"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"Like I said, I have to meet someone later tonight."
Rad led me around to the driver's side door and pulled it open. Before I could climb in, Rad yanked me into his arms. He pressed his cheek to the side of my head.
"I'm not going to kiss you right now because when I do, I'm going to claim you as mine. I'll need more than a couple of seconds for that. I may even need days."
My heart skipped a beat and it was suddenly hard to breath. I shivered when I felt warm lips brush my temple. My body suddenly heated and began to ache.
"Rad."
His hand curved around the nape of my neck even as he pressed a kiss to the shell of my ear. "You are mine, Ajag. You know it and I know it. Soon, everyone else will know it, too, but until then you need to keep yourself and Sy safe. I will come for you."
I licked my lips before whispering, "This is all happening really fast, Rad."
"I know, baby." Rad leaned back far enough for our eyes to meet. Golden eyes filled with determination and mine filledwith uncertainty and just a spark of hope. "What you need to understand is that you are no longer alone, Ajag. Whatever battle you are going through right now, I will be right there at your side to fight it with you."
My breath hitched as a sob threatened to break free. "I've been fighting alone for so long. I don't..." I wasn't sure what I was trying to say except that I had no experience with fighting with someone at my side.
Rad's hand slid up through my hair to the back of my head, which he pressed down to his shoulder. "You're not alone anymore, mate." Rad had said that before, but it felt more profound this time. "I'm here now."
I shuddered and then sank into Rad's embrace, letting him hold my weight. It had been so long since I'd had anyone to rely on. Maybe not since my mother was killed. I didn't realize until this moment how much I missed it or how much I needed it.
Being alone sucked.
Rad gave me one good squeeze before letting go of me and stepping back. "It's time for you to go, Ajag."
I didn't want to, but I knew he was right. "You're going to come find us, right?"
I had to be sure.
"I will," Rad replied. "It probably won't be until late tonight, but I will be there."
I was tugged down by sadness as I opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat. Rad grabbed the top of the doorframe and leaned toward me.
"You remember where to go?"
"Campground in Raton, New Mexico."
Rad held out his hand. "Give me your cell phone."
I hated to hand it over since it was the only lifeline to Rad that I had, but if he was right and the phone was being tracked, getting rid of it was the only thing I could do.
As soon as I handed it over, Rad stepped back. "Go and don't stop until you get to Raton." He slammed the door closed and moved around the Jeep to the side of the road.
I stared at Rad as I started the Jeep and then forced myself to look away and drive back onto the road. I did glance in the rearview mirror for a moment as I drove away.
Rad stood there watching us go until he was a tiny spec in the distance. I almost cried when we turned a wide corner and he disappeared from sight. I continued to glance at the rearview mirror every few minutes just to make sure we weren't being followed.
By the time I ran out of side road and had to hit the highway, I was pretty sure that no one was following us. I'd been watching closely and no cars had followed us more than a few minutes. Unless those hunting us had access to a hundred cars, we were in the clear.
For now anyway.
I still couldn't figure out how they had found us, but I'd been wondering that for years. No matter what I did, they always seemed to find us. If I didn't know better, I'd think they had put a tracker in my ass.
Rad seemed to think it was the cell phones, which made sense. It would be easier to track a cell phone. What I didn't understand was how. Until Rad gave me the disposable cell phone, I hadn't had one in ages and yet they still found me.
There had to be some connection I wasn't seeing, some single point that made it easier for them to find me. It would be great if I could figure out what that point was and eliminate it.
