Who really killed Wanda Day! - Wedding Bells (DAY! Series Book 2)

Chapter 30 - A Partner, A Problem, And Painful Patience

Chris went from sawing logs to bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the blink of an eye that morning. There he was, spooning his sleeping beauty, Willow, who was still sleeping peacefully. With a sly grin, he planted a gentle kiss on her shoulder and let his mind wander back to the previous night.

They had binge-watched enough flicks to make a couch potato jealous, and she had told him a bit more about the assault. At some point, she had fallen asleep with her head resting on Chris' chest. That's when he felt a surge of anger so fierce, it almost broke him. An unbridled rage threatened to make him blow a gasket. Leyla's boyfriend had not only violated Willow in the most heinous way but had also left her for dead like a schmuck. But Willow was a tough cookie who had risen from the ashes like a phoenix. And Chris knew that he'd make that scumbag beg for mercy until he was a blubbering mess.

"Good morning," she whispered out of the blue, making an impressive impression of a lazy cat with a full-body stretch before cozying up to Chris.

"Well, hello there." He peppered Willow's shoulder with a few more kisses, just for good measure. She rolled over and blinked at him with those bedroom eyes that could make a grown man swoon. "You are so unreal beautiful," Chris added, smiling.

She flashed him a smile and slipped down a bit, her hands tracing the intricate ink adorning Chris' chest like a living canvas. "I haven't... slept that well in ages," she confessed.

He pulled her in close, enveloping her in a warm embrace, and planted a long, lingering kiss on her forehead. "That is good, baby!"

"Yes," she murmured, nuzzling against his chest. "I feel... safe with you, Chris. So... unreal safe!"

"You are," he breathed, meaning every word. Serial killer or not, she was indeed safe with him, he'd be her knight in shining armor, ready to fend off any evil forces with his bare hands if need be. Once the DAY!s caught wind that Chris and Willow were a thing, even the bravest of souls wouldn't dare shoot her a sideways glance.

She planted a soft kiss on Chris' chest, right over his heart. "You know what?" she said with a playful gleam in her eye. "I think I could get used to this. Having you this close and... having you here all night."

"Tell me about it." He sighed contentedly, pulling Willow even closer until there was nary a breath between them. "I told you that months ago – the only bed I want to wake up in is yours."

"You're an idiot!"

"But not an asshole." Chris smiled against her hair, not believing how good it felt. His heart was almost exploding with feelings he couldn't quite understand, and his thoughts were racing miles a minute. Although he knew nothing about love, or being loved, he knew, that THIS was the best feeling in the world.

***

Colin's eyes were looking more bloodshot than a frat boy's after a kegger, and it was all thanks to that letter. Not a single wink of sleep had graced him the entire night. That devious piece of paper had kept his mind racing, refusing to let him catch even a moment of shuteye.

However, as the sun peeked over the horizon, everything started clicking into place for him. Suddenly, it was like someone had flipped on the lightbulb in his brain, and the whole puzzle made perfect sense.

Leyla had someone wrapped around her perfectly manicured finger tighter than a pretzel. This someone had taken her twisted words as gospel and must have killed Wanda on her behalf, likely without knowing the juicy backstory behind that hit job. Then, when Colin had put an end to Leyla's wicked ways, it sent her lapdog into a rage.

Colin was clueless about who this vengeful soul could be, and that had him quaking in his boots. His family was now a potential target, and the thought of harm coming to them made his blood run cold. He'd spent half the night like a creepy watchman, eyes glued to his innocent little LeighAnn as she snoozed away, blissfully unaware of the danger that could be lurking. The mere idea of someone laying a finger on her, or Henry, or sweet Belle made his stomach churn.