Page 28 of Island Holiday

The car jerked and she dropped the phone to the floorboards. She’d have to unbuckle her seatbelt to reach it. The engine revved as Connor punched the gas and more horns blared.

“Talk to me,” she pleaded.

“Stay down.”

She’d hoped for more information. Real intel. “I can’t reach the phone.” She started to sit up, reaching for the seatbelt release.

“No!” His shout was drowned out by a loud pop, glass shattering, and the rush of wind. Connor was swearing under his breath.

“They shot at us?”

He didn’t answer, focused on keeping them alive. “Hang on.”

She did her best as the car swayed. Queasy, she focused on a spot on the floor, grateful she wasn’t watching him navigate the traffic. He took a couple more sharp turns then a smooth acceleration before the tire sounds changed again.

“You can sit up,” he said. “We’re clear for now.”

She wasn’t a big fan of the “for now” part, but she grabbed her phone and sat upright in the seat once more. It took her a second to get her bearings. They were a ways off the normal route to the airport.

“I’m turning around in a minute,” he said, as if reading her mind.

“Okay.”

“It’s a charter,” he added.

“Right.” She tried to laugh it off, break the tension. “It’s tough to drop the regular airline-flight stress.”

“Is that why you drive everywhere?”

“Pardon me?”

He checked his mirrors and seemed to relax. “Stress. Is that why you drive more than you fly?”

She reminded herself he hadn’t actually been creepy when he’d watched over her. Not like he used the intel to his advantage or anything. As far as she could tell, she’d simply had a guardian angel she hadn’t known about.

“No. That’s a combo of control and fear.” Before he could ask, she supplied, “Control over the route and the schedule. Fear of being followed. Except… I was being followed. In a good way.” She reached over and patted his shoulder. “Thank you for that.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.” She checked the side mirror. “This situation has shown me the error of my ways. I love roaming. I don’t see that changing. I considered it the safest option, but that only holds true if someone knows where I am.” She hesitated for a few thudding heartbeats. “Will that still be you, even when the Zimmer case is done?”

He took a big breath, let it out slowly. “It can be.”

She suspected there were a lot of big thoughts rolling through his mind, but he was driving and the adrenaline was still dialed up so she didn’t ask more questions. Not until he maneuvered to an exit, leaving the interstate, and heading into a more undesirable part of town. One she knew too well. Her stomach cramped and her pulse pounded in her ears. He couldn’t possibly want to drive by her old neighborhood. “What are you doing?”

“Trust. Me.” He caught her hand and gave her a quick squeeze.

She swallowed, talking herself out of a panic attack. He wouldn’t hurt her—emotionally or physically. And he hadn’t once judged her. “I do.” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I do trust you, Connor.”

“Looks like we lost them. I’ll get us to the airport the back way.”

“If you say so.” She braced as he sped through an intersection before the yellow light turned red. “I guess there’s no point in calling 911 now. Want me to call the office?”

“Once we’re at the hangar. Don’t need the distractions. Not taking chances with you.”

“Me?” She couldn’t make that declaration fit. “I don’t matter.” Those girls mattered. Getting to the bottom of Zimmer’s weird scheme mattered.

“Wrong,” he snapped. “You matter. To me. You are the key to resolving this case.”

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