Page 41 of Protecting Andie

“You don’t have to.”

“I do. I won’t feel good until I see you.”

“I’m going to be fine. The paramedics are here. I’ll call you in a bit.”

“Sure. Text me and tell me what’s going on.”

“I will, love. Tell everyone who helped thank you. I texted Remi.”

“I know. I’m sitting here with them. They are thankful you’re okay.”

“Give them a hug for me. They saved me.”

“I will. I’ll talk to you in a bit.”

The call ended, and Rider caught his head in his hands, a shiver running through him. Both Remi and Kevlar were there, their hands on his back. Nothing had prepared him for this. He felt so many different emotions, from anger to fear and relief.

“I have to get there. I have to go, but?—”

“I’ll call Trip. You talk to your CO.”

Remi placed a glass of cool water in front of him. “Drink this, get your head on straight, then call.”

He did as she asked, not really feeling better, but he was on less shaky ground. His CO wasn’t a jerk, and since he’d never taken off like this he was okayed to head out. He knew one thing for sure, he had to get to her.

Before Andie even made it to the hospital, Rider had a flight booked, and Trip was on his way over to take him to the airport.

He didn’t know a lot, but he would see Andie tonight. When Trip arrived, he didn’t ask any questions, just pulled him into a tight hug.

“We’ll figure out a way to get her stuff back, even if we have to fly up on a Friday morning and back on Sunday.”

“Thank you, Trip. Thank you for your help. Remi and Kevlar saved me tonight.”

“They’re good people. I’ll see you when you get back.”

He let go a groan. “It all could have fallen apart tonight.”

“Yeah, but it didn’t.”

“All because Thario wanted to track her.”

Trip chuckled as he took the airport exit. “Talk about a guy who has changed.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to be like that. I want to change now before I have to learn a lesson. I think Andie is really good for me. I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

Trip glanced over and flashed a smile. “She’s good for you.”

“She really is. Like Ellis is for you. When you met her, man, you gained so much.”

“I did. Ellis made me a better person. I saw that with you and Andie.”

Trip pulled the car to the curb, and he bumped fists with Trip and hopped out, grabbing his bag from the back seat. He only had his carry-on because he was only going for a few days. He just had to get Andie home with him.

When he showed up at her apartment, and she opened the door, he thought his heart would burst. They clung to each other, tears streaming down his face. After the initial emotions calmed, he checked her bruises. The worst was a rope burn and bruise around her right wrist.

“We can get your stuff later or hire someone to come in and pack everything. I want you home with me. I never should have let you come on your own.”

She framed his face with her hands. “Hey, I’m an adult, and I chose to do this. I don’t want to be in a relationship where letting me do stuff is a thing.”

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