Page 20 of Claimed By my Fake Husband

"Hopefully they find him soon."

The sarcasm is thick, and I scowl at the guy before hauling Tess back toward my car.

"We're getting out of here."

She yanks her arm free, glaring at me from the passenger side. Her eyes are bright with frustration and anger, and if the situation were different, it'd be hot as hell.

"Don't just drag me around. I'm not a child."

"Could've fooled me. Or are you not the one who snuck out in the middle of the night to do something insanely dangerous?"

"Ugh." She yanks at the locked door until I hit the remote and it pops open. "You will not make me feel guilty for doing my job."

She drops into the seat and slams the door before I can say anything else.

My jaw's clenched so hard it aches, and I have to rein in every urge to shake some sense into her.

It won't work. I know that. And I know I'm pissed.

Don't do anything angry. You'll regret it.

I walk around, get behind the wheel, and crank the ignition. I grip the steering wheel for a second before I put the car in drive.

"Are you okay? He attacked you. Do you need?—"

"I'm fine. Don't fuss. Andrew's a lot more bark than bite."

That earns her a sharp look. "He had a gun, Tess. That's a hell of a lot of bite."

She rolls her eyes and turns to the window, jaw working as she leans away from me.

"I'm fine. Leave it. You did your bodyguard thing. You protected me."

"I shouldn't havehadto protect you. Not from this. This was a risk you could've avoided entirely, and you didn't even talk to me before deciding it was a good idea to?—"

"I don't need to run my decisions by you. I'm not a child."

Another glare. I grumble and pull out, getting us away from that house as fast as I can.

She doesn't like the way I'm driving. I don't care right now.

Tess could have died tonight.Died.And she doesn't seem to understand the weight of that at all.

What if I'd been a minute later? What if I wasn't as good as she thinks I am?

My gut twists at the thought, nausea rolling through me as I push the car harder than I should.

I hate this. What did she think would happen? I can't be everywhere. Does she actually think she's invincible? Because she's not. Rebecca wasn't?—

My thoughts slam to a stop as the wrong name surfaces.

Rebecca.I couldn't protect her. I knew the guy she was seeing was bad news. I warned her. She never listened.

And now she's dead.

The same thing could have happened to Tess tonight. And Icannotlet that happen. Not again. Not to her.

It hits me how deep this runs, how furious and shaken I am over a woman I've known for days. I shouldn't feel this way about a client.