The vehicle sways dangerously to one side, then lurches forward.
Straight up.
In ways that gravity never meant for a car to travel.
“This isn’t possible—” I start.
“Princess, my driveway doesn’t see a whole lotta traffic. It’s been a while since I’ve been home, so some things have changed. Can we hold off on the tantrums until after we’re at the top?” Drake yanks the steering wheel to the side, righting the vertical axis back to level, and powers us up the incline.
Hisdrive? My mouth snaps shut on the next rejoinder. Right now, he really does seem to need to concentrate. I can wait to rip him a new one, at least for a few more minutes.
Which turns into nearly half an hour as I use the bar before me like it’s the only thing holding me to the Earth’s surface. I’ll be dreaming of this stupid hill for the next month. My eyes squeeze shut though I have no idea how he knows where he’s going, though that doesn't last too long. Impending death and I have a deal—I’ll stare it right in the eye, and even though I hate heights, I glare at the darkness like it might glare back. The night is pitch outside, and the headlights barely seem to penetrate the mist that flows around the car the higher we climb.
The higher we climb.
“Are those clouds, Drake?”
My bodyguard coughs as the truck finally levels out, and the bumps stop. The engine quiets, and the only thing that’s loud is my heart that seems to have taken up residence in my ears.
He grins as he reaches one hand between us and unsnaps my seatbelt. “Yeah, princess. Get used to new things. My home is your home for the next few weeks. No entourage allowed.”
I’m not sure if I should scream, cry or try to run back to the city and beg Shayne to change his mind. Maybe the stalker is safer after all that. But there's one thing I’ve learned about my bodyguard in the hours he didn’t talk to me and the rough drive up his mountain:
Drake doesn’t joke. We’re here to stay.
I’m not sure who I should be more scared of right now. But if I was my stalker? I’d run a long, long way.
In the opposite direction. Because this man gives off the same vibes as the one whose obsession is focused on me right now.
And he doesn’t fuck around.
CHAPTER THREE
CHA CHA
Soft lighting glows along a short path from Drake’s truck to the house. That still stands in darkness, until he opens it from his phone and lights that, too.
“Aren’t you the snazzy one?” I murmur, placing a tentative heel on the loose stone walk.
His soft laugh at my back reminds me that I’m still not alone. Maybe I never will be.
Maybe I don’t want to be alone anymore.
Out here, in the strange mountains I can’t see but know are there from their all pervading darkness against the glitter studded velvet backdrop, the chill air wraps around me. The reminder of how small a creature I am has never been so fierce. Something the city, with all its brightness and chatter and white noise often knocks away.
Right now, in this moment, I enjoy feeling…small.
Quiet.
My eyes slip shut, blocking out the mountains with their heavy presence, and the cold stars above. Gravity takes hold,different from the sort that kept us anchored to the world when Drake seemed intent on killing us for the past two hours or more. This is…grounding A weight that draws me to the place where we stand. Suddenly the only presence I’m aware of is his, the warmth of the man behind me, and I know my assessment of him before was right.
He won’t budge, and he won’t leave. This man is formidable. Unyielding.
I pity the stalker who comes up against the brick wall of a bodyguard behind me. He won’t win. But more than that—here, without all the clutter and chatter and incessant, never endingnoisethat didn’t matter at all when it would stop anyway, I can listen.
And I am safe.
“Are you ready to go inside, princess?” Drake’s words are soft, eking into the quiet night, but not shattering the silence.
