Page 55 of Guarded from Danger

But Xavier would. He won’t let anyone hurt me. He promised.

Unless.

What if they have guns? What if they shoot Xavier?

Panic surges, and I run even faster, so I’m actually the one pulling ahead.

This path feels too long. Too winding. If the people coming after me are coming straight towards us…

“Should we go straight?” I ask. “Instead of taking the path?”

“No.” Xavier casts another glance around us. “We’ll be able to move faster on the trail. And they don’t know where we are. We should be able to get back to the ranch well before they can reach us.”

“They?”

“Two men. From the north edge of the property.”

Two men. Here for me.

I’d almost let myself hope the people behind the game gave up on me. That they’d decided I was more effort than I was worth.

I guess not.

As we round a curve, my foot catches on a stick and I nearly fall, but Xavier loops his arm around my waist and hoists me back up.

“It’s going to be okay,” he repeats. “We’re almost there. Matt and Dante are out searching for the intruders. Rhi is on guard at the ranch.”

My brain splinters for a second, and I have the most random thought in the midst of my terror.

This is what Xavier must have looked like as a Green Beret.

Intense. Strong. Dangerous. Intimidating.

Then I trip again, this time falling to my knee.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp as Xavier pulls me up again. “I’ll do better?—”

“You’re okay.” His tone gentles, incongruous to the banked threat in his gaze. “It’s fine, hun. You’re doing great.”

But I don’t feel like I’m doing great. I feel like I’m about to fall apart. And my lungs are aching and my knee stings and the terror is beating at me in punishing blows.

“Look, Luce. We’re almost there.”

Oh.

Like an oasis, the ranch appears through the trees, no more than a few hundred yards in front of us.

Though my chest feels like it’s about to burst, I put on an extra burst of speed as we approach the reinforced steel fence that surrounds the main buildings—the ranch, the barn, and the garage.

I have a moment’s panic as we close in on the gate, thinking frantically,what if they catch up to us as Xavier’s trying to unlock it? With the biometric lock and the complicated code, it’s no quick thing to get inside. We could be sitting ducks, and if they have guns?—

But Rhiannon’s there to open it.

Armed, her gun at the ready, she pushes the steel gate open and waves us inside. “Go. I’ll cover you.”

Xavier lifts his chin at her as we speed past her. “Thanks, Rhi.”

I’d thank her, too, but I don’t know if I can work up enough extra breath to speak.

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