Page 74 of Vain
“No worries. You wanted to get to your girl. I can appreciate that.”
“You two know each other?” I look between them.
“Just met, actually, but we have a friend in common,” Reese answers as she moves closer.
“Oh, okay,” I reply as if that clears everything up. It doesn’t, of course, but I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to say.
“Reese is here to keep guard until we know what the fuck is going on.”
I study him then, listening to his words but, more importantly, listening to what he’s not saying.
“You don’t think this was random, do you?” I mean, I knew. Of course I did. People don’t just try to run you off the road and start shooting at you, right? Still, I couldn’t help but hope it was a case of the wrong place and the wrong time. Because if this is my stalker, this is so far beyond Post-it notes and dead flowers.
“No. I think it’s way too much of a coincidence to be random.”
I sigh and run my fingers through my hair, wincing when they snag on a knot. “I’d have no luck at all if I didn’t have bad luck,” I grumble.
“I know it feels that way, but you survived. Just like you did last time. If someone is trying to kill you, Tilly, you keep foiling their plans. That makes you lucky in my book.”
“Silver linings,” I whisper before turning to look at Reese. “I’m not sure how you got roped into looking after me, but thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Us girls have gotta stick together. Besides, I was in the area. It’s really no big deal.”
“It is to me. I don’t really have a lot of people that come running in a crisis.”
“I don’t know…it seems to me you might have more people than you think.” She squeezes my foot as her eyes move to Aiden. “You got a plan?”
“I’m waiting on some info. Matilda managed to snap a couple of pictures of the truck chasing us. Banner is looking into it. He’s gonna get back to me with what he finds. For now, we wait.”
“There were a couple of cops out there before. The doctors told them Matilda was in CT, but they’ll be back.”
“I figured they would.” Aiden sighs, looking down at me. “You up for talking to them? Because if you’re not, say the word.”
“I’d rather get it over and done with. Just please tell me it’s not the asshat from my trailer.”
He chuckles, taking my hand and kissing it.
“I’ll see if I can find them and send them your way. I have a couple of calls to make, so I’ll come back once they’re done,” Reese offers.
“Sounds good. Thanks.” Aiden nods as she leaves us alone once more.
“She’s a bodyguard, too? I can see it. She has a badass edginess to her that says she could snap my spine before I blinked.”
He grins before toeing off his shoes. “If Arlo trained her, she probably could.” When I frown, he shakes his head. “I’ll explain another time.”
“Okay.” I move over, making space for him as he hops up beside me. Once comfy, I settle down into his embrace. “Thank you for getting me out. I heard one of the nurses saying you dragged me from the car, worried it would catch fire.”
“I could have caused you more harm than good.”
“It was an impossible choice but the one I’m glad you made. I could handle a wheelchair. I couldn’t handle being burned alive.”
He holds me tighter, and I soak him in.
“I should call the studio and tell them what’s happened.”
“Already got Greyson to do it. I called him when you were still in CT. Don’t be surprised if he and Marley turn up. The guy was beside himself.”
“He’s been the father figure I needed so desperately growing up. I love them both dearly. They are more family to me than my parents ever were. I’d be frantic too, if I got the call saying one of them was in the hospital.”
