AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No! Not at all. I wish I could stay, but I can’t.” Not without being harassed via text and putting my date’s life at risk. “I’m so sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I wish you could stay, too.” Connor glances around the restaurant. “I remember them coming in with us, but now they’re gone. Could someone have gotten to them? Are you in danger?”
Dread makes me momentarily light-headed. Could my stalker have taken out my bodyguards? How is that possible? He’d have to be really big, and skilled, or working with his own team.
Dimitri Kozlov is the head of the Russian mob. I found that out a while ago. He’s recently taken over as their leader. If it’s him, then of course he could take out two trained bodyguards. He has the resources to do anything he wants.
Panic makes my mind race. How am I going to get out of here and away from him? Without my guards, I’m a sitting duck. I’ll never make it home on my own. Think, Arianna.
My sisters. I can call my family and they’ll come pick me up.
“Come with me.” Connor stands, his easy-going nature replaced with a stern countenance. “I can tell you’re in some sort of danger. I’ll get you out of here. Stay close to me.”
“No, it’s okay, I’ll call my family and they’ll come get me.” I don’t want to take advantage of his kindness, or get him involved.
He shakes his head. “The longer you sit here, the more you're exposed. Anything could happen. Let me get you out of here. Please.”
“But… But you don’t have any bodyguards.” I point out.
Connor smirks. “I’m a Bane. No one would dare lay a finger on me because they know my brothers have my back. My family will ruin them. You’re safe with me. I promise.” He holds out his palm. “Come.”
I don’t risk putting my hand in his, for fear that my stalker is watching. Instead, I rise to my feet and we head toward the exit. Connor tells the host to put our bill on his account as we walk out.
Outside the air is cool and crisp, tinged with the promise of autumn. Connor drapes his suit jacket over my shoulders as we wait for the valet to bring his car. A moment later, his flashy sports car idles in front of us. Connor opens the passenger door, allowing me to climb in before going around the front of the vehicle to the driver’s side.
The car rumbles with a low purr, and he eases into traffic. I glance in the mirrors to see if anyone’s following us. A shiver runs down my spine when I spot a black SUV on our tail.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” Connor asks.
“I think we’re being followed.” I twist in my seat to get a better view of our pursuer, but it’s too dark to get a good look at them.
“I see them. Just sit back, I’ll lose them.” He speeds through traffic.
“You will?” I glance at him in surprise.
He grins, breaking his serious expression. “I haven’t always been a good boy. I spent part of my youth drag racing with my brother Heath before cleaning up my act.”
“Oh.” I never would have guessed. “So you can lose them?”
“You bet I can.” He blows through a yellow light and alters our course, making one sharp turn after another until I’ve lost all sense of direction. “Who is he?”
I hold on for dear life as Connor speeds through the city. “I don’t actually know. He’s been stalking me for several months.”
“Hmm. My brother Niall has a security company that’s okay with… bending the rules, if you need someone to track down this stalker and get him away from you.”
Drag racing, rule bending… maybe the Banes aren’t the upstanding citizens everyone thinks. Even so, their hands are cleaner than any mafia family member’s are.
“Thanks for the offer. I just want to make it home alive.” My knuckles are white from gripping the sides of my seat.
“Have a little faith. I’ve got this. We’re going to be— Shit!” He slams on the brakes, I brace against the dashboard, the tires screech as he avoids plowing into the SUV that’s appeared out of nowhere to block the otherwise deserted street.
Behind us, another SUV boxes us in. We’re trapped. My pulse spikes with terror.
Connor turns to me, his features hard. “Run.”
CHAPTER 5
Dimitri
