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Beside him, Haisley gasped, then tried to bite back the sound.

Heart lurching, he yanked her down until she crouched next to him behind the reception desk. Then he pointed to the elevator doors.

She nodded.

But Mila kept coming. “I heard you. I have a gun I’m not afraid to use. And I’m calling the police.”

He hated to move or for Haisley to potentially be seen, but the elevator doors that had taken forever to open were already starting to close.

“Go,” he hissed, shoving her forward and blocking her with his body.

She hauled ass, doing some cross between a scramble and a knee-walk. He followed close behind. Once they were inside, he plastered her against the wall near the panel and dropped his chin as he pushed the button for the lobby. “Hide your face.”

She buried it in his chest as he heard Mila’s footsteps barreling toward them. He shoved his face in the corner of the elevator car, holding his breath and palming his SIG. He felt Haisley’s heart thudding against his, and everything inside him crawled out of his skin to protect her. He didn’t want an altercation, especially with her life on the line.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Finally, the doors slid shut just before Mila reached them. He heard her cursing, then more talking, which he presumed was her calling 911, before a whoosh sent them down to the lobby. He had zero idea what waited for them. Had Zeph been found? Was that why the lights in this metal box were on?

Just as they descended, Zeph texted again.

Sorry about the lights. Lobby is dark. Get the hell out.

The man didn’t have to tell him twice. The instant the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, he hustled Haisley into the shadowed lobby, hugging the wall again to avoid the potential cameras until they found their way to the warehouse area.

Zeph was waiting as soon as they slipped through the door. “Glad you’re out in one piece. Security says the cops are on their way.”

He handed the older man another fifty. “You’ve been gold.”

“I didn’t think the boss lady was going to show up.”

“That makes two of us. Any idea why she’s here?”

“Nope. She just went in. I let you know as quickly as I could.”

“Appreciate it.”

Zeph nodded and handed back the money. “Keep this. I just hope you find whoever took those girls. Go!”

Nash wanted to argue, but sirens started wailing in the distance, so they dashed around the building and across the street, running full sprint until they ducked behind the old brick buildings erected in the downtown area’s heyday, then huffed-and-puffed their way to his motorcycle.

He willed his adrenaline to take a back seat to urgency and unlocked his saddlebags before tossing a helmet her way. “Put it on.”

Thankfully, he didn’t have to ask her twice or give her any other instruction. He hopped on as he secured his chin strap, then revved the engine. Haisley was already behind him, clutching his middle tight. He was ridiculously grateful not just because she kept him warmer in the winter chill, but her body temperature and grip assured him she was okay and with him. Her exhalations on his back as he eased out of the parking lot and onto the street before flipping on his headlight reminded him that she was alive and vital.

He’d risked her too much.

His head spun as he raced through the dark, nearly empty streets. Her place was closer than his. And he’d rather have her in his space where he could watch over her. Protect her. But she’d only balk if he took her to his home. And fighting wasn’t what he wanted to do with her.

Fear, adrenaline, and need all pounded through his veins, scorching his insides. His cock was hard as concrete and throbbed for action. He had to calm the fuck down. But that wasn’t going to happen until he got alone and took himself in hand. Haisley wanted “professional” from him, and he couldn’t trust himself around her until he bled off this surge of excess energy.

They reached her place without incident. He parked on her side yard and killed the engine. “Inside.”

“You okay?” she asked as she peeled off her helmet.

“Fine,” he lied as he stashed their brain buckets. It was taking every fucking ounce of his restraint not to push her against the wall and seize her soft mouth while he tore away her yoga pants, then plowed into her sweet cunt.

Her scowl clearly said she didn’t believe him. “If you say so. I got it from here. Let me know about the phone once you get it?—”