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“Ow, I am moving!” she retorted, running ahead of him to the door.
“Why did you take the time to change when you know someone could show up at any minute?” he demanded, following her to the top of the stairs.
She didn’t respond, but trotted down ahead of him, then stopped at a hall closet to grab a long parka.
“Do you mind if I take a second for this? The weather isn’t great,” she said sarcastically, glaring at him as she hurriedly slid her arms in the sleeves.
“This is no time to cop an attitude.”
“Sorry,” she muttered, dropping her eyes. “I guess I’m a bit freaked out.”
“You can freak out after we’re on the road. Where’s your phone?”
“Uh, Matt took it,” she replied, zipping up the front of the coat. “Should I fetch it? He won’t wake up. He’ll be asleep for hours.”
“Yes, and do you know his number by chance?”
“I do. I heard him give it to someone just yesterday. I have a great memory for stuff like that.”
“Great, leave your bag and fetch your phone. Make it quick,” he ordered, turning her around and giving her a slight push toward the living room.
“Okay, I’m going, but what about his? It will be in his pocket.”
“I don’t need it. Just go!”
As she hurried away, he flapped open his slicker, put it back on, and was picking up her small suitcase when she returned.
“Got it,” she exclaimed breathlessly, holding up her large screen iPhone. “Follow me. I know the quickest way out of here.”
Turning and walking swiftly down the hall and through the kitchen, she stopped and unbolted a door, but he stepped in front of her before she could open it.
“I’ll go first,” he ordered. “Stay behind me.”
Stepping outside, he discovered a high, solid wall sat surprisingly close. With the house on one side and the wall on the other, they had considerable shelter. Moving swiftly to the street, he paused his step, checked for any new vehicles, then hit the car’s remote to unlock the doors. The SUV was close, but the storm was raging.
“Bianca, are you ready? It’s pretty bad.”
“Yeah, go for it.”
“I’ll hold the door for you.”
“Okay.”
Pushing his way through the heavy gusts and pouring rain, he reached his Porsche, dropped her bag, then struggled to keep the door open as she climbed in. But lifting the tailgate wasn’t a problem. Tossing in her case, he dashed to the driver’s side. Though the ferocious winds made it difficult getting in, he finally slid behind the wheel and closed the door. Quickly turning the SUV around, he headed back to his house and rolled into the garage.
“I’ll only be a minute,” he promised, switching off the engine and pressing the remote to close the garage door behind them. “Is there anything you need? Anything you might have forgotten?”
“No, I’m okay.”
As she looked at him with wide eyes, he knew her bravado had been a facade, and it was slipping away.
“Hang tight,” he said, softening his voice. “I’ll be right back.”
* * *
As Bianca watched her hero disappear into his house, a chill rippled through her body, but the shiver wasn’t from the cold. It was fear pricking her skin. Her escape from the evil Matteus Anderson had been a miracle, but he and his partner wouldn’t just throw up their hands and walk away. They’d hunt her down using any means necessary. Fighting a sudden need to cry, and oddly claustrophobic in her heavy, wet coat, she hastily climbed from the car, pulled it off, and threw it on the back seat.
“Are you okay?”
