Page 11 of Addiction

Trust me?

He wanted to balk at that. He was literally the least trustworthy man on the planet, but if she wanted to stay alive, she had to stay with him. Sure, Bennett wouldn’t have ordered his daughter’s death, but he was a man who’d already been prepared to give her away to Tucker. She certainly couldn’t trust him!

Anyhow, who was to say Bennett was in charge? The dead guy behind him hadn’t been taking instructions from Bennett before he died. Tucker would have recognized his dulcet tone. Whoever had been on the radio was someone else—someone he was yet to encounter…

As if the device had heard his thoughts, the radio burst into life behind them.

“Johnson!”

Tucker’s heart accelerated at the sudden ferocious tone bursting from it.

“Fuck.” Glancing at the radio, his jaw clenched.

“Johnson, come in! Are you there?”

“See…” The angry voice had more than proven the point for him. “These guys aren’t going away, little girl, and I know you might think you’re safe from them, but…” His voice trailed away as he examined her stunned face. After everything he’d put her through, could he truly be the one to tell her that her own father might allow her death?

“You think I’m in danger.” Her eyes widened as she rationalized his conclusion. “Is that what you’re saying?”

Sir. He bit down on the urge to correct her.

There would come a time when he’d address her disrespect, but this was not it. His only concern at that moment was persuading her to cooperate. Their progress would be a lot slower if he had to carry her kicking and screaming.

“Look at the facts, little girl.” He pressed one palm into the bark by the side of her face. “He already gave you to me. I wouldn’t exactly call Bennett loyal or caring, and whoever is using that radio seems to be in charge. Neither of us can trust in that.”

“Shit.” Her eyes fell closed as she took in his words.

“We need to get away.” He leaned closer, fighting the urge to kiss her. “I know you’re upset, but I swear I only killed him to keep us safe.”

To keep you safe.

He hoped the look in his eyes revealed his final line when her gaze flickered open. He couldn’t bring himself to admit it.

“I know.” She pulled in what looked like a painful breath. “It’s horrible, but I know you had to kill him.” Once more, her gaze darted to where Johnson’s body was strewn.

“Don’t look at him.” His voice was gentle but insistent as his free palm moved to the other side of her face. “Look at me, little girl.”

“I’m sorry, sir.” She returned his soft tone, though her chest still rose and fell rapidly. “I didn’t expect any of this.”

His heart swelled as she finally referred to him properly. “Fair enough.”

Even he hadn’t envisaged such a bloody diversion, but as he stared into her green eyes, he was surprised at how the compulsion to punish her ebbed with her conciliation. The push and pull between them had always seemed so stringent before, but in the cold light of day, all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and offer comfort.

“We’d better go.” She pressed her lips together as though she also felt the shift in dynamic.

“Yes.” He straightened, offering her his hand. “Let’s keep moving.”

“Wait.” Her focus flitted to the ground. “I left the water here somewhere.”

“You grab it then.” Smiling, he withdrew and allowed her space. “We still have a long journey ahead.”

“Don’t say that,” she murmured as she clutched the plastic to her chest. “I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

“It’s okay,” he reassured as his gaze returned to the man he’d slain. “I’ll look after you, but perhaps it will be better to take his gun to defend ourselves. These guys aren’t taking prisoners.” He recalled how close he’d come to proving the point.

“Really?” She wrinkled her delicate nose. “But I hate guns, sir.”

“I don’t like them, either.” He sighed. “But I’m determined to keep you safe, and like it or not, it’s a lot easier to achieve that with his weapon than it is with my knife.”

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