The thug swung the knife again, and it sliced through the cowboy’s chest. “No!” she yelled. The cowboy doubled over. Her attacker stepped back. He gave her an angry glare. Distant sirens sounded. The greasy man turned and ran down the street, tossing the knife into the gutter.
Meg ran to the man who had saved her. His shirt was turning red with his blood. “Are you okay?”
The man grunted. “I’m perfect. Never been better.”
The cops were coming. The last thing she wanted to do was stick around to be questioned by them. A police report would lead Travis right to her. The man would be fine. The police would take him to the hospital. “I have to go.”
“Take me with you.”
“What? No.” What was wrong with him? Was he crazy? The sound of the sirens grew louder. She had to get out of there. She ran to her car and got in the driver’s seat.
Her passenger door opened, and the cowboy slid in, his hand pressing on his wound. He slammed the door. Blood stained his fingers red.
“What are you doing?” Meg asked, her voice high-pitched.
“Please? Just give me a ride to the next town.”
Meg didn’t have any time to argue. The police lights were already bouncing off the windows of the nearby residential homes. She slammed the car into gear and pulled out onto the highway. She watched in her rearview mirror as two cop cars pulled into the gas station and stopped. She sighed with relief as she sped down the highway, no one following her.
She swallowed and looked at the man who had saved her. “Thanks for getting that creep off me back there.”
The man didn’t say anything, and that’s when she noticed it. Her throat went dry as she stared at the small tattoo on his left wrist. A dagger.
Chapter 2
Cade saw the womanlook at his wrist. Her eyes widened, and her face drained of color. She knew who he was. This day was going from bad to worse.
He swallowed. “Listen, I’m not going to hurt you. I just needed to get out of there. If you can take me to the next town, I’ll find another ride.”
Her gaze traveled over him. “Another ride?” She snorted. “Right. You mean you’re going to kidnap some other woman?” She pinched her lips together like she hadn’t meant to talk.
“I didn’t kidnap you.” The pain in his chest made his eyes water and his head dizzy. He could tell the cut was long, but hopefully wasn’t too deep.
“Well, you got in my car when I said no, so...It’s not like we’re two consenting adults going for a midnight drive.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Consenting...what? Are you implying something?”
