Page 12 of Mountain Protector

Without wasting time asking, I scoop her into my arms, one behind her back and the other under her legs. After a slight adjustment, I settle most of her weight in one arm while holding my gun with the other.

Is it ideal if someone comes up on us? Hardly.

But she’s bleeding. Freezing. Probably in shock. I need to get her insidenow.

“Knox, you can’t carry me,” Lark starts.

“Yes, I can.” Hugging her close to my chest, I start jogging back in the direction I came from. “You barely weigh anything.”

One arm comes around my neck, holding on tight. Then she presses her face into my shoulder to stifle a moan.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I croon, feeling anything but. “It’s going to be fine.”

“I’m sorry,” she replies softly. “I just thought… it was selfish. But I thought you’d protect me.”

Oh.

There’s this crazy wrenching feeling in my chest. Like a giant hand reached inside to squeeze it.

And this fierce protectiveness comes over me, like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

With Lark relying on me, I'll do anything to keep her safe.

“I will, Lark. I promise.”

Then I pick up my pace, worry and fear urging me faster.

My mind spins with questions.

How badly is she hurt? I only saw the blood on her arm, but is there something I missed? What about her poor feet? Is the man who shot her still out here? What if we run into him? I have no doubts about facing an enemy on my own, but with Lark in my arms, it puts her at risk.

While the run into the woods took only minutes, the return home feels like it takes hours.

By the time we get to my back door, Lark is shivering badly, my coat not doing nearly enough to keep her warm. I glance at her, inwardly wincing at the lines of pain etched into her delicate features. “Can I put you down for a second? Just to unlock the door?”

“Of course.”

But I’m not as sure.

The second I put her down, she sways, so I loop my arm around her waist to keep her standing. She whispers, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s fine.” As soon as the door opens, I swing her up into my arms again, trying to be careful of her injured arm. “You did so well. And look, now we’re back at my place. Safe. Warm. I’m going to call the police and an ambulance, and it’s going to be okay.”

Lark’s still tense until the deadbolt slides into place, then she lets out a relieved sigh. Sagging against me as I carry her into the living room, her head drops to myshoulder. “Thank you, Knox. I know I shouldn’t have brought this to you?—”

There’s that protectiveness again. So intense it’s hard to breathe.

Emotion makes my voice rough. “No, Lark. I’m so glad you came.”

CHAPTER 3

LARK

Even though the initial shock has subsided, it still doesn’t feel real.

Someone broke into my house.Shotme. Could have been trying to kill me.

If that’s not unnerving enough, I actually fired back at him.Hithim, as far as I could tell.

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