Page 50 of Xavier

He stood with a gun pointed toward his face; the woman Lissette had recognized too late smirked.

“Bitch!” Lissette yelled. “You hurt him, and I will commit murder. Your ass will be first in line.”

Xavier didn’t shift his gaze from the woman holding the gun. In a movement too quick for Lissette to make out, he slammed the woman’s arm down, took the gun, and pointed it at her.

The woman ducked and dove into the trees beside the road, probably banking on Xavier not firing into the darkness.

Xavier closed the distance between himself and Lissette. “Get in the truck.” He yanked open the driver’s side and stood with the gun pointing outward.

Lissette slid into the cab and climbed over the console into the passenger seat.

Xavier got in and closed the door. “Stay down,” he said and slipped low in his seat as he slammed the shift into drive and floored the accelerator.

The truck leaped forward.

A loud bang sounded. The back window shattered as a bullet blew through it and through the front windshield, leaving a small hole. Had Xavier been sitting up straight, it would have hit him in the head.

Lissette’s heart lodged in her throat. She swallowed hard and ducked lower. “Go faster!” she urged. “A lot faster.”

“On it,” Xavier said. “They’re following us. Stay low and call the sheriff.”

Lissette took his cell phone and checked for reception. “Damn it. No reception.”

Thankfully, they were nearing town.

A single bar blinked on.

Lissette hit 911.

“They turned off,” Xavier said, his foot easing off the accelerator as they passed the first house on the edge of town.

“I’m still calling.” Lissette held the phone in a death grip as she reported the incident. The dispatcher was still asking questions when Xavier turned into the sheriff’s department parking lot.

They spent the next fifteen minutes filing a report and answering questions.

By the time they left, Lissette felt like she’d run a full marathon. She leaned back against the seat of his pickup. “I’m sorry about your truck.”

He shot a glance her way. “Why?”

“It’s my fault they shot at it.”

“Did you pull the trigger?”

“No, but I might as well have. You and your truck wouldn’t have been caught in the crossfire if you weren’t helping me.” She shook her head. “That’s it. Our deal is off. I’m leaving you here. I don’t want your protection.” She fumbled for the door handle.

Xavier leaned across the console and placed his hand over hers. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said. “I told you I would protect you. Hell, I’m the one who failed. They almost had you, and I did nothing to stop them.”

“You had a gun pointed at you.”

“You fought off two men.” He caught her cheeks between his hands. “I nearly died when I saw them hauling you off. My bad decision nearly got you killed.”

She stared into his eyes. “But it didn’t.”

“But it almost did.” He shook his head from side to side. “I can’t fail again.”

Lissette stared into his tortured eyes. “You won’t.” She wrapped her hand behind his head, brought him close and kissed him. “You won’t,” she repeated against his mouth.

Chapter 9