Page 77

But that was just a wishful, woo-woo thought.

She gave herself a thirty percent chance of surviving a fall into the river, but that survival number would crash down to near zero if they put her in the van.

The odds were in her favor.

Then she was dropping, plunging, struggling to get her head into the air and to get out of the damned dress, with the yards of fabric gathered into tiers of ruffles, absorbing water and weighing her down.

And there he was, Ethan.

Of course he was.

She knew he would be.

He’d gone over the bridge into the water to save her.

Who does something like that?

She wasn’t Amanda; she wasn’t on his list of protectees. No one was paying him for this act of bravery.

She was just some chick clacking away from him in stupid shoes.

If she hadn’t been so ego-hurt and accepted his ride, none of this would have happened.

Ever since Piper bobbed to the surface and found him swimming toward her, she knew she had risked his life. The guilt was horrific.

But thank goodness for Tango. Without Tango’s bite, there was literally nothing Piper could have done to save herself.

They would have lifted her and stuffed her into a van. Blocked from view in either direction by big men, no one would have seen. No one would raise the alarm.

She’d have been on the bridge, then poof.

Ethan jostled her. “Are you with me? Piper?”

Her body jolted. “Tango!”

She sat ramrod straight and twisted her head to see the bridge.

No Tango.

She spun in Ethan’s arms, frantic. Desperate. “Tango!”

“She’s okay, Piper.” Ethan put his hands on either side of her face. “Look at me. Tango is on the shore running beside us, remember? See the guy with the binoculars?” Ethan dropped his hands to her shoulders so she could turn. “He’s watching her, okay? She’s safe. She’s wearing a tracking collar.” So calm. So steady. “My brothers are on her trail. They’ll be watching out for her.” From his tone, Piper thought Ethan didn’t mean blood-line brothers but brothers in arms.

“Tango is fine. You’re fine. We’re all good.”

Piper’s body convulsed, and she started to cry.

Ethan rearranged himself so he could hold her to his chest, stroking her wet hair.

As he pulled her closer, her tears rubbed onto his shoulder. She tried to drag the tablecloth around to protect him from her snot.

“This is adrenaline leaving your system. It feels terrible. Believe me, I know. This sobbing is normal. Once you reset, you’ll feel better. Ride the wave. I’ve got you. You’re okay now.”

When she was quiet again, Ethan whispered, “The guy with the binoculars told me that Tango’s on her lead. He described my friend Gator.” His lips were so close.

Piper wished he’d kiss her cheek or hair. Kiss her lips.

She desperately wanted that kiss.