“It’s OK, Dani,” Kayden replies, cutting off any further explanation from me. He turns around, locking the door behind him. “I’m going to do a sweep of the restaurant and around the building. I want you to stay here, do you hear me?”
It’s only then that he turns on a flashlight, illuminating the diner and giving me a good look at him. He’s wearing the same gear he did the night he rescued me. Black combat pants, a black tight-fitting T-shirt, a bulletproof vest, some sort of militaryhelmet with gadgets on it, and a huge rifle that hangs at his side. I’m instantly transported back to that horrific night. Kayden must notice when I don’t respond because he grabs me by my shoulders again.
“Dani. Listen to me. Hey, look at me,” he says as he grabs my chin, forcing my gaze to his. “You’re safe now. I’m here and I’m not leaving. I’m just going to look around, OK?”
I look in his eyes and nod my head, not trusting myself to talk right now.
He leads me back to the booth before pushing me down. In any other situation, on my knees before him would be a dream, but right now I just want to make it out of this alive.
“Stay here, Dani.”
As quickly as he came, he leaves. I peek from behind the booth, watching his flashlight illuminate different areas of the diner. As he makes his way into the kitchen, I’m plunged into darkness again. I sit back and wrap my arms around my knees, desperately listening for any sign of trouble.
A few minutes later, Kayden comes back from the rear of the diner, his flashlight lighting up my hiding spot, and gets on one knee to stoop to my level.
“Hey there, spitfire. How ya holdin’ up?”
“Did you find anything? Are they gone?” I ask, searching his face as he leans toward me.
He tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear, before shaking his head. “No, they’re long gone, whoever it was. I called in backup, though. My family owns the diner, so they’re sending some of their men to get the power back on. Some of my own men will be coming to watch over the place today, too.”
“OK, OK. Great. That’s great,” I say, foolishly repeating myself as I try to pull it together and not break down in front of the man that’s plagued my dreams for the last three years.
“Dani. Let’s get you out of here.”
“But I have to work today. I have a twelve hour shift. I can’t miss work!”
“I’m not debating this with you, spitfire. I’m taking you home. And before you argue, I already called Elaine and let her know. She has coverage. They will be fine without you for one day.”
Go figure she answered the phone for him but not me.
Before I can even argue with the man before me, he takes my hand, pulls me to my feet, and leads me out of the diner. We walk across the front sidewalk toward a black truck that he unlocks. He opens the door, and I silently climb in, seeming to be on autopilot as the adrenaline slowly dissipates from my body.
Preparing to shut the truck door, Kayden leans in again, stirring me from my racing thoughts. “Dani, where are your things so I can grab them for you?”
“In one of the booths,” I reply, my voice sounding as hollow as I feel.
Kayden is back within seconds, putting my things in the back before climbing in the driver’s seat. I feel his gaze on me but I don’t have it in me to return his stare. He reaches across me, pulling my seatbelt over my body and clicking it into place.
“What’s going on in that brain of yours, little spitfire?”
When I don’t answer his question, he puts the truck in drive and pulls away from the diner.
It’s been years since I felt this scared, but also years since I felt this safe.
Ten
Kayden
The barely contained rage that is simmering beneath my calm exterior threatens to break free. When Dani called me, I knew right away something was wrong. The fear laced in her words had me gripping the steering wheel until I was sure it would bend beneath my hands. I had been at another ring bust when her call came in. I’ve always taken care of the ring leaders myself, but not this time. Dani took precedence and I let my lead, Donovan, take over so I could go to her. Driving to the diner felt like the longest drive of my life.
Checking the newly installed cameras on my way had revealed two men circling the diner. Without seeing their faces, I couldn’t guarantee it was Derek and one of his goons, but it’s what made the most sense. Who else would want to hurt Dani? By the time I arrived they were long gone, but what I found confirmed my suspicions. “YOU’RE MINE” was spray painted in black on the back door. Chills break out along my arms as I imagine what might have happened had they actually made it into the diner.
The drive to her apartment is quiet, each of us stuck within our own thoughts. I can tell Dani has shut down, detaching herself from the situation as she stares out the passengerwindow. I have to figure out a way to get her past this—I know she’s in a fragile state of mind.
Pulling along the curb outside the apartment building, I turn off the truck and turn in my seat to face Dani. Rain plinks on the hood of the truck, the only echo in the silence. It’s still dark out, a rare overcast day that feels bleak and cold in the worst way.
“Dani.”
