She was shaken enough not to argue. She just held on to me.
“Well, shit. All right.” His vehicle accelerated in the background.
“I’ll send you a pin with my address.” I texted him my location through maps, the easiest way.
“Appreciate it. See you in under an hour.” He clicked off.
I shoved my phone into my pocket. “Step back for me.”
She nodded and straightened, swaying a little before she took a step back. Steady enough for me not to call the cavalry, but not steady enough for a midnight stroll.
I hooked an arm under her legs and lifted her.
“Ransom!”
I went to the back of the truck. “Open the tailgate for me.”
She pushed at me halfheartedly. “I’m not going to fall over.”
“Tell that to your dissolving knees.” I lifted her onto the tailgate. “Stay there. Don’t move.”
She gave me a snappy salute.
Clearly, she was starting to feel better. And I preferred her sarcasm to tears any day.
I put one foot in front of the other. I could fall apart after she was safe. My hand only shook slightly as I slid into the driver’s seat. I tried the ignition and the truck roared to life.
She hopped off the tailgate and came around to the passenger side.
I disengaged the locks to let her in. “What did I say?”
“I’m still in the truck.”
“This isn’t a fucking game.”
“I know it’s not!” Her wide, still panicked eyes met mine. “He just tried to take me. I need to get out of here.”
“We’ll go to the hospital.”
“No, just take me home,” she whispered as she hugged herself. “Please.”
I slammed my door and backed up then did a U-turn to head toward the house. Gravel sprayed under the tires, breaking the heavy silence between us.
If I hadn’t been there…
If I hadn’t chased after her, he could have taken her.
Maybe he’d already be gone with her. And I wouldn’t have any way to find her.
Gone.Maybe forever.
The steering wheel squeaked under my grip.
The trip up the hill was blessedly quick. At the top, I shoved the truck into Park.
“Ransom—”
“Get in the house, Chaos.”
