Page 34 of Under Control

“What did you do?” Danica cried out behind him, pulling back as he dragged her forward. “Carrick, you havenoidea what you’ve done!”

Making their way out of the building and to the truck, his heart was racing. Dani was breathing heavily, her eyes wide…furious. But he was too.

In the darkness of the employee parking lot, he pushed her up against the side of the truck, dropping his arms on either side of her to lock her in place. Feeling blood pumping through his veins, he looked down at her alarmed, heated expression.

“That guy is a fucking asshole.” He growled low, dipping his head to get a good look into her eyes. “He deserved it.”

“Carrick, I’ve never seen anyone take on Andriy and live,” she cried out desperately. “Never. He’s going to kill you.”

She held his gaze, and he could see her look of pure fear across her face.

“I’m not scared of him.”

“Did Petrov see what happened? He must know. I can’t let this get any worse. I’ve got to do something.” Danica’s lips quivered as she shot a look back toward the clubhouse.

“You are going to do something,” he snapped.

“What—?” she exhaled, searching his face.

“Look… I stood back. I watched.” Carrick leaned in, tightening his hold on her. “I didn’t like what I saw.”

“What the hell are you suggesting?”

“You have to fight them. It’s the only way.” Carrick pushed off the truck, bringing her with him.

“Just…go.” She waved her hand dismissing him, like she expected him to be done.

“You’re coming with me. I’ve got a lot to teach you.”

She shook her head in disbelief, and Carrick could taste the anxiety dripping off her.

“Why are you still here?” she cried. He didn’t miss the hurt in her eyes.

The questioned lingered between them, and Carrick knew what was behind it. He’d kissed her, then he’d pulled away. He’d taken and injured her. And now, there was no point in being anything but honest with her.

“I’m still here because Ineedto be,” he admitted, his head dropping a little lower. “There’s a freight train coming toward you, Dani—and I can’t sit back and watch it hit.”

I can’t sit back and watch you die.

An unspoken fear lingered in his mind as she lifted her chin to his. Carrick wasn’t more than a few inches from her, but he couldn’t—and he shouldn’t. The first time had been a mistake. He wasn’t going to make it again.

With a deep growl, he reached behind her, opened the passenger door and popped her into her seat. After slamming her door to make sure she was safely inside, he took action. He had to get them off the grid as fast as possible to regroup.

Jumping into his seat, he started the engine and pulled the truck out of the parking lot. Spinning onto the Pacific Coast Highway headed toward LA, he worked on the plan in his mind. Within minutes, Petrov was going to know what’d happened, if he didn’t already—and he’d know Carrick had gone rogue. He’d just made himself an enemy.

As he ruminated, he caught Danica pulling out her phone, checking her messages.

“Now is not the time,” Carrick ordered her, twisting in his seat to get a view.

She flickered her gaze to him. “Controlling much?”

“Who the hell are you talking to?” he demanded.

“That’s your business, my lord?”

“You want to find yourself another ride?” he snarled, against his better judgment. But, before he could say anything else, she exhaled.

“My roommate is asking if I am alive,” she confessed. “If I’m going to be okay.”

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