Page 61 of Second Chance Savior

Kidnapped?They thought River had kidnapped me?

Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit.

I brushed a strand of my wig from my cheek, swallowed my panic, and walked toward the register with a calm smile on my face. I set the drinks on the counter.

The man at the register cleared his throat. “Anything else?”

“Just the drinks, thanks.”

“You look familiar.”

“Really? Don’t think I’ve been here before.” I glanced at the window. River was still leaning against the car, waiting for the pump to finish. He had on a ball cap. Sunglasses. Neither of us looked much like those photos on the TV.

But the guy was taking way too long to ring up the drinks.

I tried to breathe slowly. But I was jumpy. Sweating.

That awful news story was still playing, now showing a reporter outside the botanic gardens talking about the attack. Holy hell, it sounded like they believedRiverhad been the ringleader of the entire thing. How was that possible? Brynn and the other agents would have reported that River had saved me. Wouldn’t they? He’d been there to protect me. What the heck was going on?

I had to find a way to get in touch with Brynn.

I tossed a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. Grabbed the two drinks. “You know, you can just keep the change. Ishould get going. Hubby and I are late for our niece’s birthday party.”

The man raised his hand, about to say something else, but I was already out of the door, squinting against the sunshine.

I ran over to River. “We need to go.”

“What happened?”

“There’s a news story on the TV about us. They’re saying you kidnapped me and were behind the attack at the gardens last night. We need to get out of here,now. The guy at the register kept staring at me.”

“Get in the car,” he murmured. “Stay loose. We’re fine.”

Way too slowly, River stopped the gas pump and went to replace it in the cradle.

Fine?I wanted to protest. This was not fine. But I knew what he meant. We couldn’t draw any more attention. I started toward the passenger side of the car.

The door to the shop opened, bell jingling. The man from the register stepped out.

He was holding a shotgun.

“Stop right there! Let her go.”

Oh no.

River just looked at the guy. “You’re making a mistake.”

“I don’t think so.” He waved the gun. I couldn’t tell if he was gesturing at River or at me. “Ma’am, you get inside the shop. I already called the police.”

“He didn’t kidnap me. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Ms. McKinley, it’s all right. You just?—”

River moved fast. Two quick strides toward the man. He grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and violently slammed it upward, smacking it into the man’s nose. My hand flew to my mouth, covering a scream. River caught the man as he fell, easing him onto the ground. With his free hand, he did something at the man’s neck. The guy went completely limp.

My feet carried me toward them. “Please tell me you didn’t?—”

“He’ll be out for a while, but he’ll be fine. I’ll take him inside and pack his nose to stop the bleeding.”

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