Page 150 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

She pressed her lips together.

“Bea?”

“All right.”

“Say it.”

Despite everything, she almost smiled. “I’ll call the police, then I’ll call Katerina.”

“Good.”

“And I am fine.”

“I know.”

Something in the way he said it made her close her eyes.

“Call me back if anything changes. If he comes closer, tries a door or window, anything—you call me. Don’t decide it’s too small to bother me with.”

“I wasn’t trying to bother you.”

“I know that too.”

She swallowed.

“Go make the calls, darlin’.”

“All right.”

“Now.”

That did make her smile, just a little. “Yes, Blane.”

He stayed on the line until she had the police number ready on the screen.

“I’ll talk to you soon.”

“All right.”

She hesitated. “Blane?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

His answer came without hesitation. “Always.” Then he ended the call.

~ ~ ~

Blane was already moving. He grabbed the duffel he kept packed, shoved his wallet and keys into his pockets, and headed for the door. Bea had people coming. The doors were locked. She was calling the police. For the next little while, she was as safe as he could make her from six thousand miles away. But that wasn’t good enough—nowhere near good enough. He called Cash as he ran down the stairs.

Cash answered on the second ring. “What’s up, bud?”

“I need the jet.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Bea poured Katerina a fresh cup of coffee and refilled her own mug. She probably shouldn’t—she’d had far too much of the stuff already, and her nerves certainly didn’t need the caffeine. She was jittery after last night, and of course she’d barely slept a wink.