I dig the taser into his groin.
“Fuck,” he breathes out. “If I was a threat...” He doesn’t finish his thought. Instead, he moves too fast for me to register what he’s doing. The taser is knocked from my grip, clanging to the floor just as he shifts around me, pushing me so that my body presses up against the wall. With my arms somehow twisted behind me now, he gathers my wrists into one of hishands. He leans into me with his full weight, holding me there so I can’t move. As I’m about to shout for help, his hand covers my mouth.
My pulse spikes. Panic slamming into me so violently that I feel dizzy.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says next to my ear, almost like he’s pleading with me.
I try making a noise, but I’m shaking and can’t make a single sound.
“Naomi,” he grits out.
I want to tell him,“Nope, sorry, that’s not right. That’s not my name, asshole.”I want to hang onto my wits and not crumble at what’s happening. I glance around as my nerves ratchet, my whole body now vibrating with adrenaline. Where’s the person who kept knocking?Fuck.
“Listen to me,” he says through a clenched jaw. “I’m not interested in causing trouble. I’m just looking for information, but you lied to me, and now I really want to know what’s in Hideaway?”
He doesn’t realize how complicated his question and my non-answer just made all of this.
“Shit,” he mumbles, stepping back slightly and letting go of my wrists. “Tell me what will make you stop panicking. Please.” He turns me around and looks over my body. “You’re shaking. I’m going to lift my hand away from your mouth. I promise, I’mnotgoing to hurt you.”
It takes me a second.Breathe. “Leave,” I mutter as strongly as I can. A tear stupidly falls down my cheek, and I swipe it away, hopefully before he can spot it.Be brave.“Forget you were here. Forget whatever this—” I cut myself off. “If you’re not looking for trouble, then leave. And forget.”
“Naomi, you alright?” Boss shouts from the end of the short hallway.
Before I can even answer, the weight of Julian disappears just as abruptly as the door to the emergency exit opens. He glances back at me one last time before he walks through, regret and confusion playing out across his face.
What the hell did I just do?
“Naomi?” Boss calls out again.
I swallow repeatedly, feeling like I might throw up. My clammy hands tremble, and I breathe in through my nose, holding forseven, six, five, four, three, two.Get it together.Exhale. I remember the protocols. I shove down any emotions that are lingering.This isn’t just about me anymore.
When I look back up, I’m as focused as I can be, my panic still on the precipice, but I can deal with that later. As I’m rushing down the hall, Boss meets me in the middle. “What happened?” he asks, reaching for my shoulders.
I step back, not wanting anyone to touch me. “I messed up,” I tell him as my eyes blur with tears. “I need to make the call. And you need to head to the ranch. Make sure I didn’t just get everyone?—”
“Already on it,” Viv says, speeding past the hall entryway. “I’ve got Peaky saddled outside; I’ll get there faster. I knew I didn’t like that fucker!” she calls out, moving through the bar.
Boss is already moving and tosses me my burner phone from behind the bar. “Call it in, and I’ll give the ranch a heads-up before Viv gets there.”
With my heart pounding in my ears, I hustle back to the office and close the door behind me. I flip open the phone to the only number programmed on it. It only rings twice before she answers.
A loud breath blows out, and then the sound of jazz music echoes in the background before she says, “Talk to me, Wyn.”
I clear my throat. “Bea, I messed up.” I don’t bother swiping at the tears that finally fall.
“Are you in danger?” she asks, immediately following up with, “One-word answers only right now.”
I squeeze my eyes closed. “No.”
“Good. If that changes, you hang up and do as you’ve been instructed,” she directs.
I’m nodding, as if she can see me. There are protocols and rules for staying here. The U.S. Marshall who brought me here made everything crystal clear, and I’ve broken one of them, or rather, the only one.Keep this place quiet. If anyone asks, Hideaway doesn’t exist. It needs to stay that way.
“Is anyone else hurt?”
“No,” I tell her through more tears.
“Is anyone on their way to the ranch?”
