Page 14 of Shield of Love

“She muddied the waters for you.” I wait for him to come to that very conclusion, yet I know it’ll take time to put the blame where it really belongs.

“Get Lillian,” he urges.

“I don’t know the number. She was getting a burner after we left.”

Willis holds up his device and gives it a little shake. “Your woman is smart. She texted it to me.” I’m not going to ask…

“Why?”

“She knew you would drive? Knew that any contact would make it even harder for you to leave? Take your pick or add another. The important thing is that we can talk to her.”

He’s right. I need to get my head out of my ass. I’m not used to feeling possessive. It’s an adjustment. “Call her from mine,” I tell him for no other reason than I haven’t completely squashed the caveman in me yet. So not the time for this, but I’m not exactly thinking clearly either.

“Thayer,” Lillian greets me, her voice bringing me such relief.

“Baby, are you okay?” Muted sounds follow, a muffled conversation that I can’t make out. I’m trying not to lose my mind, but the longer she doesn’t respond, the crazier I’m getting.

I swear, hours pass before she returns. “I’m here.” This time, I can barely hear her. Almost as if she doesn’t want someone else, too. Repeating my question, my heart stops when she assures me, “I am one hundred percent okay.”

Then she hangs up and I freaking floor it. “Put the damn siren on.” Willis does.

“She said she’s okay,” he points out, confused.

“Lillian knows my stance on absolutes. It was a code. Ring Jackson for an ETA.”

Doing as I ask, Willis wants to know, “Anything else?”

“Yeah, pray.”

**Lillian**

“I’m gonna take a shower,” I holler to Carlton, then rush into the bathroom and lock the door before she can attempt to respond. Any hint of civility left her once Thayer and Willis were gone. She’d tried to pressure me to eat the food she’d prepared, seeming irate when I refused, citing that I didn’t feel well. Her reaction bothered me so much that I was about to call Thayer when the burner rang in my hand. Carlton had about kicked in my door, demanding to know what the noise was. Thankfully, I’d been watching TV and was able to play it off.

Turning on the water, I eye the window, debating whether I can make it through. Tilting my head side to side, I realize I can. Standing on the toilet, I peek out, trying to judge how high up it is. Definitely survivable, though the landing might hurt a bit.

A pounding behind me has my heart rate spiking and I fear I’m going to hurl. “Lillian,” Carlton beckons, “we need to get to the panic room.” Hoping by not reacting she’ll assume I can’t hear her over the shower, I wait. “Thayer phoned. Said our location has been compromised.” I don’t even like his name coming from her, especially when it’s being used to lie to me.

Rising to my tiptoes, I painstakingly open the window as slowly as possible, scared it’ll give me away if I’m not careful. “Hurry, Thayer,” I plead. “I need you.”

“Damn it. I didn’t want to do this the hard way. If you would’ve just eaten the damn food. I just need you to die.” Wow. That’s not the hard way? “That sounded harsh. I meant to be in danger of dying. Hence, the panic room.” I’m thinking you said exactly what you meant. “The emails were legit; in case you’re wondering.” Is she confessing because she knows I’ll never get to share it or is she falling for the shower trick? “You got one.” Say what now? “Not that you’d know since you were already here. I took the liberty of pretending to be you.” Give her a freaking medal for her sacrifice. “We need to get in place. He’ll be expecting you to be there. Me, though, I’ll be the surprise that’ll send him to jail. Do you know what that will do for my career? There will be articles. Interviews. The fame I’ll receive for taking down a piece of scum. I’ll be honored for my heroism, of course.” She pauses, almost like she’s picturing it. “Do you think there will be a ceremony? What should I wear? I’ll need to be prepared for that. I’ll need a date, too. Maybe Willis? If he’s injured in the melee, even better. Fudge. I sent him away. Ooh. What if I’m injured? How awesome would that look? Freaking media gold.”

She’s nuts. And I’m crazy for not getting the heck out of here. Possible broken limb versus escaping? Not even a choice. Fractures heal. There’s no coming back from death.

“Buck up, Miller. You can do this.” As pep talks go, it’s not the best, but it is effective. I maneuver my body so I’m sitting on the sill. Feet first is easier to recover from then meeting the ground head on.

“Screw this,” Carlton declares before a bang reverberates in the small space, causing me to lift my hands to cover my ears. Unfortunately, that means my stabilizing grip is now gone and I begin to slide through the opening.

Forcing myself not to land with my hands out lest they literally break my fall, I grit my teeth and try to remember screaming could give me away. Not that it’ll be hard for Carlton to figure out where I went.

When I know my dismount – not the time for jokes! – is imminent, I tuck and roll as I hit, hoping it’ll help cushion the brunt of the impact.

Whether or not it works, I won’t know for a few hours when any aches begin to set in. The bruises, though, those will probably appear quicker. I can look at a wall and one will form.

]With just a slight hiccup in my plan, I struggle to stand, my left leg threatening to buckle as I put weight on it. Adjusting my stance helps and I begin hobbling in any direction that doesn’t lead back to the house.

I’m almost at the driveway when I feel a sting in my arm and immediately slap at the damn mosquito. “I’m allergic to you, you little bugger. Can’t you see I already have enough going on?” The sun hasn’t fully set yet, giving me adequate light to see the red on my fingers and I groan, realizing I didn’t stop it in time. Except, that’s more blood than one of the pests should’ve held.

Multitasking, I poke at the spot as I continue my weird running style to the road, hissing when I discover a chunk of my shirt is missing. As is some skin. What the hell?

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