Page 161 of Bodyguard By Night

She was shaken enough not to argue. She just held on to me.

“Well, shit. All right.” His vehicle accelerated in the background.

“I’ll send you a pin with my address.” I texted him my location through maps, the easiest way.

“Appreciate it. See you in under an hour.” He clicked off.

I shoved my phone into my pocket. “Step back for me.”

She nodded and straightened, swaying a little before she took a step back. Steady enough for me not to call the cavalry, but not steady enough for a midnight stroll.

I hooked an arm under her legs and lifted her.

“Ransom!”

I went to the back of the truck. “Open the tailgate for me.”

She pushed at me halfheartedly. “I’m not going to fall over.”

“Tell that to your dissolving knees.” I lifted her onto the tailgate. “Stay there. Don’t move.”

She gave me a snappy salute.

Clearly, she was starting to feel better. And I preferred her sarcasm to tears any day.

I put one foot in front of the other. I could fall apart after she was safe. My hand only shook slightly as I slid into the driver’s seat. I tried the ignition and the truck roared to life.

She hopped off the tailgate and came around to the passenger side.

I disengaged the locks to let her in. “What did I say?”

“I’m still in the truck.”

“This isn’t a fucking game.”

“I know it’s not!” Her wide, still panicked eyes met mine. “He just tried to take me. I need to get out of here.”

“We’ll go to the hospital.”

“No, just take me home,” she whispered as she hugged herself. “Please.”

I slammed my door and backed up then did a U-turn to head toward the house. Gravel sprayed under the tires, breaking the heavy silence between us.

If I hadn’t been there…

If I hadn’t chased after her, he could have taken her.

Maybe he’d already be gone with her. And I wouldn’t have any way to find her.

Gone.Maybe forever.

The steering wheel squeaked under my grip.

The trip up the hill was blessedly quick. At the top, I shoved the truck into Park.

“Ransom—”

“Get in the house, Chaos.”

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