Page 6 of Donovan Blake: Adrenalin

She wanted to yell at him, but everything he’d said was true.

She wanted to stop the first chance she got and order him to get out.

But she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

CHAPTER FOUR

Watching Phoebe as she drove into the underground car park and stopped at the valet station Donovan could see she was still reeling from the frightening events.

“Hey, you’re safe now,” he said, softening his voice.

“I get that and I’m fine, or rather I will be, but what is this place?”

“I’m picking up my car,” he replied vaguely.

“But—where are we?”

“Again with the questions,” he said, shaking his head as a young man in a black shirt and trousers opened her door. “Give him your keys —or don’t. If you want to leave and take your chances you’re free to go.”

“I’m so tired right now I can’t think straight,” she muttered, and with a resigned sigh she climbed from her car and handed over her key fob.

Stepping out and grabbing her backpack and plastic bag from the back seat, Donovan walked up to the valet and took him aside.

“Put her car in the basement. I want it covered, and change her plates as well,” he said quietly, then striding back, he grabbed her hand and walked her into an elevator.

“Can I ask where you’re taking me?”

“At least you’re asking if you can ask,” he replied, shooting her a grin as the doors closed.

“I don’t know how you can joke at a time like this.”

“Levity can be helpful, but to answer your question, we’re going to my place. You’ll stay there until it’s safe for you to go home.”

“But…won’t they know you’re there…and what about your car?”

“It’s a second home, and I have more than one vehicle. Over there, that’s my SUV,” he added when the doors opened.

As he pointed to a gunmetal gray, Range Rover Defender with tinted windows, he heard her gasp.

“Oh, my God. Donovan…it looks like a beast.”

“It is a beast. It can go pretty much anywhere.”

Keeping his fingers wrapped around hers, he stepped up to the front left tire, retrieved the key fob and unlocked the doors. As he opened the passenger door and watched her climb in, he could see her long, dramatic night was catching up to her.

“Phoebe, you can relax now.”

“Yeah, sure. I’m with a complete stranger sitting in a tank about to be taken to who knows where.”

“Put on your seat belt and take a deep breath. I promise, you’re out of danger.”

“Okay,” she mumbled, then letting out a heavy breath, she said, “Sorry, that was uncalled for.”

“It’s okay, I get it. Just kick back.”

Grateful she was finally calming down, he walked around the beefed up SUV and climbed in behind the wheel. She stayed quiet as he left the building and headed to the freeway. When he drove up the ramp, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. The break in their combative dialogue allowed him to look back over the night’s events and plan his next move. By the time he exited and headed into the hills, he began feeling the fatigue. Though he was almost home he needed to stay focused.

He faced a fifteen-minute drive up a winding road through trees and brush. Finally turning down a narrow dirt track, he drove carefully through a heavily wooded area, then rolled into a garage attached to an impressive, two-story lodge.

---