The tires squealed as we took the corner.
“Are they following us?” Alena asked from the back, her voice tight with fear.
I checked the mirrors. “Not yet. But I think they will. That man had back-up.”
The tension in the car was thick enough to cut. No one spoke as we drove through the city streets, taking random turns to shake any potential tail. After fifteen minutes of this, I was reasonably sure we weren’t being followed.
“We’ll drop you two at the family house,” I said to my sisters. “It’s more secure than either of your places.”
“What about Beatrice?” Anja asked.
“She’s coming home with me.”
I looked at Beatrice in the mirror, but when she caught my gaze, she immediately looked away. I felt my heart sink, thinking she was pissed that I’d ruined her day…again.
We dropped the girls off, and I stepped out to hug them, warning them to stay safe and call me at the first hint of trouble, before sliding in back with Beatrice. She stiffened, pushing harder against the door even though there was ample distance between us.
We continued driving in silence, but at every glance I threw Beatrice’s way, I noticed signs of tension. The way her knees locked tight, the way she never met my gaze, the way her fists clenched in her lap. She was trembling…god, I thought to myself. She was furious.
“I’m sorry about what happened today,” I explained. “I thought it would be better to get you out safe. It was dangerous, being out.”
She said nothing. Simply nodded, and her eyes flickered to mine briefly. But when I saw the flickering agony in her eyes, roaring and fierce just before she looked away, I felt my shoulders tense.
I chose to say nothing more, fearing she’d ask what I was even doing there. I didn’t want to lie to her anymore, and I certainly didn’t want to tell her about the threats her brothers gave.
We reached home, and I turned to her to say goodbye, but before I could, she was out the door, running up the stairs, like she couldn’t stand to breathe the same air as me.
Chapter 14 - Beatrice
I tried to ignore Arko’s voice, urging me to slow down as he followed in my footsteps. But I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I strode up the staircase, my hand flying off the banister in the hurry that I was, to get away from him and soothe my racing heart.
I wished I were angry at him for ruining the day. I wished that I could remember why I’d been mad at him in the first place, but the truth was that I’d forgotten all of it.
“Beatrice, tell me what’s wrong!” Arko begged at my heels just as I reached the landing. He grabbed my elbow, his touch searing heat into me as I whirled to meet his eyes. His gorgeous, deep blue eyes that reminded me of distant oceans and men who brought women to their knees.
“Nothing,” I said, breathlessly. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”
I tugged myself free and turned around, fleeing for my bedroom. Just being near him weakened me. Ever since he strode into that changing room and demanded we were in danger, I couldn’t bring myself to stop thinking about how grateful I was that he was there to usher us to safety.
I kept remembering the searing touch from his hand to the small of my back, the way his body crowded me as he led us to the car, how proud he looked when I’d found a way out of the stock room.
Just being near him, god damn it, made me all wobbly at the knees.
I reached my bedroom door and pushed it open, rushing in to close it behind me, but before I could, Arko barged past, his face a blazing, sexy thing of passion.
“Just be out with it. I won’t go back to silence,” he said loudly as he slammed the door shut behind him. “Whatever it is, we can talk it out.”
“I…I swear.” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry at the sight of his exposed, veiny, strong-as-hell forearms from when he’d rolled his sleeves up in the car. “I’m just tired.”
“Are you sure it’s just that?” A flash of concern crossed his face. “You look flushed. Panicked. Are you afraid?”
I gulped and shook my head. “N…no.” I managed to stammer out, willing my face not to give away the way my body thrummed for him. The truth was, just seeing him today, being all protective, his chest against my back as he shoved me into the car and took down that man with his gun, all of it had messed with my head.
Arko stepped toward me, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe a word I was saying. I backed up instinctively, my legs hitting the edge of the bed.
“Just tell me what’s wrong,” he whispered, reaching out to cup my cheek. I gasped at the touch, at how good it felt, and my eyes blasted open. Without thinking, I bit into my lower lip, leaning into his cupped arm.
The truth was that when he had driven me home with such fierce concentration, checking over his shoulder to make sure we were all safe, I hadn’t felt fear at all.
