“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Why was he after us? Shouldn’t we be calling the police?”
“I’m sure the cops were already called.”
“Then maybe we should go back? They are going to want our statement.”
“Did you get a good look at him?” I asked.
“I… no. No.”
“Then you can’t tell the cops anything anyway.”
The only reason she wasn’t asking a thousand more questions was the shock. And I felt like a dick for being glad she was experiencing that.
“That bullet,” she said, gulping hard at the memory.
“Almost got you,” I said.
“Almost got you,” she said at the same time, making my gaze cut to hers again.
“It didn’t,” I said, reaching out to give her thigh a quick squeeze. “We’re both okay.”
She sucked in another breath as her body started to tremble.
“I’m… I’m not cold.”
“You are,” I countered. Her skin had been glacial when I’d slipped my jacket on her. “But this is probably just shock,” I told her, rubbing my hand up and down her thigh.
“My insides are shaking.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“You’re so calm,” she said, looking at me with furrowed brows.
She wasn’t wrong.
Outwardly, my breathing had slowed. My heart was at a normal pace. I wasn’t shaking. I wasn’t freaking out.
Inwardly, though, I was anything but calm.
My mind was shooting off in a million directions. But they all met in one central point, trying to answer one pivotal question: How do I keep her safe now?
My knee-jerk instinct was to take her home and make sure we didn’t get seen together again.
But the more I thought about it, the less I felt like that was a possibility.
Sure, there was a chance he’djustbeen following me. That he had no idea who the hell Stephanie even was.
That said, was I willing to risk her life on that?
The answer was quick.
No.
Abso-fucking-lutely not.
She was in more danger at my side. But there was also no one else who could keep her safe.
