Page 103 of Left in the Dark

My masked man mutters as we turn to Stryker. I shoot him a warning look, squeezing his fingers. The fucker rolls his eyes, and I glare at him.

Sighing, I turn my attention to Stryker. “You shouldn’t feel bad for what happened. He’s not going to punish you for Tim grabbing me.”

His head lowers. “I had a job to do, and I failed. I was distracted by a woman.” His head jerks up, and I can tell he didn’t mean to let that slip out.

“Ahhh. I get it.”

My masked man’s eyes bore into the side of my face. “Get what? That’s not a fucking excuse.”

“He likes a girl and was distracted by her. So what? He got to me before I was hurt. I’m certain he feels bad and won’t let it happen again, right?”

Stryker nods.

“See, all is well.” I shiver as I look at Tim’s prone body lying on the ground. Memories of the last time he assaulted me infiltrate me.

“What’s wrong?” My masked man pulls me into his arms, turning my face to his.

“Bad memories.” I blow out a breath. “Is he dead?”

“Not yet,” my masked man says, a cloud of rage swirling around him like a storm. “Once I’m finished with him, he will be.”

“Good.” The urge to walk over and kick the fucker rises inside me as my anger swells.

My masked man steers me to my car, but instead of the driver’s seat, he guides me toward the passenger seat.

“Get her home,” he says to Stryker over his shoulder.

“No, I?—”

“You don’t need to be driving right now. You’re too shaken up from that fucker putting his hands on you. I need to get that fucker out of here before someone sees him.” He pushes me in the seat, fastening my seatbelt while Stryker gets in the driver’s seat. He grabs my keys from my purse, tossing them to Stryker.

I begin protesting, but my masked man’s eyes bore into mine. “You want Mrs. Robinson to see you out here with us?”

“No…” My brows furrow.

He cups my face. “Go home, Delaney. I’ll see you soon.” Without another word, he shuts the door, hurrying toward Tim’s prone body.

Stryker has already started my car. He hurriedly backs up and then pulls out of the lot. “If you haven’t figured it out, that man loves you. He’s only looking out for you.”

I stare at his masked profile as he drives down the road, at a loss for words.

His head turns to me. Even though I can’t see his face, I feel the regret rolling off him. “Sorry I fucked up. I won’t fail you again.”

I stare at him, wondering what he looks like beneath the mask and why I’m not freaking out over this situation.

Instead of being afraid, I feel safe.

“Thanks for protecting me.”

CHAPTER 67

Zayne

“Is Delaney around?” I say to Stryker through his earpiece. I love these little two-way devices we’ve developed. The sound is crystal clear, which was wonderful listening to my woman when she didn’t know it.

I’m always watching and listening to her, and she has no idea. I put one inside her bedroom the last time I was there.

“Nope, she’s inside the house. She tried inviting me for coffee, but I declined.”

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