Page 24 of August

“Been through a helluva lot worse.”

She nodded in understanding, probably remembering the scars on his body.

“C’mere.” He situated himself directly in front of her and placed his hands on her neck then made his way from her collarbone down her spine to her ankles. Gigi let him inspect her without complaint, but the shaking of her body made him want to get her out of her wet clothes and fast.

He brought his attention back to her face. Ignoring the little scratches from debris and glass, he felt her head. “Anywhere tender?”

“Uh-uh.”

He sighed with his relief. Her eyes stayed focused on his. Even though he didn’t have a flashlight handy to check her pupils, he was quite positive she hadn’t hit her head. “Good,” he said gruffly. “I’m just sorry I let him run us off the road.”

“Hey.” Her slim, icy fingers held on to his wrist. “We’re both alive. That’s all that matters.”

He bit back a comment. She was right. He wouldn’t hide his gratitude for their survival. But this situation could have ended very differently. Either one of them could’ve died.

This fact made his vision blur with protectiveness. From here on out, he wasn’t leaving her fucking side.

Ten minutes later, Rami showed up at the top of the hill, hands on his hips. “Kinda chilly for a swim, don’t ya think?” His smile made the tattoo of a vertical phrase over his right eye crinkle.

August climbed over the rocks, and the damn sloshing sound from his boots only made the situation more comical. “Shut up,” he grumbled.

Cradling Gigi’s elbow, he helped her up the hill.

“Hey, Rami,” she said sweetly.

Too sweetly. Why the hell did her tone bug him?

“Hey, gorgeous.”

August slammed his shoulder into Rami’s as he walked past.

Rami let out a hoot of amusement. “I’m allowed to say that. She’s identical to my girlfriend, dude.”

“You wanna go for a swim next?” August shot back.

Rami’s smile only spread as he turned to Gigi. “Has he been this grumpy the whole time?”

She scrunched up the corner of her mouth and squinted one eye in a cute way. “Oh yeah.”

Jesus fuck. He was in a bad mood. “Can we go before the cops show up?” He headed toward Rami’s black SUV still holding onto Gigi. Then their earlier conversation about his touching her rang through his mind, and he forced himself to drop her wrist when they reached the vehicle. Her eyebrows twitched quizzically, but she didn’t comment.

Rami was right. He was grumpy. Maybe it was because he’d been run off the road, or because Gigi could have died. Or because he was still in wet clothes.

Rami followed. “Clean up crew’ll be here any minute,” he said, nodding toward the assassin’s body, merely feet away. “I called insurance. Hopefully we’ll get a new vehicle outfitted before Toth has time to blow a gasket.”

If he wasn’t soaking wet and just recovering from a crash, he’d have smiled at the image of Toth getting riled. As part owner of Backcountry Protection Services, Toth was August’s boss—and friend. “Got anything dry?”

“I’ve got a duffel of clothes in the back. Help yourself.” He gestured to Gigi. “Not sure what will fit you, but feel free to put something on.”

August rounded the SUV and lifted the hatch. Reaching inside, he dragged forward a black duffel bag and pulled out a hoodie for Gigi, as well as a T-shirt and sweats for himself. “I don’t think these pants will fit you.” He held out the joggers and she grimaced.

“Nope. Those won’t stay up. But the sweater will work for now.” She grabbed the hem of her shirt and he quickly shut the hatch so Rami wouldn’t see her changing if he looked back from the driver’s seat.

She chuckled as she brought the material over her head. “Relax. I still have a tank on.”

Once again, his temper shot up a notch, but he shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. “Just didn’t want him getting an eyeful.”

“Come on. Do you think I’d flash my sister’s boyfriend? Ew.”

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