.

to be shielded at all costs. She wanted to be strong. For once she wanted to be the one who got to choose to put her life on the line protecting someone else. Not to die but to prove that the person she cared for had value and was worth saving.

      Curling up on the floor of the truck hurt like she’d been the ball in a pinball machine, slammed into every available surface. But she had to hold her ground if she was going to help keep Conner alive. His job was the priority here.

      “Lean over and hit the gas.”

      What? Kayla had to turn around and contort her body painfully, but she found the gas pedal with her fingers and pressed it down. The truck roared and launched backward. Conner grabbed the wheel but didn’t look out the windows. Gunshots peppered the front hood, and the window smashed.

      Bang. “Seven.” Bang. “Eight.” Bang. “Nine. He’s out.” Conner sat up. He grabbed the wheel with both hands and she moved her fingers off the gas a second before his foot slammed into it. “He’ll have to reload. Never did like to wait for a clear shot. Hold on.” The truck lurched up the hill, going backward. Conner spun the wheel and threw it into Drive.

      The tires hit paved road and the ride smoothed out.

      Kayla pressed a hand against her chest. Her arm was heavy, and her shoulder hurt. Not to mention her head. “Wait. You were shot.”

      “Hit my vest.” He patted his chest.

      Kayla squeezed her eyes shut. Thank You, Lord.

      Her face was sticky, and Conner’s didn’t look much better than hers felt. Was his nose broken? They probably needed a hospital. Could Conner go to the emergency room when he was undercover with the best-known criminal in the county? She didn’t know what the Secret Service’s policy was on that. Maybe she should call Locke later. The special agent who had been Conner’s supervisor should be able to shed some light for her on the dos and don’ts of undercover operations.

      What were they going to do now? Andis Bamir “wanted” her, whatever that meant. Conner hadn’t been okay with that, which was fine with her. He knew them. But now she and Conner were on the run.

      Thank You, Lord, for protecting us. For keeping us alive. Help us out of this and neutralize Andis. Help Conner finish this job. She wanted him to be done, and safe, as much as she wanted Andis and his operation out of commission.

      Only that would mean Conner’s time here would be over.

      And then he would leave.

      Conner lifted his hand, then slammed his palm down on the steering wheel. “Phone.”

      Kayla blinked at his abrupt order and then looked around. She fished it from under the seat and handed it to him. Conner made a call. “Because it’s done.” He paused. “I’m blown.”

      * * *

      Kayla directed Conner to her house and he parked down the street. When she glanced at him, he said, “In and out, two minutes. Got it?”

      She nodded, so he continued, “I don’t think Manny followed us. I shot out one of his tires, but we’re not taking chances one of the others isn’t watching your house. Get your stuff.”

      Conner scanned the area as he strode down the front walk. He couldn’t surround her, so he covered her as best he could. The tiny one-story house was like a fairy-tale setting. Flowers everywhere, colors that probably looked fantastic in the daylight. Spring had sprung in her yard, taking him back to memories of his childhood. He’d been in fourth grade and a lost neighborhood puppy had crawled under the fence into their yard. The puppy had dug holes all over the grass, eaten half his mother’s flowers and then thrown up. After that it’d been so exhausted it slumped on its side and took a nap.

      That was how Conner had found it.

      And picked it up.

      And hid it in the shed barely in time before his mom came home and freaked out because her magazine-worthy backyard had been destroyed.

      He’d taken the blame, and the grounding, and managed to hide the puppy for another two weeks before his dad figured out what was going on.

      And he’d replanted everything by himself.

      Kayla put her hand on his arm, jolting him from his thoughts. Focus. He had to focus, or one or both of them would end up dead.

      “I hope you can pick a lock, because I don’t have my keys.”

      Finally, something he could do that was easy. Conner got them inside and had Kayla wait by the front door while he cleared the house. “Okay. We’re good for the moment.” He headed toward the door. “Pack your bag for a couple of days, but do it fast.”

      Kayla stared at him. Eventually, she nodded, then trailed down the hall.

      Whatever that had been, he was glad she wasn’t arguing. Conner glanced around while he waited. He really liked her house. It was...homey. Kind of girlie for his tastes, but then, she probably wouldn’t like his brown couch and the fact that his house smelled like the previous owner’s dog. But he wasn’t in this line of work for the sweet accommodations. Thugs didn’t live in expensive condos or cute little houses.

      He should hurry her up so they could leave. It wasn’t safe for her, and they needed to get out of there as soon as possible. But he figured that despite what had happened, and maybe because of it, he shouldn’t say it. She’d done the right thing, and they’d survived that encounter with Manny, but she was at ease now. He didn’t want to spoil it, even if he was still completely tuned in to what was happening.