Hidden Monsters: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Suspense (The Hidden Heroes Series Book 1) by Annette Palmer

Author:Annette Palmer [Palmer, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“Orly?” Luke didn’t miss the tension that had settled over her. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

She’d gone so still, it was scaring him. Luke glanced at Caden who also noticed Orly’s change in demeanor. All his friends shrugged with indecision, waiting for her to respond. “Orly?” Luke gently put a hand on her shoulder.

As if brought out of her trance by his touch, she turned to him, her eyes blank, but tension still written all over her face. “What did you say?” She looked dazed, like she’d completely checked out right in the middle of their conversation.

“I was just asking if you were okay,” Luke said. “You were a million miles away.” She sighed and Luke squeezed her hand. “Is someone in trouble?” He asked.

“No. Her name was Jessica Elliot,” Orly said quietly.

“I’m sorry?” Caden said. “Who are we talking about now?”

“The victim he killed. You don’t have to go looking for her. Her name was Jessica Elliot and she lived in Albuquerque.”

“He told you this?” Luke asked. “Just now?”

Orly nodded, clasping her hands together in her lap, but not before Luke noticed them slightly shaking. “He thinks it’s a game. He’s...excited. I have a really bad feeling about this. It’s like he’s playing with us. With me.”

Suddenly needing to be closer to her, Luke stood and lifted Orly into his arms, settling her onto his lap. He didn’t care that all his friends were watching. She was scared and he was ready to do anything to make it better for her. “I won’t let him get anywhere near you,” Luke said, before thinking over his words. This guy could obviously be on the other side of the world and still hurt her just the same. And they both knew it. When she glanced up at Luke with sorrow swimming in her eyes, it made his chest tighten. He wanted to fight every single one of her demons so she could finally live her life, go to work, shop, and spend her time doing the things she wanted to do instead of worrying about the monsters in this world that were trying to hurt her - both the monster in her head, and Russell, the one Luke was starting to think of as the monster hiding in plain sight. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I mean it, Orly. I will find a way to stop him from hurting you.”

Orly rested her head on his chest. The soft scent of her shampoo had him nuzzling into her beautiful golden curls, inhaling deeply at the sweet aroma of the woman who’d unexpectedly changed his life and all his priorities.

Before her, his only goals were career oriented. His life was all about the next big case, the next promotion, the next big lead. But sitting here now with Orly in his arms, all he could think about was the kind of man he wanted to be for her. After watching so many of his co-workers go through painful divorces,

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