Page 38 of Hidden But Not Safe

When Naz moved in front of Meg, Julio stopped, his eyes narrowing.

Naz pointed at Meg, then himself.

Julio sneered. “I told you before, I’m not figuring out that shit. You got something to say, say it.”

Meg’s hand repeated what Naz had done, moving toward herself, then to him with a frown before her eyes widened. “Wait. Do you want me to go with you?”

Naz nodded, but he shifted his gaze to study Julio.

Julio was not amused. “You want to take her on a job?”

Naz didn’t want to leave her there without him, but he figured it was the same thing. He nodded again.

Julio burst out laughing. “You’re so fucking stupid. You’re not even pussy whipped since you don’t like pussy, more like a lapdog.” He crossed his arms. “Naz, you want to be my woman’s lapdog? That makes you my bitch.”

Naz didn’t give a shit what the man called him. He only cared about one thing: not leaving Meg alone with Julio’s crew.

Julio stared back, then moved forward, getting into Naz’s face. “If you try to disappear with her, I’m going to fucking gut you.”

Naz didn’t flinch, though he was about ready to be done with the asshole.

“Wait, you’re letting her go with him?” Miguel asked, a whine in his voice.

Julio’s eyes hardened as they slid to him. “Think I didn’t notice your shit? Don’t fucking push me.”

He eased away from Naz, turning his back on him as he approached the table, waving over his shoulder in dismissal.

Meg hopped off the table with a happy squeal. “Does this mean I get to ride your motorcycle again?” She grabbed Naz’s hand, linking their fingers as she moved ahead, tugging him toward the warehouse exit.

Julio’s stare pierced his back as they left.

When they reached his motorcycle, Meg pulled on his arm, leaning into him and close to his ear. “Are you helping me run?”

All the warmth from before withered away as he stared down at her. Meg wanted to leave. The thought hammered at the inside of his skull, and his body turned to stone.

Meg’s eyes widened. “Oh,” she breathed out. “That’s not—” Her scraping laugh burst out, cutting off her own words. It dragged along his nerve endings in its falseness.

Meg let go of his hand, reaching for the helmet. “I was kidding. This will be fun.” She pulled it over her head. “Here, help me strap this on.”

Naz’s fingers moved almost mechanically as his mind raced. She hadn’t been kidding. She wanted him to help her leave.

He couldn’t seem to fasten the buckle.

Her hands clasped his face, making him grow still and focus on her eyes.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she murmured, her fingers warm against his skin. “The way you take care of me is more than I’ve ever had before. I won’t get you into trouble, I promise.” Her fingers stroked over his cheek, the one she’d kissed before, then pulled away.

His chest felt like a rib was broken as he cinched the helmet tighter and considered what it would look like if they did run.

He didn’t hate the image, even if their time together would be brief once the cartel came after them.

Chapter 14

Diego had left the garage open at the same house as before, and Naz pulled straight in. He knew he should close the door as soon as possible. The less he was seen there, the better.

When his legs lowered to balance the stopped motorcycle, Meg started to pull away from him, and his hands closed over hers to keep them resting on top of his stomach.

He wondered if having her cling to him would ever get old. He’d never slept better in his life than the nights she wrapped her body around him. Feeling her at his back on the ride was almost as good.

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