Page 83 of Pushed

“You have to!”

“I'm sorry, we can't go back.” His eyes softened as he pulled his gaze off the road to look at me. “Imperial, are you okay?”

I wasn't sure what to say. I wanted to jump over the seat and hug him for what he did. I wanted to punch him and kick him and force him to take me back to Machi. I needed to know if he was okay, I had to know if he was still alive.

“I'm okay, but I need to know if someone else is too.”

“Right now I need you to stay down, don't come up until I tell you it's safe.”

“What's happening? How do you know who I am?”

Officer Roberts looked back out the windshield, squeezing the steering wheel in both hands. “Let's just say you have a guardian angel, and he led me right to you.”

“Machi? Machi did this?”

Smiling, Bentley kept his eyes on the road. “Feels good to have someone looking out for you, doesn't it?”

Pushing up on my elbow, I scratched at my arm. “I had no idea he was doing this.”

“That makes two of us.”

“What happens now?”

“Well, you'll go into protective custody for a little bit, until we know for sure you're absolutely safe. And then you go home, Imperial, you go home.”

“What about Machi?”

Pursing his lips, his eyes lowered to mine. “I don't have an answer for you.”

The air in my lungs suddenly felt hot, searing my chest like sparks off a fire.

I was safe now, Machi had held his promise, he sent me home.

I owed him everything, I owed him my life.

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