Her laugh was sharp. “Wow. That’s creepy as hell, Tank.”
“Yeah,” he agreed without hesitation. “It is.” That seemed to throw her off, which worked for him because he wasn’t about to sugarcoat any of this for her. She deserved the full truth.
“I was making sure they didn’t get close,” he added. “And tonight, they got too damn close.” Lillith crossed her arms, turning toward the window like she didn’t want to look at him.
“Could’ve told me,” she muttered.
“And what?” he shot back. “You would’ve stayed inside like I asked?” She didn’t say anything, and he knew that was his answer. “Didn’t think so,” he said.
“Don’t,” she snapped, turning back toward him. “Don’t act like this is my fault.”
“It’s not,” he said immediately. “It’s mine.” That shut her up for a second.
“For leaving?” she asked.
“For coming back,” he corrected.
“You said they’re still here,” she said slowly. “Who are ‘they,’ Tank?” He exhaled, not sure that he wanted to answer herquestion. He didn’t want to pull her any deeper into this. But that ship had not only sailed, but it sank.
“I told you before, I saw something that I shouldn’t have. These men killed someone powerful, and now, they want to make sure that I don’t tell anyone about it,” he said.
“Okay, then, being here with you isn’t safe. Just take me back to Ember’s place. I’m sure that I’ll be safe there,” she demanded.
Tank shot her a look. “You don’t get to demand shit in this situation.”
Her eyes flashed. “Watch me.” God, she had no idea what she was up against, and no idea what he was trying to keep her from. And still, she pushed him.
“You think I’m just gonna sit here and play passenger princess while you drag me across state lines?” she demanded. “I deserve to have a say in all of this, Tank.” Passenger princess, Jesus. Despite everything, his mouth twitched.
“Not exactly the term I’d use,” he muttered.
“Tank,” she said his name like a warning. Her tone stopped him cold, and he glanced over at her. He saw the fear that she was trying to hide, and the anger that she wasn’t bothering to conceal. At the strength that made him want to both protect her and push her as far away from him as possible.
“These are important people,” he said. “The kind that don’t leave loose ends. They have money and people high up in their pockets. They will kill both of us, and never look back.” Her stomach probably dropped. He didn’t have to look at her to know it did.
“And I’m a loose end?” she asked quietly.
Tank’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Not if I can help it.” That wasn’t an answer, not really, but it was the truth.
“Great,” she muttered, leaning back in her seat. “So now I’m on the run with a guy who won’t let me help decide anything, and apparently has enemies who like kidnapping women.”
“They weren’t there for you,” he said.
Her head snapped toward him again. “Oh, that’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“They were there because of me,” he said, sharper this time. “They wanted me to show my hand, and taking you would force me out into the daylight.” Everything that happened tonight was on him.
“I should’ve stayed away,” he muttered.
“Yeah,” she said softly. That hit harder than anything else she’d said, because she wasn’t yelling or snapping at him. She wasn’t fighting him on anything. She was just agreeing, and for some reason, that felt worse.
Tank exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. “Too late now,” he said.
“Yeah,” she echoed. Another mile passed, then another. The city lights faded behind them, replaced by darker stretches of road and fewer cars. That was good because it meant less exposure and less risk—for now.
“Where are we going?” she asked after a while.
“I’m taking you to a safe place,” he growled.
