The knot in my stomach tightened. “I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“There’s some reason this is all connected, Fleur. I have no clue what that is at this point. But I assure you that I will find out.”
If I didn’t know the man, I’d say his statement was more of a threat.
“I feel lost.” Why was I admitting that to anyone? I’d fought for so long to build a life I loved and as before, it was about to be taken away.
He was rolling through town at a clipped speed, swerving around other vehicles when he could. I was still numb from everything that had occurred, barely able to focus. The powerful man had saved my life. There was no denying his heroism or the lengths he’d gone to, but he wanted me to disrupt my entire life.
“Leaving everything you know won’t necessarily be forever,” he said in his quiet, more complicated voice. The one that had me questioning why I was giving him any pushback in the firstplace. Like a teacher would do in trying to convince her students that reading an entire book over the weekend was a good idea. Complete with a book report come Monday morning.
I almost laughed as random thoughts continued to occupy dozens of my brain cells. There was no other reason for my muddled thinking or even considering his offer. “How long would we be gone?”
“Are you asking if one day you can return? My best guess would be yes. After the threat has been eliminated.”
Eliminated. As if it was no big deal that he’d killed three people and left them in the woods for the wolves to find. I slumped in the seat, fighting the round of nerves, rage, and sadness that threatened every aspect of my mental aptitude.
He continued driving, taking back roads and going around the city. The danger was brimming like a live wire, similar to the one connecting us. Was there some reason we’d been shoved together? I couldn’t imagine how that was possible.
“There is no way I’ll ever be able to return the kindness in risking your life to save mine. You are a true hero in my book. I feel so lost right now, Montgomery. Certainly, you can understand why.”
“Of course I can. No one should ever be forced to face what you’ve experienced. No one.”
I squeezed my fists together, staring out the passenger window. Maybe I was hoping for some divine intervention or the spirits to swoop in and tell me what I should do.
“My entire life has been about upheaval. Moving every couple of years. Not every feeling like I fit in or belonged to anyone. It’sa cold, dark world out there. You’ve very lucky that you have a family to protect you. My only family are the people in this town. That’s why in good conscience, I’ve decided I can’t go with you. I understand the dangers and I’ll take precautions including adding a security system, but my decision is final.”
“Do you honestly believe a security system will stop a group of assassins who only get paid when they complete the job?”
Why was he trying to put the fear of God into me? “I don’t care. I can’t live my life in fear.” How very noble of me. I had no clue what I was doing.
He pulled up to a traffic light, taking the time to swing his head in my direction. “You’re distraught and not thinking clearly. I get that. However, I don’t think you do understand, Fleur. I’m not asking you to come with me. I’m telling you that you are. If you can’t comprehend the level and complexity of the danger we’re both facing, then you need to know that I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Whoa. What are you saying?” Another pang of despair swept through me. “That after everything we’ve shared, you believe somehow, I’m working with these monsters who killed my brother to have you killed?” When he didn’t answer, merely lifted his two eyebrows until tiny creases were formed on the sides of his eyes, I couldn’t react fast enough. “My God. You are.”
“I’m not suggesting you’re to blame for the hit taken out on my life. but I think our relationship is being used. That’s why the attempt at taking you prisoner was made.”
“To create a weakness.”
“Exactly. Because I care about you.”
“You care about me?” The fog around my mind was becoming thick like molasses.
“Yes, Fleur. I do. Even a monstrous man like me can care about someone. Staying here will also put the lives of people you care about in danger. Anyone attempting to protect you will be killed.”
“Oh, my God. You’re trying to add to my guilt? I don’t need your help in that department. I feel like the worst person on the face of this earth.” The reality was mindboggling. The insanity of the day a heavy weight, just like the horrible guilt I’d felt with Danny. Now he was dead. No. No.
I took several deep breaths, the ache in my chest becoming painful. This just wasn’t acceptable. I had to find some way of keeping my life together. Without thinking, just as he started to pull away from the light, I opened the door.
What had I been thinking? That I could easily get away from a man like Montgomery, a guy who’d easily killed three men without breaking a sweat? He snapped his hand around my arm, tugging me back while pressing on the brake. The horns behind him didn’t deter his actions as he reached across, crushing his weight against me as he grabbed the door handle. The hard slam of the door created shivers.
The closeness of his body brought another wave of heat.
He simply turned his head to look at me, his nostrils flaring. “Do not do that again.”
Somewhere in the back of my fractured mind, I knew better than to try.
When he drove through the city limits, he stole another glance at me. “I know you’re terrified. There’s every reason to be, but we’ll make it to our destination.”
