“Start explaining now, or I am not going anywhere.”
There wasn’t time for that here. Not with too many variables. I reached for her hand instead, and she jerked slightly in surprise.
“Nikolai—”
She froze as the name hung between us, her eyes widened with something akin to anger.
“Is that even your real name?” she breathed.
“Yes.”
“Another lie.”
“Walk,” I said quietly.
“I am not walking anywhere until you—”
I tightened my grip, but not enough to hurt, just enough to make her move.
“Elle.” I continued using the name she had given me, not wanting to alert her. Her pulse jumped beneath my fingers as I said it.
“You do not get to drag me around,” she snapped, voice rising.
It was too loud, and we were already too visible. I didn’t argue and simply pulled her with me, gasps following behind us as we cut through the remaining crowd.
“Elisse,” someone called faintly behind her.
She twisted slightly. “Let go of me!”
Not yet. As we reached outside, the cold air hit us, and she seemed to cool down just a little. The parking lot was partially lit, cars pulling out in staggered intervals, and I moved quickly towards mine.
She dug her heels in, growing a little more frantic with every passing minute. If it were not for my hold on her arm, she would have escaped me by now. “What are you doing?”
“Getting you out of here.”
“You cannot take me anywhere without my permission. What exactly do you think you are saving me from?”
“From becoming leverage.”
She stilled for half a second, confusion ripe on her face, and that was enough time for me. I opened the passenger door and guided her inside before she could regain momentum.
“Are you insane?” she shouted as I shut the door and rounded the front, quickly sliding into the driver’s seat and locking the doors. She grabbed the handle immediately, but it didn’t budge.
“Unlock it right now.”
“No.”
Her head snapped toward me. “You cannot just kidnap me.”
“I’m not kidnapping you.”
“Oh, really?” Her voice climbed. “What exactly would you call this?”
“Preventative action.”
She stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“I am not going anywhere with you unless you are taking me home,” she demanded.
