“Picked up a tail. Watch your six.”
“Copy.”
The line went dead, and Zeke’s attention returned to the road. “Samuel will take care of it. He’ll call for backup and make sure nothing happens to Star or Monica. I promise you.”
“Thank you, Zeke. I couldn’t… They’ve been through enough.”
“So have you. You need to be safe, too.”
“I know, but I have you.”
Zeke took a quick turn, sending Nina against the side of the SUV. “Hold on,” he growled.
Nina checked the mirror, the SUV still following them. Her pulse raced. Her throat tightened. The vehicle was closer, two cars back now. They were getting bolder, not caring that they were visible.
She did this. If something happened to Zeke, she would never forgive herself. She put him in danger. She risked his life to save her own.
She never should have called him. She should have just disappeared. Left town and never looked back.
She rubbed her chest at the thought. Being with Zeke the last week made her feel alive in a way she never knew was possible. It gave her hope for a future. Hope she could have a life.
Not to mention the way he looked at her and touched her and lit her up with both. She never dreamed of love. Not real love. She fantasized about one of her men saving her, but she knew it wasn’t love. She knew it would be more of the same. She would trade one prison for another.
But with Zeke?—
He jerked the wheel and turned into a parking lot.
Nina looked at the police vehicles filling the lot. The police station rose before them, a concrete monstrosity that overwhelmed the area.
She looked back just in time to see the vehicle drive right past the parking lot and keep going. The driver didn’t even look over, just stared straight ahead and kept going.
She didn’t recognize him.
“He’s gone,” Zeke said.
Nina nodded. “I didn’t recognize him. Did you?”
Zeke shook his head. “Doesn’t mean anything, though. Are you okay?”
Nina shrugged and clenched her hands together. They shook, her entire body trembling with the fear coursing through her.
“You’re safe now,” Zeke whispered, pulling her against him, the console restricting how close she could get.
“I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. I should have been watching more closely.”
“Star? Monica?”
“We’ll check with them when we get to the office. I need to make some calls and want to see your brother.”
“Do you think it’s safe?”
Zeke tapped his screen, calling Monty.
“Rose.”
“We just left station two. We believe someone was following us.”
