“Hey, we’re not the bad guys.”
“Shut up,” he spits.
I feel the sting of steel before I remember.I learned a new trick recently.
He screams when I fling into the pillar beside us and finally backs away.
The last thing I register is the grip of Lucky’s hand on my arm before we’re back in his living room.As soon as I recognize where we are, I collapse onto his sofa.
I’m panting like I’ve run a marathon.
“What about Sterling?”
Lucky disappears into the kitchen, and my whole body aches as I twist around to see him.I’m not ready to let him leave my sight again.
He runs the tap and ducks down to take a gulp, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.“He’ll be fine.Pissed—that’s for sure.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have locked him in.”
“Hey, he’s safe because of you.You saw the equipment those guys were carrying; we only stood a chance because of what we can do.”
He’s right.Lucky passes me a glass of water, and I stare down at it.
“The red of your hair.”
His favorite color.From anyone else, I’d think it was creepy, but from Sterling, I’m just confused.He’s barely talked to me.
I always thought he hated me.
“What’s wrong, love?”
Lachlan’s moved, now kneeling in front of me, hands gently placed on my knees.
“He said something before.Thought it, I mean.He doesn’t know I heard him, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“I can’t lose you.”
My pulse is racing, and I’d blame it on the adrenaline rush of the robbery, but I know the real reason.
“It’s going to be okay; you can tell me.”
Can I?I’m not so naive that I can’t tell there’s some history between them.
“I don’t want to get between you two.”
Lucky sighs.“That’s all in the past.”
Bullshit.“It didn’t sound like it.”
He cups my cheek.“You’re too clever for your own good,” he says, then sighs.“Wait here.”And in a blink, he’s gone …
I’m all alone.
Fear, panic, frustration—it all finally breaks, crashing over me, and my eyes run white hot as tears spill over onto my cheeks.
“Sorry, love, had to evade the fucking cops?—”
Sterling drops to his knees, cupping my face in his hands.“Mia,” he says, breathless, and then he’s staring daggers at Lachlan.“What the hell happened to her?”
