could see a hint of anguish in the depth of those gray eyes, reminding me so much of Blake.

“How are you holding up?” Nathaniel asked him.

Blake assumed a bored expression. “As you can see, I’m in one piece, so don’t be so heartbroken about me.” His sarcasm brought a frown to their faces.

“We’re worried about you, son,” Nathaniel said. “You could’ve died.” He shook his head and closed his eyes for a few moments in an unusual and brief display of vulnerability. “And to think the same people kidnapped you again. It’s ridiculous!”

“But this time you can’t hide it from the public,” Blake retorted with a sardonic smile on his face. “I’m sorry about your reputation, Dad, but you can’t keep it intact this time. I wonder what the media will say once they hear you wanted to keep everything on the down low.”

“Will you stop with that attitude, Blake?” his mother asked. “We’re not your enemies. We’ve done what we thought would be best for our family—what would be best for you. You developed…” She looked at me, stopping herself before she said what she’d intended to say. “You developed some issues after that, and it would’ve been worse if the whole town had gossiped about you. It would’ve been a constant reminder for you.”

Blake curled his lip at her. “How touching. You did it all for me.” He rolled his eyes. “And you can say what it is. She knows I have PTSD.”

Daniela let out an almost undetectable gasp. Her eyes widened imperceptibly as she took me in. “You told her?” She was looking at me differently now, like she was seeing me for the first time, and I could almost see the wheels turning in her head. “Why are you here exactly?”

I felt myself blushing profusely under their inquisitive stares. “I—”

“Why is she here?” Blake asked, staring at them. He took my hand. “She’s here because she’s my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend. I gaped at him.

Nathaniel’s brows rose. “Your girlfriend?”

Blake smiled softly at me. I felt hot and so shy in front of his parents, but that didn’t defuse my happiness.

“Yes, girlfriend.” He didn’t look away from me, smiling. “And I love her.”

It was official. My heart would burst any moment now.

He looked at them, narrowing his eyes. “Any problem with that?”

Daniela and Nathaniel shared an uncomfortable glance.

“No.” Nathaniel was the first to speak. He cleared his