Page 73 of Freeing Denver

He hangs up. “What’s happened?”

“A car was circling the block for the last ten minutes. Taf dealt with it, but it looks like it’s Nowak trying to make a move.”

My shoulders dip. “But I thought the meeting went well.”

“Apparently not.” He kisses me. “We’re safer at home.”

“Sex night is over?” I pout.

He nods. “Sorry, Del.”

Fucking gangsters.

Chapter 20

Colt

Ten minutes later, we’re packed, Denver’s hand is in mine, and we’re leaving the room. Taf is in the hall and raises his attention from his phone before tucking it into his pocket.

“Alistair just called,” he says. “The cars are downstairs.”

“Cars plural?” Denver asks as we wait for the elevator.

Taf nods. “Same make and model, same plates. They’ll each go to a different location to make sure you’re not followed.”

The lobby is lined with men, six on each side, as we take quick steps to the exit. I can’t enjoy the cool air as we make it to the sidewalk, the three cars waiting.

“We should really split up,” I tell Denver, and her returning glare tells me what she thinks about that. I open the back door for her. “Have it your way, Mrs. Harland.”

“And I always will,” she whispers, flashing me a sweet smile as she gets into the car.

Taf goes to round the car to get in, but I shake my head. “You need to take another. Not one of these.” I gesture to the decoys.

My friend doesn’t hide his hurt. “Colt, I’ve protected you since we were kids.”

“I know, and they know how much you mean to me.” I squeeze his shoulder, hating myself for pushing him away. “Let me protect you now.”

“Colt—”

“I can’t lose you, too,” I say, fighting the urge to let him have his way, because he has protected me as far back as this life goes for us. He’s always been by my side, fighting for or with me. “Charlie and Cain’s men can protect us—and now they’ll protect you, too.”

The tenseness in Taf’s shoulders doesn’t ease, but he nods. “I’ll take one of the other cars.”

I gesture at Danny, one of Charlie’s seasoned men, and he gives me a quick nod before approaching the car. I get into the back seat beside Denver, and she takes my hand.

“I can’t believe the one night?—”

Taf’s voice booms through the street. “Down, down, down!”

I grab Denver and push her head down as bullets thud into the car.

It’s an endless barrage of metal against metal, the reinforced vehicle holding strong, the glass whitening under the pressure but staying firm.

I hold Denver to me, and she clings to my hand. “Seconds,” I whisper to her, my mouth close to her ear. “Seconds and it’ll stop.” She nods quickly, eyes squeezed closed.

The bullets do stop, but a screech of tires, of numerous cars, tells me this isn’t close to over.

“Drive!” I say to Danny.