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***
The lights had vanished from the rearview mirror.
That didn’t mean they weren’t being followed. It could mean the tricky SOB had just turned off his headlights. The better for me not to see him closing in. But the roads were so twisting and sharp. It would practically be suicide to race down them in the dark.
Alina had called the cops. At first, the dispatcher had thought it was a prank call. Screw that bullshit. They’d set the record straight, fast.
The dispatcher had wanted them to pull over. To wait for the authorities.
Again, screw that bullshit.
Midas kept driving, never letting up on the gas pedal. The more distance he had between Alina and that cabin, the better.
“How can I ever repay you?” she asked quietly.
His teeth clenched so tightly that his jaw ached. “You don’t.”
“You saved my life! I definitely need to repay you.” Her hand reached out. Her soft fingers traced over his upper arm.
He had one hell of a bruise there, but he didn’t flinch because of the pain. He flinched because her touch unnerved him. No, unnerved wasn’t the right word. Her touch just made him feel different. Edgy. Rough. Wild.
“How did you know I’d been taken?”
Because I was right outside your house. Because your dad hired me to guard you, and I didn’t do a damn good job of it. “Alina, I need to tell you some things.” Actually, hell, he needed to call her father. “Your dad,” he began.
“He doesn’t know!” Her hand flew away from him. “I have to call him. Tell him I’m okay, that you saved me—”
“He knows that you were taken.” Ryker wouldn’t know that she was okay, not yet. “But I need to inform him that I have you.”
“He…knows?”
“I called him.” Grim. And he didn’t want the cops involved. Only we’ve brought them in now, so your dad is gonna be pissed.
Up ahead, he saw the flash of blue lights. The cops. Closing in. Finally.
“Safety,” she whispered. Obviously, she’d caught sight of the cops, too. “Everything is going to be okay.”
He wouldn’t go that far. In fact, he thought quite the opposite. The kidnappers aren’t in custody.
“They kept telling me that their ‘boss’ was coming,” Alina suddenly revealed. “You got me out before he arrived.” Her words shook. “What do you think he would have done to me?”
The flashing blue lights were brighter. Closer. “He’s not ever going to do a damn thing to you.” Midas pulled off the road. Turned on his hazard lights. That had been the plan. The dispatcher had said when he got close to the cops, he should turn on his hazards to signal them. “I won’t let him get close.”
But he needed to tell her the truth. About who he was. Why he was in her life.
He turned toward her. “Alina…” Shit, why did this feel like it was gonna hurt him? He’d just met the woman. A full twenty-four hours had not passed since he’d walked into that rink and seen her spinning on the ice. Spinning, then falling.
I don’t want Alina falling.
The cop cars screeched to a halt. He saw two uniformed cops jump from the first vehicle and hurry toward them.
Alina caught his hand. “Don’t leave me?”
His fingers twined with hers. “That shit just isn’t happening.” But he would have to tell her the truth, sooner or later.
Alina, I’m not your new boyfriend…
I’m your bodyguard.
