Page 29 of Unplanned Target

Curving my hand against the side of her head, I tuck her closer, a smile curving my lips. “Technically there’s a coffee shop, but we’re heading in the other direction.”

Miranda’s head tips, her eyes jumping to my face.

I shrug. “I figured we shouldn’t make this too painless for her.”

Miranda busts out laughing, her smile holding as I load her into the passenger seat. Once I’m behind the wheel, I start the stolen car Pierce will be compensating Mrs. Landis for, and slowly begin following the rocky dirt path leading to the road.

Once we reach the pavement I aim for the small town where I located a decent sized grocery store that also carries home goods and clothing. Hopefully we can find the basics there and get back to the cabin without attracting any attention.

We reach the store without issue, and park near the back of the lot. Miranda and I systematically work though the list of items we need for the cabin while Allie randomly adds her favorite snacks and a few personal items. By the time we’ve tossed in a few outfits for each of us, along with extra socks and underwear, the cart is overflowing.

It takes forever to get checked out, but finally we’re loading everything into the trunk and pulling away.

We don’t make it far before it’s clear something is very fucking wrong.

I watch in the rearview as a car a few positions back makes a matching turn for the third time in a row.

“What?” Miranda’s whisper is low. “What’s wrong?”

I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding my concern, but obviously I thought wrong. “I’m not sure yet.”

Giving her an honest answer is my only option. If she can tell when something’s wrong, she’ll also know if I’m lying. And Miranda likes to be informed.

Hopefully she also likes to not freak the hell out.

“Okay.” Miranda stays facing forward, her breath coming in sharp pants. “This is fine. Everything is fine.” She rubs both hands down the front of her jeans. “What can I do to help?”

Shit. This woman is making me like her more at every turn. The way she’s always ready to do whatever she can to help me. The way she fights to keep herself calm. The way she listens and remembers what I’ve told her, making it easier for me to focus on keeping us safe. But more than that, she’s making me think maybe we could be genuinely compatible. That the things I want might fall in line with the same things she values. That she might be the kind of person who can give me the home I’ve been searching for.

And that I might be the kind of man who can help her feel safe enough to breathe.

“Keep facing forward. Try not to look like you’re about to throw up.” I reach across the console to slide my hand into hers, giving it a squeeze. “We don’t want them to know we see them.” I shoot her a grin. “Until we do want them to know we see them.”

“Got it.” Miranda is still breathing fast, but her expression has smoothed out, the worry line between her brow disappearing. “Don’t see them at all. Definitely not panicking about another high-speed car chase.” Her eyes move around the aging sedan. “In a car that’s not bulletproof.”

“Deep breaths, Mir.” I give her hand another squeeze as I glance in the rearview again, watching the car make yet another turn. We’re in a pretty populated area right now and the sun is up, so unlike last time, there would be tons of witnesses if shots started being fired.

Hopefully it’s enough to keep us safe.

“I don’t think we can go back to the cabin.” I pass over my phone. “I need you to get me directions.” The best chance I have of keeping Miranda and Allie safe is to stick to busy areas and take a path that offers the opportunity to force separation.

“Yeah. I can do that.” Miranda cradles my phone in both hands.

I rattle off my password, waiting until she’s input the collection of numbers before holding out my right thumb. She presses the reader against it and then opens the map app. “Where are we going?”

I glance her way as I offer the address for the place I currently call home. I’m not sure how Miranda will react to being driven halfway across the state, but I don’t have any other option. If we can be found at an off-the-grid cabin, we’re going to be found anywhere. I’m good at my job, but I’m only one person. I need more hands on deck if I want to keep these two safe.

And I do want to keep them safe. More than I should.

I also like the thought of Miranda and Allie being where I live—even if it’s not technically my home—more than I should.

But that’s an issue I’ll have to worry about later.

Because the car I’ve been watching is now following us up the on-ramp.

ELEVEN

MIRANDA