Page 215 of The Darkest Chase

I end up tucked into the back of Grant’s truck with Rolf and a pile of blankets, dozing contentedly with a pile of sleepy German Shepherd who clings to me like I’ve been gone for years. Micah takes care of business with statements, evidence, and discussions with Raleigh PD.

I overhear something about how the Feds wouldn’t move and how typical that was, but they’ll sweep in at the eleventh hour to take all the credit.

And then a hastily cleared throat, a glance at Micah, a “Not you, I mean.”

Micah just laughs it off and joins me in the back of the truck.

We stay there for the drive back to Redhaven, Grant in the driver’s seat and Lucas and Henri’s vehicles trailing after us.

Micah holds me tight in his arms.

I don’t even feel the chill night wind whipping over us when our blanket nest feels so warm. There’s just the starry night above, his body wrapped around me, and his lips pressed against my hair as he holds me so tight.

That’s when I know he’s true to his word.

After tonight, he’ll never let me go again.

I don’t remember dozing off.

Soon, I’m waking up in Micah’s arms. He carries me gently as he steps off the tailgate of the truck and lands on the sidewalk outside his house, so lightly I barely feel the jolt.

I open my eyes with a sleepy murmur, catching Grant’s voice as he leans out of the driver’s side window.

“Take good care of her,” he rumbles.

“I can’t do anything else, Captain.” Micah’s grip tightens.

Flushing, I hide my face in his chest.

I can feel his laughter, vibrating softly as he nuzzles my hair and turns to carry me up the walk. The click of Rolf’s nails and his jingling collar follow us.

“I see someone’s awake,” he says.

“Mm-hmm.” Curled up in the blanket still wrapped around me, I snuggle into him. “Sorry I fell asleep.”

“Don’t apologize. You’ve had one hell of a night. Let me get your hands taken care of, and then you can go to bed.”

I don’t want to go to bed, I think. Not unless it’s with you.

It’s an embarrassing thought, but I can’t help it.

Feeling his arms around me now as the rush of adrenaline fades ignites something hungry inside me.

I’ve missed him.

Yes, it’s barely been a few days, but I feel like he hasn’t touched me in years. I’m exhausted, hurting bone-deep, and sore everywhere.

Yet all I truly want is Micah’s touch.

I hold my tongue as he lets us into the house and carries me through the dark living room to the sofa. He tucks me gently into the corner, smoothing a hand over my hair.

“Wait here. I’ll grab the first aid kit.”

He starts to turn away from me, so tall and strong in the moonlight drifting through the windows, this striking white knight in black armor.

But I frown, reaching for Rolf as the dog jumps up on the sofa with me. He drapes himself halfway over my lap while I scratch his ears.

“Take care of Rolf first?” I can’t stand to see it, this patch of blood dried on his jaws from where he bit Bowden. For some reason, that upsets me more than anything, this innocent animal stained in red.

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