Page 80 of Guarded Hearts

“But for how long? Carson will be looking for me. He has a whole team behind him. They aren’t going to give up until you’re behind bars where you belong.”

His gaze roamed over her face as if he was weighing the truth behind her words.

“I’m a respected surgeon. You chose to be with me.”

Fear curdled in her stomach like week-old milk. The man was delusional, unhinged.

“I’d never choose you. You are nothing to me.”

When he sank to the edge of her bed, her fear swelled until her chest felt too tight to draw air. But as he lifted a hand to cup her unharmed cheek, she stopped trying to breathe at all.

“Get away from me,” she croaked.

He dropped his hand but didn’t look away from her face. The expression in his eyes more chilling than any she’d seen on him yet.

“You need rest. Sleep, my love.” He stood and turned away from her.

Red-hot anger boiled over inside of her. “I’ll never be your love.”

He swung back, a chilling smile on his face. “There are things I can do to change your mind, Layne. Don’t test me.”

With her whole being, she willed Carson to find her. To hear her mental cry for help.

“Carson came to my rescue before. He’d never abandon me now.”

His grin widened. “Carson is already dead.”

At the flat and serious tone of his words, the sob broke in her throat. “N-no!”

Patel’s smile was complacent. “Like I told you, don’t test me, Layne. I am smarter than your Navy SEAL. I will always come out on top.”

Through a thick fall of tears, she watched him leave the room.

It wasn’t true. Carson would never be bested by her stalker. The man she loved was strong, smart, savvy. He was hardened by life and his military service.

He couldn’t be dead. He would never leave her.

He would come for her.

What if her stalker wasn’t lying?

* * * * *

“There! Stop the car.” Carson threw out his arm, and Oaks jammed on the brakes.

He whipped open the door before the vehicle came to a complete stop, dragging the sole of his boot on the pavement.

As he jumped out, the low rumble of his brother Colt’s truck engine echoed in the silence. A storm was rolling in—he smelled the ozone in the air. Felt the electricity already crackling.

Oaks rounded the SUV, and they swiftly approached the back of the truck. Colt was already in the bed, loading rifles. Tension radiated off his brother and compounded with his and Oaks’s like the thunderclouds hanging over their heads joining forces.

Mouth grim, he looked up at Colt, then swung his gaze to Oaks. “We all know what we’re getting into.”

They each nodded.

“He won’t just hand her over now that he has her.”

“Then we’ll give him a fight he won’t forget.” Colt tossed the rifle his way. Carson caught it neatly and double-checked the chamber.

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