Page 170 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

He made me see the best in myself.

I thank the clerk with a fake smile, my supply of them running low.

Back outside, I drink greedily. “Want some?”

“No, thanks.”

I finish the bottle and toss it away. “Okay, time to find the pound. It’s open until nine p.m. Are you ready? You didn’t sleep much on the train.”

“Nightmares,” he mutters.

My shoulders slump.

“Everything’s fine, cutie,” he assures me. “If I sleep glued to you in a decent bed, I’ll be in great shape tomorrow.”

“Let’s go,” I say, grabbing his hand, our fingers intertwining as if by instinct.

But as we near the impound lot, Kai halts, his body rigid. His eyes fix on a dark SUV parked a block from the entrance—the same model as the one I blew up.

“Shit,” Kai whispers, his hand squeezing mine. His eyes are sharp, scanning the street. “Stay behind me,” he murmurs, positioning himself between me and the threat.

“I’ve got your back,” I say, matching his gaze. A strange rush fills me—the thrill of protecting him, standing by his side. A far cry from the life I knew before.

We cautiously advance toward the SUV, carefully avoiding any noise. The evening is quiet. Kai’s body remains tense and poised for action, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

The hum of traffic is a distant whisper.

My grip on Kai’s hand tightens as we approach the SUV. But it’s empty.

“No sign of anyone,” he mutters after a moment of relief.

He motions for silence, nodding toward the impound lot. We inch forward, blending with the shadows of the streetlights.

Suddenly, Kai stops, pulling me flush against him, his heartbeat hammering against my chest. His eyes lock on the entrance—four armed men.

“Damn,” he curses under his breath.

“We can’t take the risk,” I whisper. “Let’s wait for later tonight.”

Kai hesitates, his eyes glued to the men. “No. We need to do this now. It’s a mess.”

“I like this mess,” I say, meeting his gaze.

The air between us crackles. His lips twitch into a smile. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, fingers lingering on my neck. My breath catches at the warmth of his touch.

“I can’t wait for this to be over,” he rasps, rough but gentle. “I just want to take you to bed and never let go.”

His words make my heart stutter.

I close my eyes, my insides like melted butter.

Love has a way of making even the most impossible situations feel real. It defies all logic.

Kai’s love is like wildfire—powerful and uncontrollable. It may burn everything in its path, but it’s also the reason I keep fighting.

That fire fuels me.

“We’ll get through this,” he promises, his voice full of conviction. “But we need a plan…”

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