Page 49 of Shiver

He leaned against the car. “You’re leaving to protect me?”

“That’s right. And the rest of your family. That man could have killed you last night.”

Did she really think he couldn’t take care of himself? Stunned, he stared at her. “Or you.”

She stopped. “Exactly.”

“In other words, you don’t trust me to do my job to keep you or myself safe?”

* * *

Devra tooka deep breath and turned to him. She could hear the hurt pride in his tone, could see it in his eyes. She softened. Suddenly, the fear she’d been keeping at bay, refusing to think about, swarmed inside her.

“Do you think it’s a coincidence that you and Michelle are both blue-eyed, curly-haired blondes?” he asked.

“No,” she whispered.

“And that you both fit the profile of other victims. Victims, I might add, who were found in cities where you lived. Didn’t you think it was just a matter of time before he came after you?”

She stared into his eyes, willing him to understand. “He did last night and you almost paid the price.” She reached for him and ran the tip of her finger along the bruises on the side of his face. He caught her hand in his, the contact sending a deep ache straight to her heart. “I have to leave. I have to go somewhere where he won’t be able to find me.” But even as she said the words, she knew it wasn’t possible. She knew wherever she went he’d always been able to find her.

You can run little girl, but you can’t hide.

“He’s found you before.”

His words echoed her thoughts, sending a feeling of fatalism bearing down on her. It was true. There was nothing she could do. Nowhere she could go.But at least he won’t hurt you, too.

“Let me help you.” His dark brown eyes pleaded with her.

“What do you suggest?”

“That you’re the one who needs protecting. Don’t leave. Trust me.”

She wished she could.

“Stay.”

As his eyes met hers, she turned away, afraid she was folding, afraid she’d give in. If she did, then what? Then her nightmares would finally catch up with them both. “I thought you weren’t in the protection business.”

“I’m not.” He grabbed her, refusing to let her turn away from him and pulled her roughly against him, his strong arms banding around her as if he’d never let her go. “But for you, I will be.”

The warmth of his embrace, the utter feeling of safety almost undid her. “Why would you do that for me? I was running out on you. You never would have heard from me again.”

Regret flashed through his eyes, then disappeared so quickly she wasn’t sure it had ever been there. “Good question. I guess I’m not ready for you to run off and leave me yet.”

Was it possible? Could she really trust him?

“But I need something from you first.”

Her balloon of hope filled with lead and dropped to the pit of her stomach. “What?”

“I need you to come into the house, fix me a cup of coffee, and tell me exactly what’s been going on. Especially about Tommy Marshall. Everything. Got it?”

She looked into his face and wondered if she could tell him everything. Could she trust him that much?

Chapter 19

As Devra stared at Riley,she knew she couldn’t take the chance. She couldn’t tell him everything, but she could tell him about Tommy. She just wasn’t sure if she was ready to unearth and relive all the memories.

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