Page 80 of Covert Temptation

There was no mistaking what was happening.

Cipher was coming after her.

The man looked her over like she was just a task on a list to be checked off. “Do you want to do this the hard way or the easy way?”

His voice was deep, coarse, like sandpaper over stone. It wasn’t a question as much as a statement. Either way, the outcome was the same.

Her brain snapped into overdrive. He blocked the way to the back door—eight steps. Even in nine steps, the window would take too much time.

Her chest rose and fell with short, shallow breaths.

She should fight.

She should run—twenty-three steps to the front door. Too many to make before he caught her.

She was so tired.

Of everything.

No one believed her, and she was alone.

Her arms dropped to her sides, a strange calm descending over her like fresh snow. “The easy way.”

His expression didn’t change, but he gave the smallest nod, like he respected the choice. Or expected it.

“Let me get my boots and coat.”

She crossed the living room slowly. He watched her but didn’t move to make her hurry.

After she slipped on her boots and coat, she grabbed her purse from the living room.

He watched her, eyes flicking to the bag. Just a glance. But it was enough.

Kennedy let out a slow breath and smiled—tight, joyless. “Guess I won’t be needing this.”

She tossed it onto the couch. She wasn’t going to make it far, anyway. Wherever they were going, it wouldn’t require a wallet or lip gloss.

An SUV idled at the end of the drive, the engine low and patient.

She stepped outside. The wind bit through her coat and whipped strands of hair into her mouth. She didn’t wipe them away.

The man opened the door, and she climbed in without being told.

A moment later, he slid behind the wheel.

She kept her eyes ahead as they started down the road. They had just reached the intersection of the road to the safe house and the road going through town when a flicker of movement made her glance out the side window.

Her breath caught.

Dante.

There was no way he’d had time to get food, which meant he was coming back for her.

Only it was too late.

Panic and pain speared Kennedy. Through a flood of tears obstructing her vision, she stared through the glass.

Her throat constricted. God, he was beautiful. He was the only man who ever treated her like she mattered. Like he might be falling just like she was.

---