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“Yeah, maybe.” She looked away. “I don’t know why you keep coming back for me.”
“Because I promised I’d keep you safe.”
“And then you promised you’d sell me to my father.”
“I didn’t promise him shit.” I stepped closer again. I could reach out and touch her if I wanted, but I held back. Her expression was flat tinged with anger. “I’m not giving you to him. I swear, Elise. I haven’t lied to you yet, but I’m more than willing to lie to your father, or anyone else for that matter.”
“If you’ll lie to them, you’ll lie to me.”
I rolled my eyes. I probably shouldn’t have, but I was frustrated, and tired, and she had to know that was bullshit.
“Come on,” I said. “I’ve done nothing but protect you. I want you, Elise. I want to keep you safe. I’m on your side.”
“I think you believe that. I’m not convinced.”
“You don’t get it,” I said, my voice low. “I’ve never done something like this for anyone in my life. I’ve killed plenty of men, I’ve done hard jobs, but I’ve never given something up for someone else. I grew up in a world that never gave a fuck about me, and the only way I could ever get anything was by taking it. With you, all I want to do is give, and I know I’m not good at showing it, but it’s the truth.”
She chewed on her lip. I saw her face soften, just a little bit, as she stared into my eyes.
“I want to trust you,” she said. “But I hate my dad. I hate him, Tanner. I don’t want to go near him ever again. When I heard you say what you said and made your little deal with him, I just…”
“I get it. You freaked out. You got scared, and I can’t blame you for that. If I were in your position, I would’ve reacted the same way. But I’m telling you, Elise, that was just a game to keep your father busy and to buy us more time.”
She stared at me, lips parted. I got closer, inches away now. I could feel the heat from her body.
“You’re just not what I thought you were,” she said.
“What did you think?”
“I don’t know. A monster. A bastard. Maybe you still are. You just…”
“I care about you,” I said. “I care about you making it through this in one piece.”
“Why is this so hard?” she asked.
“We’re walking on a tightrope,” I said. “Trying to juggle a thousand things. But I promise, my goal is your goal. We’re going to the same place.”
I stooped down and kissed her. I bit her lip and kissed her hard. She let out a soft groan and pushed herself against me. It felt like heaven to have her body pressed against mine again. I’d been walking around the city wondering if I lost her forever, and now I had her again, tasted her again, and I knew I wouldn’t let her go.
I heard footsteps nearby.
Coming fast.
I pulled back from the kiss and turned. I put my body between Elise and whoever was coming.
“Elise,” I said. “Get down.”
I barely got the words out before I threw her aside.19EliseI hit the pavement and rolled into the dog park fence. Gunshots rang out in the night, huge deafening roars. Tanner ducked to the side, pulled his own gun, and returned fire.
Bennigan slammed into him. I couldn’t tell if anyone was shot. They both had guns, but Bennigan tackled Tanner to the ground. I saw one of the guns go skittering away across the pavement. I got up on my hands and stared at it before crawling over, my heart racing.
I heard another grunt, another gunshot, but they were still fighting. Tanner had the gun and was trying to point it at Bennigan’s face, but Bennigan was pushing back against him. They were locked in a struggle, sweating and grunting. I saw blood blooming on Tanner’s shoulder.
I made it to the gun and picked it up. It felt like lead in my hands. It was so heavy, and I’d never shot a gun before, and my heart was pounding. Bennigan kneed Tanner in the arm and knocked the gun from his hand. Tanner grunted in pain then smashed his forehead into Bennigan’s face. I heard Bennigan’s nose crunch as Tanner roared and threw himself forward.
The men hit the ground again. Tanner rained blows down on Bennigan. But Bennigan managed to fight back, kneeing Tanner, punching him in the gut.
Tanner fell off Bennigan and scrambled for his gun.
But Bennigan got up, kicked Tanner in the chest. Tanner rolled, got to his feet, and tackled Bennigan before Bennigan could reach the weapon.
Tanner pinned Bennigan to the ground and began to slam his fists into Bennigan’s face.
I crawled toward them, heart racing, terror ringing through my boy. Both men were bruised and bloody. Tanner’s eyes were wild with an animal rage as he rained blows down on Bennigan.
