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away from me. I hold on tight, thinking it may be the last time. "They weren't after him, Abby. I had no idea things would be like this. I would have never started the tour. I would have - fuck, I don't know what I would have done. There was no way to see this coming." He sucks in air. It fills his chest, and some of the anger fades from his voice when he speaks again. "I'm not leaving your side until this is over. Let's go to the house and grab blankets and whatever else we need. I told the police that we'd stay in the main building tonight."

I nod solemnly. I still don't want to let go of him. Fear is consuming me, choking me so hard that I can't breathe. My fingers press into his sides harder, holding him close.

"Abby," he says comfortingly, "they aren't going to take me away from you." Jack kisses the top of my head and wrenches me off of him. He holds my shoulders tightly, but I feel like I'm falling to pieces inside. I can't shake it. I feel horrible that Jackson was here, that he died. Then my mind shifts to what could have been - Jack in that body bag - and I can't stand it. My eyes are filled with tears that won't spill over. He grips my arms hard and says, "Look at me, Abby." I glance up at him. "Nothing could take me away from you. We'll get through this, together. Both of us. I promise."

"How can you promise? You don't know - "

He smiles softly at me. Jack threads his fingers into my hair, pushing it away from the tears that are streaking down my face. "I know that you were made for me. I know that you're my soul mate - that I belong with you. We tried to stay apart; we both thought we were doing what was right. In the end, it didn't matter, and that's the reason why. You were right when you told me that we were connected on a spiritual level. I feel it. I know it. I kept trying to deny it and say that all this happened because I was a greedy dick, that I corrupted you, but it would have happened anyway. It's not fate; it's love. I've never seen anyone else have anything like this. I love you, Abby, with every fiber of my being. I'll protect you. I'll always be there for you." Jack smiles crookedly at me and adds, "Keep the faith."

I smile, even though I don't feel like it. "Are you going to sing now? That's a song you used to listen to."

He nods. "I'd sing forever, if it kept a smile on your face."

I wrap my arms around him again. "I feel so weak, Jack. It's like I'm made of tiny grains of sand, but there's nothing holding me together. Anything could blow me apart right now."

I pull back and look up at Jack. His blue eyes are clear as crystals. "I'll hold you together, Abby. I'll be your water, your glue - anything you need."

Chapter 32

JACK

Abby and Jack hurry off to the house and grab the things they need for the night. Within ten minutes, they're back in the studio. Jack takes Abby's blankets and makes a bed for her on the couch. She lies down and he tucks her in, kissing her softly on the lips.

"Where will you be?" she asks sleepily. The shock of everything is catching up with her, but her body is too exhausted to deal with it.

"Painting." Jack points, "Over there. I won't leave this room without you."

She nods and smiles at him, snuggling into her pillow. "Can I watch you work? Will you move the curtain away?"

Jack grins at her. He wanted to wait and show her when he finished, but after today, Jack realizes, it might not get finished. Swallowing hard, he says, "Yeah. I'll let you watch." She smiles back and it makes his heart swell. There's always been something about the woman. She has the ability to make him soar.

Jack takes one of the drinks from the table and pops the can of soda open. He guzzles it and then goes to pull back the curtain that's concealing Abby's new painting. His heart beats wildly in his chest. This is one of the things that terrifies him as much as it delights him. Jack's hands grab the fabric and he