“We’re going to go stay at Anastasia’s,” he tells me. “She has a guest room available.”
“I’m not done speaking to you, Knox,” the woman demands, her tone sharp, as she stops right behind him.
He takes a deep breath and whirls on her. “We are done because I say we are.”
“Do you really think I wouldn’t find out? Two incidents requiring police presence. Both of them with you as the headliner. I expect an explanation. You’re supposed to be flying under the radar, not setting it off.”
“As I said, they were misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings.” Her gaze shifts from him to me, and she pins me with an ice-cold glare. “This have something to do with your new houseguest?”
“Hey, watch it.” Anastasia stands and crosses her arms. “You don’t get to talk to him that way.”
“I’ll do whatever I need to do,” she replies.
Zane takes a step in front of his sister. “You do not address her. Period. My family has always been off-limits.”
Weston, Ryker, Garrison, and Sawyer all flank us, with Sawyer pulling Anastasia behind him.
The woman looks from them back to Zane. “I expect an explanation, Knox. I can’t have you distracted.” She glares at me. “Something you clearly are.”
“Like I told you. Unless you have orders for us, we have nothing to talk about.” Zane turns toward me. “Come on, Tessa.” He reaches out, so I take his hand. The blanket slips from my shoulders, but Weston grabs it before it can hit the ground.
He offers me a soft, understanding smile, and I can’t help but wonder if tonight somehow changed his outlook on me. I’m not sure why it would have, given his friend nearly died—again, but I’m grateful for it.
Zane scoops me into his arms and carries me the rest of the way to his truck, while Anastasia and the rest of the team follow.
I want to argue. Want to insist that I can walk.
But when that woman’s gaze pins me again, I’m grateful for the speedy retreat.
We reach Zane’s truck, and he helps me into the passenger seat. Anastasia climbs in, too, so I scoot over to the middle of the bench seat as Zane climbs behind the wheel.
My thigh brushes against Zane’s, and despite everything that’s happened tonight, the contact sends a wave of warmth through me.
Less than two minutes after we leave the marina, we’re pulling around the back of an old house on Main Street. Zane climbs out first, then reaches back in for me. Instead of going out the passenger side, I scoot beneath the steering wheel and let him help me out on the driver’s side.
The rumbling of a motorcycle has me turning toward the left as Weston pulls in, a truck right behind him. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like the black SUV is anywhere to be seen.
Weston turns off the bike and climbs off, setting his helmet to the side as the rest of the guys get out of the truck Ryker was driving.
“I need to get things going this morning, but I’ll bring up coffee as soon as I can.” Anastasia groans. “Karly picked the perfect day to start her vacation.”
“I can help,” Sawyer offers, clapping his hands together. “Put me in, coach.”
Anastasia grins at him. “No offense, but I don’t even think the apron will fit you.”
He smiles. “You saying you like my muscles?”
“Before we all get nauseated, how about we get inside?” Ryker comments with a roll of his eyes.
“Yeah, we need to get off the street.” Zane glances around, his head on a swivel, body between me and the building. It makes me sick to think that someone wouldn’t hesitate to take him out—to take them all out—just to get their shot at me.
Who did I anger? Why is someone trying so hard to kill me?
Zane’s hand goes to my lower back, and he guides me toward the building while Anastasia moves ahead and unlocks the back door. We all file in behind her, but instead of following her and Sawyer into the front, Zane leads me toward a staircase.
It’s not until we get to the top that I realize we’re alone and the others remained downstairs.
