Page 7 of Protected by the Sinner (The Sinner’s Touch #2)

I go down the stairs without looking back, bumping into a few people on the way.

The first floor of the club is packed, and maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I feel like everyone’s staring at me.

It took more courage than I even knew I had to walk into a place so far removed from my reality. At the time, I think it was the fear they’d actually hurt her that made me put her safety first.

Now that things have calmed down, though, I can’t stop wondering how they knew Beau would be interested in me.

I was given a script.

Be bold and confident.

Sexy and open to him.

I just had to stay there for a set amount of time.

Well, I followed my role to the letter—or at least I think I did.

It’s one in the morning, and my mission is over.

I’m shaking—partly from adrenaline at this escape, because that’s exactly what it is after that conversation dripping with double meanings, partly from what just happened.

When I was forced into this, it was fear that drove me, of course.

I grew up inside a nightmare, and I know exactly how far human evil and madness can go.

I had no idea what to expect from Beau LeBlanc.

Just because he’s an enemy of those monsters doesn’t make him trustworthy.

On the contrary, he might be just as dangerous, if not more so.

I knew I had to be cautious when I met him.

But nothing prepared me for the physical pull I felt—that we both felt.

It was like every part of him was drawing me in, and more than once tonight, I wished everything between us was real, that I was just a girl who had met a beautiful man.

But in the real world, our paths would never have crossed.

Beau lives in the world of billionaires. They don’t even see the rest of us.

Besides, even if in some wild twist of fate we had met under normal circumstances, there wouldn’t have been a relationship, as he made perfectly clear. Just one or more nights of sex.

And I’m not emotionally equipped to handle someone like him.

If it weren’t for his last words, I’d regret having to walk away right now. After what happened last week, I need a break, a chance to catch my breath. I haven’t been sleeping.

I needed to pretend, for one night, that I’m not terrified.

As crazy as it sounds, I was actually enjoying his company and all the things he made me feel, things I’d never felt before. Desire, butterflies, a racing heart just from breathing in his scent. The heat of his hands on my skin. That kiss that knocked me out of orbit.

And then, his final words brought me crashing back to the real world.

Powerful men like Beau are only ever looking for a good time. The articles I read while doing research on him were clear: he’s a playboy who avoids commitment.

I’d have to be a complete idiot to let a man I know nothing about shake me like this, especially while my life is in complete chaos.

It was all just a game—and now it’s over.

Some guys try to stop me as I walk, but I’m done being polite. I push past them however I can, brushing off the unwanted attention.

Even after I make it out of the club and the fresh air hits my lungs, I still feel overwhelmed.

Nervously, I glance around until I spot a row of taxis a few yards away.

I send a message—just like we agreed—to the men who sent me here, using the burner phone they gave me. It’s not my usual cell.

Me: I’m leaving.

The reply comes fast.

Unknown Number: We know. We’ll be in touch.

My heart pounds so hard it makes me nauseous.

Me: That’s not what we agreed on. You said you’d let her go.

Unknown Number: You’re not in a position to demand anything, Amber. We’ll be in touch.

I get into the first cab I find, chilled to the bone.

They lied to me.

This isn’t over.

Same night

One hour later

I still haven’t calmed down.

I got home, took a shower, and swapped the femme fatale outfit for jeans and a T-shirt. Then I quickly packed my bags because I know I need to get out of here.

They’ll find me either way, just like they did last week. But now I’m not only hiding from the monsters, I have to hide from Beau too.

The apartment is already paid through the end of the month, like I always do in any city we stay in. The landlord knows I could leave at any time.

I do one last sweep of the rooms to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind. Then I check my wallet to see if I have enough cash for a night or two in a hotel.

I’ll have to stay in Texas until they let her go. But after that, the two of us will need to figure out where we’re going next.

As I wait for the cab I called, I stare at the two suitcases that hold everything I own.

A few pieces of clothing. No keepsakes. A life with no memories.

That’s not true. The memories exist. I just work hard to bury them deep.

I grab a glass of tap water but can’t finish it. I was so nervous about meeting Beau that I didn’t eat all day, so the champagne hit me hard.

The memory of the drink brings back everything that came after, and my fingers instinctively touch my lips, but I force myself to stop.

I’m good at forgetting things. People. And by tomorrow—or maybe in a few days—Beau LeBlanc will be nothing more than a blur.

I walk to the window and watch the quiet night outside.

I’m exhausted. Tired of running.

Just when I thought I’d be able to breathe for a few months, a new nightmare began.

I pace back and forth, trying to guess what Beau must be thinking.

Did he send someone after me? If so, what will he do when he finds me? I have no idea. I don’t even know if the men who sent me to him bothered to cover their tracks or hide whatever links them to me.

Not that I would count on it. Elodie and I learned a long time ago how to take care of ourselves.

Always running, never looking back.

Keep moving—makes it harder for them to catch us.