My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 231

Chapter 231

“That’s not very reassuring.

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“It’s honest.” He moved toward the door. “I’m briefing your parents now. Protection detail will be in place within the hour. Connor-” He looked at me. “Thank you. For staying with her. For being someone I can trust with my niece when I can’t be here myself.”

After he left, Grace and I stood in the quiet room. The mood from before desperate and wanting and seeking comfort through physical connection–was completely gone.

“Three days,” Grace said quietly. “They’re planning to kidnap me in three days.”

“They’re planning to try.” I pulled her close. “Grace, they’re not getting near you. I won’t let them. Your father won’t let them. Uncle Cas definitely won’t let them!”

“Connor, I’m scared.” The admission was small. Vulnerable. “I know I’m supposed to be brave. Supposed to be strong. But I’m- I’m terrified.”

“I know. Me too.” I held her tighter. “But Grace, we have three days. Three days for Uncle Cas and your father to find the Preservation Front leadership. Three days for me to keep you safe. Three days for this nightmare to end.”

“And if it doesn’t end? If Uncle Cas can’t find them? If they try to kidnap me anyway?”

“Then they go through me first.” My voice was absolute. “Grace, I took a silver knife for you four days ago. You think I won’t fight extremists who try to kidnap you?”

“You might get hurt-

“I might. Probably will.” I pulled back to look at her face. “But Grace, that’s what mates do. Protect each other. Fight for each other. Stand together against threats even when it’s dangerous.”

She was crying now. Quiet tears that broke my heart.

“I don’t want you hurt because of me-

“Then don’t be someone extremists want to kidnap.” I smiled slightly. “Oh wait. Too late. You’re already the symbol of integration they hate most. Guess I’m stuck protecting you.”

“That’s not funny-”

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“It’s a little funny.” I wiped her tears gently. “Grace, we’re going to be okay. All of us. Your family has survived worse than the Preservation Front. We’ll survive this too.”

“Promise?”

“I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe. To love you. To stand beside you against extremists and kidnapping plots and whatever else tries to tear us apart.” I kissed her forehead. “Grace, you’re stuck with me. For better or worse. Through terrorism and protection protocols and terrible timing from vampire uncles.”

She laughed–watery but genuine. “Uncle Cas does have terrible timing.”

“The absolute worst.” I pulled her to the bed, settling us back into the position we’d been in before her against my chest, my arms around her. “Come on. Let’s finish the cooking show. Eat more questionable pizza. Pretend for another hour that we’re

normal”

“We’re not normal ”

“No. But we can pretend “I kissed the top of her head. “Three days, Grace. Then this is over. Then we can can finish what we started before Uncle Cas knocked.”

I paused. Then we

Chapter

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She blushed. “Connor- 11

“What? I’m just saying. We were interrupted ata very–inopportune moment. Once the Preservation Front is handled, once you’re safe-“I smiled. We should revisit that conversation.”

“That wasn’t a conversation. That was

“The beginning of me showing you physically how much I love you. How much I want you. How much you mean to me.” I held her close. “And Grace, we will finish that. When you’re safe. When extremists aren’t planning to kidnap you. When we can actually focus on each other instead of survival.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

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