Read Online Love or Justice by Rachel Mannino - Free Book Online Page A

Her brother sat with her in the back. They were going out to get ice cream. Her brother played with a new etch-a-sketch. He broke one every couple of months, but he would create the most elaborate scenes on them. Laurie was positive he would be an amazing artist someday. In honor of their trip out for ice cream, which did not happen often, he sketched out the ice cream sundae he wanted to get.
    Right as he poured on the chocolate syrup, Laurie looked up to see a tractor-trailer heading straight for their vehicle.
    “No, stop! Look out!” She braced herself. But it was too late.
    The car careened into the tractor-trailer. Laurie was pinned in the backseat. She could sense that her parents and her brother were dead. They weren’t moving, but Laurie was still alive. The tractor-trailer backed up and rammed the car again.
    “No! Stop! Please!”
    She screamed as the tractor-trailer backed up again.
    “Help!”
     
    “Laurie! Wake up!” Dante’s voice sliced through the nightmare.
    Laurie opened her eyes.
    Dante pressed her against his chest.
    She moaned.
    “I’m so sorry, Dante. I’m so sorry.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yes. That was an old nightmare.”
    “Have you always had nightmares this often?” Dante wrapped both arms around her.
    Laurie’s hand combed through her disheveled hair as Dante continued to clutch her to his chest. He was warm and solid beneath her cheek. He smelled of spicy aftershave, soap, and the slightest hint of coffee. Laurie couldn’t stop herself from nuzzling his shoulder as he pressed his hand to her hair.
    “I had them for a while after my parents died. For a few years. Dreams like the one I just had, where I’m in the car and I’m watching them die, but I can’t do anything to save them. After a while, the nightmares went away. Then Kaimi waved his gun in my face. I haven’t had a peaceful night since.”
    She twisted her fingers into Dante’s t-shirt. The strength under her hands soothed her.
    He ran his hands over her hair, rubbing her back. He pulled back to hold her hands.
    “Laurie, if these nightmares are going to keep happening, I may need to start sleeping in your room with you. I can sleep on the floor in here just fine, but I can’t sleep in the other room when I think you’re being attacked in here.”
    “I’m sorry, Dante.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I just can’t get them to go away.”
    “No, I know. I know.” Dante embraced her again. “I just need to know you’re safe, okay? You can think about it and let me know what you’re comfortable with.”
    “I’ll think about it.” She sniffled, trying to keep the tears at bay.
    Dante repositioned himself on the bed so he could lean up against the wall, propped up by one of Laurie’s pillows. He held her for a long while.
    Laurie curled up against him, her chest lying on top of his. She tucked her head up under his chin, and laid her hand over his heart.
    He rubbed her back.
    She fell into an exhausted sleep.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Dante
     
    Dante woke up uncomfortable. Something poked his leg, and he felt someone sleeping beside him. Where was he? He couldn’t remember. In the dim light in the room, he began to make out Laurie’s sleeping form. Her knee prodded his leg. All at once, reality spun into focus. Dante was horrified. Not only had he slept in Laurie’s room, he had slept beside her. If his boss ever found out, he could lose his job. A disciplinary action at the very least. He would be pulled off the most important assignment in his career. Fuming, he berated himself for what he’d done.
    Dante eased Laurie back onto her bed. He had to get back to his room. The clock read 7:00 a.m. It was long before he usually got up, but he was awake now. He crept to the door, and opened it. As he walked to his door on the balls of his feet, he heard a cough behind him. Whirling around, Dante flinched. Cheyn stood there, wearing a stern expression Dante had never seen