Page 62 of Abducted

Lana’s breath sucked in. Her mouth hung open.

Ethan, who had been engaged in an awkward conversation with Rufus, whirled on him. “Dude?”

Cal silenced him with a glare.

Sonja raised one self-satisfied eyebrow. A beat passed. She smiled at them. “Then I approve.”

Lana’s shoulders relaxed. The warmth from her face spread to her heart.

Cal pressed a kiss to her temple.

Cal had held up under her mom’s scrutiny like a true gentleman. Her mind whirled. He wanted to be with her and was willing to sacrifice his career to do so. A tremor of guilt shook her. Was he giving everything up because he felt he had no choice?

Later, she would question him. As much as she cared about him, she didn’t want him to sacrifice his dream or his passion for her. If he wanted to continue his career, she would support him. Her parents would just have to deal with it.

Her mom approved. God, if only her dad would have the same reaction.

CHAPTER 21

“I’m coming withyou,” Lana said, her brows forming a stubborn line.

Cal shook his head. Not happening. “Sorry, babe. But I can’t let you do that.”

Her eyebrows rose an inch.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest in exasperation. Wrong choice of words. “It’s not safe, and you know it.”

She took a step closer to him, closing the gap between them in the small bedroom. She’d asked to speak to him alone seconds before he was to walk out the door with Nate. He couldn’t blame her. Hell, he wouldn’t want to be stuck in the house night after night while she went out hunting the streets. But there was no damn help for it. In order for life to return to normal, he had to leave her—for now.

“He’s my stepbrother. I know you have good reason to suspect him, as do I, but I know him better than you do. I want to see the look on his face when we show up at his door, and I want to ask him myself if he had anything to do with this. I have a right, Cal.”

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Why was he even fighting her? When Lana made up her mind about something, there was no changing it. If he wanted to get out of the house at any point tonight, he’d have to agree.

But dammit to hell and back, he didn’t want her in any more danger. He’d finally gotten her in a safe spot, and with any luck, in a matter of hours this whole shit show would be over. Her slim fingers closed around his elbow, firm and insistent. He dropped his hand.

“I’m safer with you, anyway.” Her voice was soft, and her fiery blue eyes seared through him, undoing his resolve.

“All right, fine. But if we get there and I sense anything is off, you’re leaving with Ethan. Got it?”

She raised her hands in surrender. “Got it.” A small smile played at her lips.

He released a breath through tight lips and snagged the back of her head, bringing her mouth to his. She moaned against his, her warm lips moving against his. His body hardened against hers, and desire scorched his veins. He pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers. If he wasn’t careful, he’d get carried away.

“You’re going to be the death of me, you know that?” Her silky strands tangled over his knuckles.

She chuckled, and hell, if that didn’t melt him even more. “I know. Let’s go, it’s getting late.” She winked and tugged him out of the room.

Nate and Ethan waited in the kitchen, their faces pinched in confusion as Lana barreled into the room.

“Change of plans. We’re all going,” Cal said.

Nate looked from him to Lana and his lips lifted. “You mean—”

“Yup. I’m coming.”

“Uh…okay.” Ethan rubbed his hand over his head and Cal shrugged. Lana led the way to the door and slipped her shoes on, and they followed. Ethan slanted his eyes at him. “You sure this is a good idea?”

“It’s a terrible idea. But she has her reasons, and I respect that. If anything goes wrong, I’m leaving it up to you to get her out as quickly as possible.”

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