Page 8 of Hunted

Mike all but bristled with testosterone and rage and the cop stared him down a moment before the infuriated man finally stepped back. “Fine. I’m outta here. But it ain’t over, Leila. Not by a long shot.”

Clint maintained his position until Mike peeled out of the parking lot in a used rust-bucket of a car, then he turned back to Leila. “You okay?”

She nodded, visibly still shaken, though some of the color was returning to her cheeks.

“Thanks, Rodney,” Clint said to the cop. The officer was a frequent visitor to his gun range. Someone Clint knew and trusted. “I owe you one.”

“No problem,” Rodney said. “Watch yourself with that guy. He looks like he’s got a chip on his shoulder a mile wide.”

Clint took a glance at Leila. Did she want the police to get involved? It didn’t seem so. “Will do,” Clint said.

After a tip of his hat, the squad car pulled away, leaving him and Leila alone. He wanted to pull her in for a hug. He wasn’t usually the hugging kind, but it seemed like she needed that. Still, he got the sense that anything physical might frighten her, so he held back.

“So, you were married to that guy?” Clint finally asked after several long seconds. Leila was avoiding his gaze, her shaking hands twisting the hem of her pink pastel scrub shirt. He wanted to sit her down somewhere before she collapsed. He gazed around the parking lot but didn’t see any benches nearby. “I’m assuming this is the dental clinic where you work. Want to go inside and talk about it?”

“No.” She shook her head, staring into the distance toward the direction Mike had taken. “I’m good.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Looks can be deceiving.” She sighed and finally met his gaze. “Thanks for helping me out with him, but I…I can manage.”

Clint crossed his arms and gave her an assessing stare. She clearly didnothave this situation in control at all, but he didn’t want to force her into accepting his help either. Honestly, he wasn’t sure his getting involved in all this was a wise move on his part either. He’d learned long ago not to form attachments to people in crisis mode. They could hurt you in so many ways—by leaving at a moment’s notice, by pushing you away…or worst of all, by clinging tight while the danger lasted and then letting go just as soon as it passed. He didn’t blame them for doing whatever it took to protect themselves. He just didn’t want to get caught in the fallout. Still, she clearly needed protection, even if she was too stubborn or scared to admit it. His honor wouldn’t let him walk away. Not until he knew she and Thomas would be safe.

“Maybe you should talk to the police about getting a restraining order,” he suggested. If Clint didn’t miss his guess, her ex was on probation. An incident like the one that had just happened could land him back in jail. That might be the best thing—for the time being, anyway.

But he’d get out and her problems would start again.

“Won’t stop him,” she muttered. “Seriously, I’ll be okay. You’re helping me already by teaching me to shoot. The rest…” She rubbed her hands down her arms, seeming chilled despite the heat of the day.

He could not let this go, but how could he convince her to take his help? A slow, non-threatening approach seemed the best option. “Given the time of morning,” he said, “I’m guessing you were on your way into work. You still feel okay to do that?”

“Yes, and I really don’t have a choice. I need the money.”

“Okay. Fair enough. Your son at day care?” She nodded but didn’t offer up a location. “Is he somewhere secure?”

Leila nodded again, looking over at the entrance to the dental clinic, where the receptionist was standing near the door. Maybe she’d seen something and been the one to call the police. “Believe me, I checked them out thoroughly. They know not to let anyone in to see Thomas except me and to call me if anyone else show up. He’s safe there.”

“Good.” Clint stepped back and forced a smile he didn’t quite feel. He had one more question for her. No way was he letting her just walk outside after work by herself since Mike knew where she’d be. “What time are you done today?”

She hesitated, then said, “Five. Why?”

“If you don’t have any objections, I’ll come back then and escort you to the range for your lesson this evening, just to make sure Mike doesn’t show up again and cause trouble.”

“No, it’s?—”

“And I’ll go with you when you pick up Thomas. I can check out the place and follow you home.”

He gauged her reaction to his offer, watching as she seemed to come to some decision within herself. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before meeting his eyes. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

Relief went through him. That was progress, but it also proved how shaken up she was by what had happened. She was scared for herself, but she was more frightened for her son. For him, she’d accept help.

5

At four forty-five that afternoon, Clint pulled his pick-up into the lot of Spectacular Smiles Dental Clinic, parking behind Leila’s SUV. He’d spent the day at his shop, working off some of his adrenaline and frustrations on the gun range, before heading back here. He’d brought his firearm with him, in the glove compartment, just in case.

Clint cut the engine and got out, locking the door of his truck then walking up to Leila’s car to make sure it hadn’t been tampered with. His heart stuttered when he saw the damage. Her tires were still intact, thank goodness. But it looked like her vindictive ex had returned at some point during the day to smash her headlights and scratch the words “You can’t hide from me forever bitch” into the side door with either a key or a knife blade. The passenger side window was smashed in as well and the glove box hung open, empty.

Shit.

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