Author: allisonlafleurandbenevaclark

I didn’t know Josh. We’d barely spoken since I’d opened my eyes. He didn’t know me either. I didn’t even know me. Still, the faint sound of his breathing in the next room reminded me I wasn’t alone, that my protector was nearby. I guess when you desperately need a hero, you’ll attach that title to anyone who’ll wear it. He hadn’t turned me away or betrayed me when I begged him not to call the … sheriff even though I couldn’t give him a reason why. In my desperate state, that made him my champion. Even so, I was…

“Avery?” I gazed up at her with a familiar sense of excitement and confusion. “You want me to protect you?” That was the last thing I’d expected her to say. She sighed. “I just want my life back.” She stared down at me with big, wet eyes. “I’m tired of my world being trashed, Caleb.” She sniffed. “And I’m tired of being scared.” The exhaustion in her voice ripped my heart apart. I stepped up to … heart apart. I stepped up to the bar and reached up to wrap my hand around her leg. “Come here.” With a sigh, her hands fell…

Trigger Warning: for themes of violence, PTSD, sexual assault and child abuse“Abby!” Fin slid down from her stool at the counter and threw herself at my legs. “You’re home!”“I sure am, sweetie!” I dropped my bags and keys on the floor and scooped that little girl up in my arms, giving her the biggest hug ever. “And I am soooo glad to see you!”Fin put up with my hug for only a second before … with my hug for only a second before squirming to get back down. “Guess what we did at school today?”“What did you do?”“We studied worms!”…