Page 54 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

Caleb: Whoa.

Dalton: As if the world doesn’t have enough assholes. If you ever have to run into him, let me know and I’ll be your backup.

The little I know about Jeremy isn’t impressive, and my friend’s update worsens my opinions of the man even more. Seeing him speeding up to follow us proves he’s a dangerous, determined idiot.

I grit my teeth, thinking back to how he smirked and grinned at Lauren like he had plans for her. Nefarious plans that I won’t let happen.

“We’re almost there,” I tell Lauren.

She’s spent the drive up the mountain glancing from the rearview mirror to the one on the passenger door. Frantic and jerky. Seeing that man has her frazzled and stressed. No sign of the carefree and smiling woman of this morning remains. She’s in panic mode, and I wonder how far this jerk would go. Is she scared that he’ll run us off the road? Make us crash?

He’s a moron to even think about trying anything like that. A possessive need has claimed me, and I’ll take down anyone who tries to hurt her again.

I shake my head, loathing the nerve of this scummy guy. “As soon as I park, can you please stand behind me?”

“I—”

Marian’s old pickup hasn’t settled back on its suspension from my hard brake. She cuts herself off, wrenching the door open and bolting.

“Lauren!” I lurch forward across the bench seat to grasp her arm, keeping her with me.

“Let go.”

I soften my hold on her arm. “Lauren. It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine!”

“I’ve got your back, sweetheart. It will be fine.”

She shakes her head as tears fill her eyes. Breaking down, she slips out of my grasp. “I knew he would find me eventually. I knew it!”

“So what? He’s going to be leaving.”

“Running was stupid,” she cries. “It was so dumb. So naïve. I’m an idiot to think I could ever get away and hide.”

“Lauren, stop.”

She turns, wiping at her eyes.

“I should have known he’d track me down. He had to have found me somehow. I tried to stay off the grid, but he still found me.”

My jaw drops at her defeated tone. “That’s it? You’ll just give up?”

“There’s no hope!” She faces me again, glaring and shouting with her tear-streaked cheeks. “You don’t understand!”

“I can see that you’re considering giving up.”

“I can’t fight him. Not him. Not my parents. They own me.”

“The hell they do!” I pound my fist on the bench seat.

“They do. And I was stupid to think I could stay away from it all.”

“Lauren. Dammit, I can take care of you if that’s what you’re worried about.”

She huffs and looks away.

“I mean it. Sweetheart, I can—”

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