Page 44 of Laying it Bare on the Run

Despite her annoyance, she smiled at me before grabbing her own roll. “As soon as that monster is in custody, I’ll access my bank accounts. I want to start helping pay some of the bills and pay you back for the clothes.”

I pointed my half eaten roll at her. “Those were a gift for my lovely girlfriend.”

She shook her head and closed her eyes briefly. Then she fixed me with her blue stare. “You are impossible.” She took a bite of her roll and moaned. “These almost melt in your mouth.”

Anymore sounds like that and I would be adjusting myself under the table.

While we nibbled on rolls and ate our salads, we talked more about job prospects. When the waitress brought out our dinners, we dug in, the saucy spicy aromas mouthwatering. In between bites of our food, we talked about our families. She shared memories and I suggested, when she was up for it, wanting to introduce her to mine. Thankfully, she didn’t pale too much at the idea and actually agreed once things calmed down a bit. I couldn’t begrudge her that. I was just excited for them to meet her.

Despite the fact we didn’t order dessert, we still managed to stay at the restaurant for over two hours. But eventually we figured it was time to leave – even though we weren’t keeping anyone from a table. After I paid the bill, the two of us headed out to the car. It was almost nine thirty but clouds crowded the evening sky making it look even later.

As I let the two of us inside the house, my dick stirred in my pants. Remembering the earlier talk of dessert and eyeing Harper as she bent over to remove her sandals had my mouth watering. Fuck her against the wall again or try to make it to the bedroom? Decisions, decisions. I smirked. Such a shame to have such a quandary on my hands.

After locking the door, I turned to find a grinning Harper a few steps away from me. “I wasn’t sure if I’d find myself pinned against the wall again. Or are we going to christen another spot instead?”

Envisioning Harper spread out on my bar for me to feast on had my cock forcefully expressing his eager agreement. “I think we need a change of scenery.” Stalking toward her, a predatory gleam lit my eyes.

However, when the house was suddenly plunged into darkness and she released a startled cry, my aroused state quickly morphed into battle mode, and I was thankful I always carried two weapons on me.

Chapter Eight

~Harper~

When the lights went out without warning, I couldn’t help the surprised squeak that shot from my throat. Only young children were afraid of the dark, but because there hadn’t been a storm to explain the sudden power outage, fear ran its cold fingers up my spine. In the dark, I couldn’t quite make out Cannon’s expression but the tense energy pouring off of him in waves and the rigid set of his spine put me on high alert. What had started out as an anxious tremble graduated to a penetrating shudder and I couldn’t stop its course through me.

A moment later, gun shots exploded around the front of the house and the glass from the front window and the one in the living room shattered, spraying shards inward. This time a scream tore from somewhere deep inside of me. As four dark figures burst through the fragmented remains of the windows, Cannon shoved me behind him. He had pulled a gun from somewhere on his person and shot at the intruders as they fired at us.

“Don’t hit the girl!” A frustrated snarl boomed from outside one of the broken windows.

Even in the dark, Cannon’s hits were on target. The four goons dropped like sacks full of lead before they could advance on us. Not caring it was horrible on my part, I hoped they were all dead. With our attention on the gun fire exchange, I hadn’t noticed the fifth one sneak in until he charged at Cannon. The two of them skidded into the living room area. During the scuffle, a gun skittered across the room. My heart sank. I knew it had to be Cannon’s, but in the dark I was helpless to locate it. So I needed to find another weapon.

The kitchen. I would find a knife in there. I bolted the short distance and around the bar and was just getting ready to rummage through the drawers, when the brawl sent the two males grappling in my direction. Cannon gained the upper hand for a moment and shoved Waik into the hallway.

However, before I could breathe in a sigh of relief, a gunshot echoed in the small area. I screamed and Cannon let out a groan and slumped to the ground. Surprisingly, even in my panic, I managed to swipe a hand towel from the bar before dropping down to see where he’d been hit.

Blocking him from anymore bullets as best I could with my small body, I ran my hands over his face. “Where are you hit? Please tell me it’s not serious.” Tears welled in my eyes but I blinked them away quickly. I didn’t need to add a watery blur to the darkness impeding my vision. Besides, I needed to keep my head.

“My thigh, Harper.”

Running my hand gently down his leg, I touched a warm damp area so I pressed the towel there. “Cannon, what are we going to do?”

“You are going to come with me and Cannon is going to stay there and hope he doesn’t bleed to death.” Waik’s calm deadly voice crept over my skin like a toxic spill.

Still blocking Cannon, I pivoted so I could face our enemy. With the lack of light, I couldn’t make out specific details of the man’s features but his cold voice was one I would continue to hear in nightmares that were sure to plague my sleep for many nights to come.

“I won’t wait long for your compliance, Harper. It’s time to go.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m not leaving Cannon.” My voice only betrayed a slight tremble even though my entire body was shaking like I couldn’t get warm.

“Oh you will my dear if you want him to live. You and I are hopping on a flight once we leave here. You’ve made it so I need to leave the country. But that’s okay; I have some buyers in other countries who will be very pleased with you. So you already know your fate but if you want a better one for your lover there, you’ll come with me now.” Waik snarled with barely banked irritation.

“Bullshit, don’t you dare walk off with him, Harper!” Cannon gripped my arm.

“Shut the fuck up, officer.” Waik sneered. “Or I’ll put another hole in you.”

“You will have to go through me this time.” I spat back through gritted teeth.

Cannon growled.

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