Shade's Fall by Jamie Begley Read Free Book Online Page B

she loved was eventually destroyed with the exception of Beth. She was the one constant in her life. If she was ever taken away, Lily didn’t know what she would do. She was the one person that kept her rooted and sane.
    Lily knew that even when she was in college, all she had to do was call and Beth would be there.
    God help her if the day ever came that she wasn’t.
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    She was able to calm her nerves by Friday, relieved that the weekend was almost here. The day was spent working steadily. She didn’t even let eating lunch with Shade faze her. Lily had managed to start loosening up around him slightly since she was spending so much extra time with him every day.
    Jewell and Bliss were laughing and cracking up, making jokes as they worked next to each other. Lily noticed that Georgia didn’t say anything to the two women; in fact, she seemed to be trying to get friendly with them. While both women were always friendly to her, neither made any real attempt to become better acquainted.
    After lunch, Lily went into the back room and was trying to straighten the seeds when several packs spilled out. Leaning over, she was attempting to put them back when the door opened and Gaige came in.
    “Need some help?”
    “I think I’ve got it under control,” Lily replied. She always felt uncomfortable when he was around. He inevitably managed to make her feel dirty when he looked at her.
    Before she could rise up, his hand slid under the hem of her dress, sliding against her bottom. Lily dropped the seeds she was holding to the floor, jerking away from his touch.
    She didn’t say anything as she quickly went to the door.
    “Hey, I was just joking,” he uttered.
    As soon as the door clicked behind her, she started shaking; however, her hand managed to slide into the pocket of her dress to pull out her phone. Praying silently to herself, she pressed Beth’s number and put the phone to her ear, aware of Bliss, Jewell and Georgia looking at her strangely.
    Shakily, she managed to begin the walk to her workstation, becoming more and more upset that Beth wasn’t answering. She needed Beth when the darkness was about to hit. Beth could talk to her and calm her down.
    Shade was standing by Train in his office, but she noticed his eyes were on her. She ran her fingers through her hair as a whimper passed her lips. She needed Beth!
    The door opened and Razer’s familiar figure walked through as another whimper unconsciously passed her lips. She took a step toward him.
    “Lily!” Lily stopped, her hands going to her hair. “Lily, come here. Now!” Lily’s feet changed direction and she moved toward Shade, trying not to whimper again as both men moved out of the doorway.
    “Go take your chair.” Lily wanted Razer if she couldn’t have Beth. He would get Beth for her.
    “I need Beth,” she managed to get out between chattering teeth.
    “Go take your chair,” Shade repeated, his expression hard. He took her jaw in his hand. “What did I tell you about me repeating instructions?”
    “Shade?” Razer’s concerned voice was behind Lily’s back, but she couldn’t turn to him because Shade still had her jaw in his grip.
    “I will handle this, Razer.” Lily shivered at the look Shade gave Razer. Shade’s hand dropped from her face.
    She heard Train mutter, “I’ll take care of it,” before Shade came inside the office and shut the door.
    “Go stand in the corner, Lily.” Shade’s hard voice kept the darkness from taking over.
    “Now,” he snapped.
    Lily’s feet immediately took her to the corner where she stood, facing the office, while Shade took his seat back at the desk and resumed doing his paperwork as if she wasn’t there.
    Lily didn’t know what to do or how to feel. She took a deep, shuddering breath, leaning her head on the wall.
    “Stand up straight.” Shade didn’t take his eyes off his paperwork, pushing a few buttons on his computer before making more notes. Lily straightened,