Page 67 of Protecting You

Right. Of course he was right. This was all happening so fast, and she felt off-guard and off-kilter.

Like she always felt around this man. And not in a good way.

Callan watched out the window. A few tense minutes passed. “Guard’s on the move. Remember what to do?”

“Climb, fall, and hide.”

“She takes direction well.” Callan laced his fingers together, but she didn’t need his help. She levered up to the window, sat with her feet out, then turned onto her belly.

Don’t think about it. Just do it.

Right.

She slid down to dangle, the rough wood scraping her stomach where her sweatshirt rode up.

Deep breath.

Catch me, Lord. Don’t let me break anything.

She let go?—

And landed on soft ground and scrambled behind the bushes, where she watched as Callan did the same. Despite his taller and broader body, he looked graceful as he climbed, dangled, and dropped.

He landed silently and joined her. “There’s a rock wall at the back of the property.” He pointed to indicate the direction they’d run. “Better quiet than fast, unless we’re seen. In which case, sprint. Don’t wait for me. On the other side of the rock wall, you’ll be in a backyard. Get to the street and turn left. There’ll be a car idling near the corner. Knock on the window. He should know your name.”

“What’s his?—?”

“Doesn’t matter. He’ll know yours. Get in, tell him what happened, and do what he says. Got it?”

“I’m just supposed to leave you?”

“It won’t come to that. That’s a worst-case scenario. Tell me you understand.”

She understood perfectly. If a guard caught them running, Callan was going to slow him down so she could escape.

She didn’t like that one bit.

“Promise me you’ll do as I say. Otherwise, this isn’t going to work. You’re the one they need to accomplish their purpose, not me.”

Right. Which meant they’d have no reason to keep Callan alive.

“Trust me, Paris.” His words were low. “I know what I’m doing, but if I have to worry about you, I won’t do it. Promise me you’ll do what I say.”

“I promise.”

He pressed a kiss to her lips, the movement so quick that she nearly missed it.

Her surprise must’ve shown because he shook his head. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have…” Something flashed in his eyes, there and gone so fast, she wasn’t sure if it’d been real. More than worry. More than determination.

It was affection, real and true.

He’d kissed her for no good reason except that he wanted to kiss her.

Or maybe the darkness and the situation were playing tricks on her.

“Be safe, Paris. Please.”

“I will. But Callan?”

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