Page 13 of Protect Me

“We’ll drive toward Portland till morning.Then I’ll call Ian, check in, and ditch the car at a used car lot.I also want to scan you one more time.Maybe I missed something.”

His gaze alternates between the front and rearview mirror, his aggravation at being found evident.

“I’m sorry.I don’t know how they tracked me.”I curl into myself on the passenger seat.

“It’s not your fault.As a matter of fact, you’re pretty impressive under pressure.”He turns toward me and smiles.“You stepped up and tased the bastard.Are you sure your neck is okay?”

“It hurts, but yeah.I’m good.”I appreciate his concern.

I am glad he sees my strength, too.

***

Shane

While Talia dozesbeside me in the passenger seat, I drive north, my head full of recriminations over the fact that they were discovered, wondering what I missed.I glance over, also marveling at the fact that Talia stepped up.

She didn’t shrink in the face of danger, she didn’t panic, she did what she needed to do and helped save my ass in the process.Yeah, I’d have taken the guy, but she made it a hell of a lot easier on me.

I grin, listening to the soft little noises she makes while sleeping, her eyeglasses on her lap.A glance at the clock tells me I can call the office, so I pull a burner from the bag on the floor at Talia’s feet.

Ian answers on the first ring.“Talk to me.”

“We were made at the motel.Damned if I know how.I’m going to switch wheels and stop somewhere we can scan everything again.Not that I imagine we missed much.Fucking big pharmaceutical conspiracy.They could have tagged her anywhere.”

“Agreed.My sources at the Dallas PD tell me Talia’s assistant was found bound and gagged in a closet in the lab.Guy’s petrified, but otherwise fine.I don’t think he’s involved in any way.Unfortunately, the security guard in the front was taken out.”

“Dead?”

“Confirmed,” Ian says.

Talia pops up at my use of the word.I place a calming hand on her thigh, and a jolt of immediate awareness hits me hard.

Her gaze meets mine, and she draws her tongue over her lips.

“Stay safe, and keep in touch,” Ian said, disconnecting the call.

“Who’s dead?”Talia immediately asks.

I draw a deep breath, knowing there is no way to sugarcoat the truth.“The security guard from your lab.Your assistant was found tied up but unharmed.”

If I had to guess, there was a confrontation with the guard.Her assistant was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.Talia and her work are clearly the targets.

She flinches at the news.“That’s awful.”Her voice cracks, and I don’t remove my hand from her leg.

“Talia, don’t blame yourself.”I know the tendency will be there.“They’d want the formula no matter who created it.Greed is the root of all evil, remember.”

“Yeah.It’s just… I knew him.He was a nice man.He had a wife, kids.Suddenly it’s just soreal.”

I turn my hand over and cover hers.

“Thanks for understanding,” she says softly.“And caring.”

I do care.More than I want to admit.

Chapter Five

Shane