A tiny silhouette darted from the alley, straight into the street, without losing pace. Her ball cap fell off landing in theroad. The lights from T’s truck shined bright on her as she ran across the street.
“They’re running.” Trent started the Jeep. Bogs pushed his hand off the door and booked it down the sidewalk, following behind Kenzie. She was fast, but he was faster. Her feet hit the sidewalk only about fifteen feet in front of him. He saw a shadow emerge from the truck, but so did she. She halted, spinning to her left, turning toward the park, and down the hill on the side of the bridge.
“Got her,” Bogs shouted to T.
His heart raced fast as his feet pounded the concrete. He slid down the embankment from the moist grass. She was only ten feet away. Luckily for him, the hill slowed her down and she lost momentum. The screeching tires in the background made him push harder. There was no way to tell if it was T or someone else chasing after her.
She slowed and her head whipped to the side. The minute she caught sight of him, she took off again. Fortunately, her small hesitation was all he needed to catch up to her. He could hear her breathing frantically as he closed in on her. He reached out, grabbing a clump of her shirt and pulled her back. Her arms waved out, clocking him in the jaw.
“Fuck.” The pain shot through his mouth up to his temple. His grip tightened, not about to let her get away. His other arm wrapped around her waist tugging hard against his chest. When she was secured, he released her shirt, covering her mouth with his hand. Her muffled screams were loud enough that someone close by would hear her. He needed to get her to calm down and keep quiet.
“Not gonna hurt you.” He tightened his hand on her mouth and focused.
The background voices and cars left no doubt in his mind. If Bogs hadn’t gotten to Kenzie when he did, someone else would have. He stepped back, scanning the tunnel, and burrowed in a dark alcove. She continuedto struggle but his grip didn’t relent. As he pressed his back to the concrete wall, he could feel tears drip down over his hand that covered her mouth.
The tears played as a reminder that this girl, who was way in over her head, was a lot more innocent than the situation called for. He bent his head down at her neck. Squirming ensued.
“Shhh… calm down, Kenzie, I got ya.” She froze. He didn’t know if she recognized his voice, or was confused that he knew who she was. Either way, frozen was better than squirming. “I’m not gonna hurt you, but I can’t say the same for the others, so I need you to be still and keep quiet.”
He kept his hand over her mouth, not trusting her not to scream out and put them both in danger by giving them away. Bogs looked up, listening for the voices. They seemed to be fading in the distance. But he knew better. He had been on quite a few chases. The best way to get a perp out of hiding was to give them a false sense of security. Keep quiet and lying in wait had nabbed them many jumpers in the past.
He flinched at the unexpected touch to his bare arm clutched over her stomach. Her hands lay flat over his arm. He lightened the grip over her mouth but kept it covered while he leaned closer to her ear. It was the worst time for it, but he breathed in her scent. Cranberry and vanilla. Her soft hair tickled his nose. In order to keep her safe, he needed her to stay with him. He had to make it clear--he was her only option.
“I need you to stay quiet, okay? You scream and draw them to us, you’re on your own. You don’t mean shit when my life is involved. As much as you’re a hot piece of ass, no chick is worth dying over. Ya got me?”
She nodded against his hold. She completely bought into his lie. There was no way Bogs would bail on her, and although she starred in last night jerk off fantasy, it had nothing to do with it. He wouldn’t forsake any woman to save his own ass.
“Alright, pretty girl, gonna take my hand away. Need you to keep your mouth shut.”
She gasped a breath against his hand as her body stiffened. He held her in place but felt her resistance as if she was trying to glance back at him. She nodded again and he slowly lowered his hand to rest on her hip. A soft whimper echoed in the tunnel. He massaged her hip, tracing his fingers over her shirt. If they had been any place other than in a dark, dank tunnel and on the run, being this close would have sent him over the edge with need. But they were there, and in danger, and he needed to stay focused and above all else, keep her the fuck quiet.
“Kenzie,” he whispered. “Baby, I know you’re scared and freaked out, but every sound you make brings them a step closer.” Her whimpers immediately subsided. Her body was shaking against his, doing her best to remain silent.
“Good girl. Now, I’m gonna get us out of here, but I need you to stay close to me no matter what. If something happens, you need to hold onto me. Do not run. Okay, pretty girl?” His tone was soft, as if he were talking to a child.
He waited for some kind of response but got nothing until she turned her head and glanced up at him. Her tear streaked face was blotchy and her nose was bright red. Dark coloring filled under her eyes, ruined makeup from crying.
Even in the dark, with her swollen, bloodshot eyes, the green glint sparked. He lifted his hand and wiped away the moisture from her cheeks.
Her voice trembled through the whisper. “I need to find Taylor.”
Bogs nodded, although her friend was the least of his concerns, and should have been hers.
“We will, but we need to get outta here first.” He pulled his cell from his back pocket. “Gonna make a call.” He clicked on T’s contact number.It barely rang once.
“Where the fuck are you?”
“Under the bridge near the park.” He kept his voice low.
“Fuck. Can’t get to you there, man.” Bogs heard rustling and cursing before Stone got on the line.
“You okay?” This wasn’t the first time one of them had been in a dangerous position, but it had been a long time since he’d heard the worry in his brother’s tone. If Stone was concerned this small problem had just gotten fucking huge.
“Yeah.You?Dec?”
“We’re good. Fucking bitch is crazy, trying to steal from the club. Nearly started a riot inside that place.”
“Steal from the club?” Kenzie’s body tensed and her fingers resting on his arm twitched.
