Page 65 of Becoming His Pet

“Okay, ready.” She appeared in the doorway with a stretch of her arms over her head. She was too damn fuckable at three a.m.

“Good. Let’s go.” He turned off the small lamp by the bed and snagged her hand, leading her out of the cabin.

“Why do you think it’s not safe here anymore?” she asked once he turned off the gravel roads and onto a solid highway.

“Cell phones are easily tracked,” he said.

“Who would track your phone? No one knows I’m with you.” She paused a beat. “Except Bernie. You think Bernie would try to hurt us? No way. I told you, he’s trustworthy.”

No one in any crime family ever could be accused of being trustworthy, but he understood where she was coming from. She’d grown up around it, not directly in it, but close enough. She thought Bernie would have her back because he always had before.

Except what if he hadn’t then and didn’t now.

“I think we just need to be cautious, that’s all.”

“Well, if they’re tracking your cell phone, won’t they still find us? You have your phone, don’t you?”

He nodded. “It’s turned off. Look, more than likely nothing’s going to happen. It’s just a precaution.” He checked his rearview mirror. A dark SUV had come up behind them.

The highway they drove on was scarcely used during the daytime; the odds of seeing anyone at night were even smaller.

“Whatever,” she said and readjusted her seat.

He should say something about her tone, and that damn word, but he was too busy watching the SUV get closer to them. Pushing on the gas, he picked up speed.

So did the SUV.

His knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel tighter. Nora started talking again, but he was too focused to understand what she was going on about.

Speeding up again, he watched the SUV. Even closer.

Fuck.

“Go in the glove box, Nora.” He pointed at the storage compartment on her side of the console.

She popped it open and jumped back when his gun slid down the door toward her.

“Hand that to me and get down on the floor.” He held out his hand.

“Why? What’s going on?” She sounded panicked. Twisting in her seat, she looked out the back window. “Who are they?”

“I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out. Give me my gun and get down on the floor. Now would be the worst time to disobey me, Nora.” He threw on his dominant voice, knowing she’d react to it faster than just telling her what to do.

She nodded and handed him his gun. It felt heavier in his hand than usual. But the weapon always felt heavier when he used it to protect those behind him.

“Now get down.” He studied the mirrors. They’d be on them in a matter of seconds.

Nora slid from her seat and crouched on the floor of the car, staring up at him with confusion and fear. A mixture that would normal make his body react, but this wasn’t play time. He wasn’t in full control of the situation. Not yet anyway.

The SUV pulled into the left lane, plunging forward until they were window to window with him. He rolled his window down, keeping his gun in his lap and the car steady on the road. The tinted window of the SUV’s passenger side rolled down as well.

A man, not much younger than himself, leaned out of the window.

“Pull over!” He pointed to the shoulder of the road.

“No!” Greg shook his head.

“Now!” He pointed his gun at Greg.

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