Page 15 of Offside Angel

“I mean, she waited until I was asleep and slipped through the bathroom window like a fucking ninja.”

There’s a shuffling sound and then Taylor’s barking at me. “What were you doing sleeping in some cheap motel? You were supposed to grab her and bring her home!”

I don’t answer, which must be answer enough.

“Men,” Taylor spits in disgust. “You’re all the fucking same. Sex is on the table and you let all of your well-laid plans—and the woman you love—go right out the window!”

“Why’d she escape through a window?” Danie’s voice is faint in the background. “I thought she loved Zane.”

“She does! But she’s obviously running from something.” Taylor clicks her tongue. “I should’ve figured it out sooner. Mira was always jumpy and she changed her locks more than any normal person should. Obviously, something wasn’t right.”

“Running from what? Is she in witness protection or something?” Daniel asks.

They start talking amongst themselves like I’m not even here, tossing around theories that are somehow even more wild than the truth.

“It’s her story to tell,” I finally cut in. “Mira will tell you when and if she wants to. But right now, all you need to know is that she thinks she’s protecting all of us from her past. The only reason she wants to leave is because she thinks it’ll put us in danger if she stays.”

“Then tell her you don’t care about being in danger!” Taylor snaps.

“I did.”

“Tell her you’ll protect her, then.”

“I did.”

There’s another scuffle and then Daniel’s voice comes through loud and clear. “Or, alternatively, you kidnap the woman you love and hold her against her will until she agrees to stay with you.”

I snort. “She’ll love that.”

“It’s not exactly romantic,” Taylor muses, “but the plan has its merits. Mostly that I get my best friend back.”

“I think it’s a great plan,” Daniel says. “Plus, you’re doing it to keep her safe, which I think is very romantic. One day, she’ll thank you.”

I don’t know if that’s true.

I don’t even think I care if it’s not.

It would kill me if anything happened to Mira because she was trying to protect me. So I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect her.

Whether she likes it or not.

She is down the street grabbing food, the P.I. texts as I pull to a stop behind the dumpster behind the building. No luggage with her, so I think she’s coming back. Room 129.

I could go chase her around town, but I think it’s about time Mira came to me.

All it takes is the slide of my credit card along the inside of the door and the lock to her room pops.

The lights are off. The room smells like decades-old cigarette smoke and dust, but Mira wafts in the air. The floral scent of her hangs like a ghost in the doorway.

So I drop down into the rickety plastic chair in the corner, and I wait.

It can’t be more than ten minutes later when I hear footsteps on the concrete outside. Then her keycard sliding in the door.

The second she pushes the door open, I grab her by the wrist and pull her into the room.

Her paper bag of food goes flying and she screams, but the sound chokes off when I pin her against the wall and she gets a good look at me.

Her green eyes go wide. She’s teetering between shock and relief. “Zane.”

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