“Where am I going?” Daniel asked as he got into the driver’s seat.
“I-5 south,” I replied, pressing my arms against my sides.
The car was quiet as we turned in a circle and headed back down the tree-lined drive. I’d moved past the point when my mind raced and slid deep into the territory where everything quieted. As soon as I got home, I could decompress and figureout how in the world I’d crossed paths with the Bouchers. First, a shower, then something to eat, and then I could process.
My hands began to tremble with the inevitable adrenaline crash.
We raced toward the freeway in silence, and I watched how the dashboard lights lit up Daniel’s face. Things were clearly fucked, but he’d still agreed to immediately take me home. He’d left everything behind in order to do what I’d asked, and I couldn’t figure out why it had been so easy. Was it because I was his mate?
No, I couldn’t think about that yet. I needed to bathe first. Then eat. Then, I’d go over everything that had happened.
Reaching forward, I opened the dash, made sure that I’d flicked on the safety, and set Daniel’s pistol inside. As I sat back, I flexed my fingers. They were stiff from how tightly I’d been holding it.
I wrapped my arms around my waist and tried to ignore the ache in my chest. I was twenty-three, and I had no history of heart problems in my family. Iwasn’thaving a heart attack. It was probably just a symptom of an adrenaline crash.
Why the hell was it so fucking hot in the car? The heater wasn’t even on beyond the window defroster. I grit my teeth, knowing that I must just be radiating BO from how badly I was sweating. I considered rolling down my window even though it had started to sprinkle rain.
“I know you’re lying,” Daniel said quietly, his voice breaking the silence like a slap.
Shit.
Chapter 2
Daniel
Rosemary was too calm.
She’d followed me out of the garage she’d been held in too easily.
She handled a weapon like she’d been born with one in her hand.
At no point had she complained, hesitated, or behaved as if she was scared.
It didn’t make any sense. I was missing something.
Hearing her voice had felt like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place. Stepping into that room and seeing her face had felt like the pinnacle moment of my life. There she was. The woman I’d been waiting a century for. My mate. The other half of me.
She was a mess. Her hair was a rat’s nest. Her clothes were dirty. She smelled.
She was also perfect. My height, muscular and strong, long brown hair, and hazel eyes that missed nothing. Pouty lips. If I could’ve chosen what she looked like, I wouldn’t have imagined anything different. She carried herself like she was used to commanding every room, unwilling to make herself smaller forthe benefit of others. Her confidence hadn’t been shaken even after being held for days in a broken-down garage. I liked that.
She was also lying through her teeth.
“Lying about what?” Rosemary asked, staring out the front windshield. Her voice didn’t shake. Her expression didn’t change.
“Not sure yet,” I replied, switching lanes. “Why don’t you tell me?”
“I haven’t lied to you.”
“I find that very hard to believe.”
“Not sure what to tell you.”
I glanced over at her profile, and something twinged in my chest. I reached up to press the heel of my hand there. Gods, she was beautiful.
“Take the next exit.”
I nodded as I changed lanes. I wondered where we were headed. She’d said she wanted to go home, but it made little sense that she’d show me where she lived.
