Page 62 of Rami

Rami rocked his jaw. Damn, he hated this. Hated that he had to rely on someone else to keep her safe. “That’s the plan.”

Her sad gaze drifted to the window. “I need to use the washroom.”

“No problem. We need to wait for Taschen to catch up anyway.”

Hitting his turn signal, he took the off-ramp.

A lead weight settled in his gut. They’d separate here. And cutting off his right leg would be easier.

***

Ivy slid out of the passenger seat and into Rami’s extended arm. He’d made her wait until he came around the vehicle before letting her get out.

Part of her didn’t want to be fussed over, but another part of her basked in his affection like a cat in sunshine. Given the circumstances and the fact that she’d just been hunted down in her apartment building, she let her arm wrap around his waist and tucked herself close to his heat.

The bright fluorescent lights of the gas station shined through the windows, hitting the cement with their blinding glow. Rami pulled open the door and a bell chimed. Rows of junk food lined the center of the store. The salesclerk and till were to the left of the entrance, and fridges stocked with beverages filled the rear. Rami turned them in that direction and gestured to the sign dangling from the ceiling. “Bathroom’s this way.”

They walked by a couple of people lingering near the magazines.

When she reached the bathroom and Rami didn’t slow, Ivy paused with the door open. “What are you doing?”

He edged around her and into the single bathroom. “Can’t be too careful.” He checked behind the door and then, satisfied no one was lurking, returned to the hall. “I’ll wait right here.”

“Okay.” She shut the door and locked it then let out a shaky breath. God, he was thorough. Which was obviously why he owned a bodyguard company, but still. Seeing him in action was hot... and a little intimidating.

The idea that someone could have been waiting in the stall, or darted inside while she entered, hadn’t even been a blip on her awareness.

She quickly did her business and turned on the tap to wash her hands. She wanted to linger in the bathroom and not leave. Now, she’d have to trade Rami’s company for Taschen’s, and the thought made sludge form in her stomach.

With Rami she wasn’t just safe—she was content. Aside from the frantic butterflies he gave her, and the primitive desire she felt around him, something else made her feel as charged as an active electrical wire dropped into water.

She wanted to scream, to refuse to leave with Taschen and to insist Rami stay with her, but what would that accomplish? Whether she liked it or not, he was right. She couldn’t keep running. And not just for her sake, but also for the sake of Rami, his team, and Gigi and Todd. They were all affected by this situation, and the sooner it ended, the better.

She hated that Rami would endanger himself for her even more than he already had. Tears burned her eyes and clogged her throat.

After tonight, she might not see him again.

Up until now, she’d thought she could survive anything. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

There was no way she’d survive if something happened to Rami.

***

Rami stretched his neck from side to side as he waited for Ivy in the hall just outside the bathroom. The buzzing fridges and beep, beep, beep of the cash-register scanner were like nails on a chalkboard to his abused senses.

Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t want to leave Ivy. Or the fact that he was jumpier than a crack dealer who’d just heard sirens. Either way, his fingers twitched to hold his gun, but the weapon needed to stay at the small of his back so the cops wouldn’t get called.

“Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.” A little girl no older than five tugged on her mom’s hand a few fridges down. The mother’s arms were loaded with bottles of water. She sighed.

“Okay, honey. I just saw someone go in there. Let’s get our items and pay and then we can use the bathroom.”

“Can I get chips?”

Ding

Rami didn’t catch the mother’s reply. The chime of someone entering the store had snapped his attention to the door. Three masked men entered. Their faces were covered with black material that had cutouts for their eyes and mouths. They surveyed the store.

Sonofabitch.

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