Chapter 42 Rowan
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
ROWAN
This asshole is really fucking with my plans for the evening.
A nice date.
Some flowers for my girl.
And then some filthy sex.
Is that really too much to ask for?
Knowing Asher is on his way home eases some of my worries. Because even if Jeffrey wants to order whoever is in the van to attack us, we have backup on the way, and he’ll be perfectly aware of that.
I push the accelerator harder than I would like with Hannah in the car, but it’s necessary. I have to shake this guy before I head home, and this is the only way to do that.
Tension bleeds into the air, and although I’d like nothing more than to reach for her, I can’t. Not yet. Not until we’re safe.
Once we’re behind the walls of our home, I’ll give her as much comfort and reassurance as she needs. But for right now, all my focus needs to be on keeping her safe.
Hannah looks over her shoulder and lets out a little squeak when she notices the van is closer than before.
I’m almost positive he’s just trying to spook us, but on the small chance that they mean us harm, I need to put some distance between us.
“You okay, Hannah?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“You wouldn’t be lying to me, would you, sweetheart?”
“I’m lying to the both of us,” she snaps, and I can’t help but chuckle.
Always the little brat.
The van matches my speed, keeping up with us as we weave through endless trees. We’re getting close to home now, and I have to make a decision.
I either lead them straight to the house, or I take them on a wild goose chase.
It’s not like Jeffrey doesn’t know where I live. He’s one of the most well-connected men in the country. I’d be surprised if he couldn’t get the address for anyone he wanted. But what I don’t know is what and who are in the van.
As confident as I am that they’re just trying to scare us, I can’t shake the worry that they’re not.
What if there’s an arsenal behind the blacked-out windows and they’re biding their time before they take my girl from me?
I don’t fucking think so.
Easing off the accelerator slightly, I round the bend that our driveway is just beyond.
I release a breath, forcing the tension from my shoulders. “Hold on tight, Hannah.”
She doesn’t get a chance to respond before I jerk the wheel to the side, turning into the driveway at the last second and pushing the car to its limits as I speed toward the gate.
I reach up and press the button to open it the second it comes into view and hope like hell I can get it closed before the van makes it through.
“Rowan,” Hannah whimpers.
“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”
She presses her eyes closed as her fingers clench the seat beneath her.
I fucking hate that she’s afraid, fucking hate that I can feel every ounce of anxiety running through her body, but there’s nothing I can do about it right now.
Right now, I need to get us to safety, and then I’m going to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
I will not have my woman in danger, and I certainly won’t be responsible for her fear.
We’re barely through the gate when it starts to close, the wrought iron seeming to move slower than it ever has before.
But it doesn’t matter.
The van slows to a stop on the other side of the gate as we approach the house, and it’s not until we pull into the garage that my body relaxes.
That was close.
Too fucking close.
The door closes, leaving us in complete darkness aside from the glow of the dash, but it’s enough for me to see Hannah’s eyes pinched shut, her chest rising and falling a little too fast.
“Hannah?” I say softly as I reach for her.
She flinches when I brush my fingers along her bare arm, making me feel like an even bigger asshole than I already did.
I’ll never be worthy of Hannah. That’s a fact I accepted when I first realized I would never be able to let her go and that I would stop at nothing to make her mine. But right now, I don’t even deserve to look at her.
“We’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.” I keep my voice gentle, my words quiet and even, and despite how badly I long to pull her into my arms, I keep my hands to myself.
Asher will be home soon. He’ll be able to comfort her.
I press my eyes closed and force a steadying breath into my lungs.
We need to get inside.
The van may have stopped at the gate, but that doesn’t mean whoever is inside isn’t planning on scoping out the property. I need to get Hannah closer to the panic room, just in case.
I push my own fear and anger to the back of my mind before I shove the door open and round the car.
Opening Hannah’s door as carefully as I can manage, I lean over her and unclip her seat belt. I gather her into my arms, and I barely get a chance to straighten before she curls into me.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I murmur against her temple as I stride into the house.
The security system will alert me if anyone gets onto the property, meaning I can focus on taking care of my girl until Asher gets back.
It’s not until I get her into her bedroom that I’m able to loosen my grip on her. The panic room is in the closet, not that we’ve had a chance to go over how to operate it yet—an oversight I’ll be rectifying as soon as she stops trembling.
I reach the bed and move to place her down, but I can’t do it.
Partly because my body won’t allow me to, and partly because hers won’t either.
Hannah clings to me like I’m the only thing holding her together, which doesn’t make any sense because this is all my fault.
She was in danger because of me.
She was scared because of me.
She should be running in the opposite direction, not holding on for dear life.
“Asher will be home soon,” I murmur.
As badly as I want to hold on to her forever, shield her from any harm that could come to her, I recognize her need for space, and I’ll give her that.
Let me be clear. I’ll never let her go, never allow her to run from me. But I’ll give her anything else her heart desires for the rest of her life.
I try for a second time to place her on the mattress, but her grip on me tightens, and my chest clenches at the movement.
She’s telling me without words that she needs me. That I’m her safe place.
I cross to the same chair I sat in last night and drop into it, rearranging her as best I can with the death grip she has on me.
“I’ve got you, baby,” I murmur.
Once Asher gets home, we have some decisions to make.
Do we take out Jeffrey Malone once and for all? Consequences be damned?
Or do we take Hannah far away, where his influence means nothing?