Chapter 8 #2
I head toward my apartment first. But, no, that’s a real bad idea. Instead, I veer off down a side street. I’m going at a jog now. I can’t worry about icy patches. Escape is the only thought screaming across my brain.
As I turn onto a sleepy commercial street, the cold wind lashes my face and tears spring to my eyes. After everything I’ve done to escape my old life, and build a new life in Perdue, here they are—
I go faster and faster but I can hear fast footsteps behind me. He’s gaining on me. I turn my head to see how close he is and—
Boof! I collide with something unyielding. Like a wall. But a wall dressed in clothing.
I yelp and jerk back, but my feet start to skid on a patch of ice. The baby! I let out a scream of panic.
Suddenly, a pair of big arms are wrapping around my waist, holding me up.
“Ava.”
This voice is nothing like my pursuer’s. It’s deep, gravely, fierce.
And it touches me, deep in the core of my body.
Trembling, I look up. At a familiar rugged face. A strong forehead, square jaw covered in light brown stubble, and a pair of blazing, Siberian-ice eyes.
“Stinger?” I gasp out. “What are you doing—?”
He frowns, searching my face. “Why are you running?”
“Someone’s after me—”
“Who?” Keeping a firm grip on my arms, he peers into the darkness behind me. The footsteps get louder.
A growl bursts from his lips. “You’ve got five seconds to tell me what you’re doing, chasing after my girl!” he bellows, his voice echoing off the walls.
My girl.
I’m terrified. Confused. Freaked out. But these words sear through my brain, and warmth floods my entire body.
The footsteps skid to a stop, but I don’t turn around. I keep on staring into Stinger’s fierce features, my heart hammering in my chest.
“I’m here on behalf of the federal government, to issue Ava Benotto with a subpoena to appear in court,” the smooth, privileged-sounding voice says.
“Not me,” I mutter.
“You’ve got the wrong person!” Stinger booms. “And what the hell are you doing, chasing a woman down an icy sidewalk?”
“Sir, I’m acting in accordance with the jurisdiction of… “
“And I’m telling you, you’re making a mistake.”
“I don’t think so, Sir—” The voice turns slimy, sardonic.
“Wait here, honey.” Stinger maneuvers me toward the front wall of an electrical goods store. When he’s made sure I’m securely on my feet, he releases me.
Then, he turns and grabs the federal government official by the lapels of his coat, and lifts him off the ground.
He freaking lifts him. Like he’s a competitor in some crazy strongman competition.
The man’s legs flail uselessly. “Put me down—” he wheezes.
“Folks in Perdue don’t take kindly to intruders coming in, stalking people who are minding their own business.”
“I wasn’t stalking her, I was—”
Stinger shakes the man, like a terrier shakes a rat. The guy turns purple and scrabbles at his throat.
“You’re not listening to me. She was running. Terrified.” Stinger shakes him again. “How would you feel if someone was doing that to your sister. Or your mom?”
“P-pretty angry, I guess,” the man chokes out.
“Right. That’s how I feel right now. Times ten. What are we gonna do with you?” Stinger shakes his head, almost sadly. I remember what he did to those assholes at the truck stop and I start to shiver.
“Because, I’ve gotta be honest, my instincts are telling me to tear you apart. Dump you someplace no one would ever find you. How about that?”
The man’s eyes just about burst out of his head. “How about I just leave and never come back?” he chokes.
“Tell your superiors you couldn’t find her. She’s missing, presumed dead?”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.”
Stinger gives him another shake. “Will you really?”
“Yup. I’ll do anything you say.”
“Don’t make me come after you. Because if anyone hurts a single hair on my girl’s head—ever—I’m going to hold you personally responsible. You hear me?”
“I do, I do,” the man gabbles.
With a sigh, Stinger releases him. The guy’s legs are so wobbly they go out from under him, and he hits the ground with a thud.
“Get up,” Stinger bellows.
The man whimpers, tries and fails to get up, then he starts crawling along the sidewalk, until he manages to get to his feet and run. Fucking cowardly prick.
Stinger dashes to me. “Ava, are you okay?”
I clap my hand over my mouth. I’m not okay. My head is spinning. They found me. I don’t know how, but here they are, in my little sanctuary, where I thought no one could get at me.
“Will they come back?” I gasp out.
Stinger frowns. I know he wants to ask who they are. But he doesn’t.
“No. I don’t think so. I scared him good. And I meant what I said. Anyone else comes after you, and I’ll hunt him down and tear him apart.”
I know he means what he says. And perhaps it should freak me out. But it doesn’t. It makes me feel safe. I take a stumbling step toward him. He holds out his arms, and I fall into his big, warm embrace.
God, I’ve missed him so much.
I’m shaking like crazy, but Stinger keeps rubbing my back until my panic eases away.
“Let’s get you inside,” he says.
“Yes. Please.”
Keeping his arm around me, he starts to walk me down the street. I relax into his warmth. It feels so damn good to be with him again.
Protected.
Too good.
I stop dead in the street.
Because this can’t happen.
And why are we heading toward my apartment? I didn’t tell him where I live.
I pull away from him. “I’m not your girl,” I say.