Page 20 of Protected By the Sinner

Amber has a natural elegance. She could be wrapped in rags and still turn heads.

We stare at each other in silence—but unlike what I expected, there’s no fear on her face.

“Amber Martin. Finally found you.”

“Were you looking for me, Beau?” she asks boldly, maybe trying to provoke me by using my first name.

Her fake calm doesn’t fool me. I catch a vein pulsing in her neck.

She’s anxious. And that turns me on.

“I don’t like unfinished business.”

“Maybe from your perspective, I’m unfinished business, but I’m sure you can find someone to take my place.”

“I don’t want a replacement. I want you. Let me in. I have a proposition for you.”

Chapter 8

Minutes Before

It’s been nearly forty-eight hours, and they haven’t called again.

I’m on the verge of losing my mind, locked in this roadside motel, running through my limited options.

I’ve got some money hidden—Elodie and I always assumed we might have to disappear someday—but it will take a few days to access it.

If they keep their word and release her—when, Amber, not if—we’ll need funds to run again.

I’m stuck in that thought loop when my phone rings. No caller ID.

“He’s in Texas.”

“What?” I blink. “I don’t understand.”

“LeBlanc is back.”

“That’s not my problem. I did what I was told.”

“The deal’s changed.”

As I listen to the new instructions, I feel the urge to scream. “And what about letting her go?”

“We’ve decided to keep her a while longer. We still need you. Be a good girl, and you’ll be reunited soon.”

Two hours later

I expected that when the time came to face him again, my heart would be pounding.

I’ve been through too much in too short a time, and even though I’ve spent most of my life running, I’ve never really had to handle something like this.

But nothing could’ve prepared me to see Beau standing at the door of this rundown motel, looking like he owns the universe.

Terrified but remembering my enemy’s words, I force myself not to show how tense I feel.

“Amber Martin. Finally found you.”

“Were you looking for me, Beau?” I ask, slipping back into the character from the night we met.