Page 21 of Leif

I pushed those thoughts aside as Hitch glanced from Leif to me. “So we’re just going to walk in and take them down?”

Leif gave me an odd look. “No, you’re going to stay here,” he told Hitch, who seemed to deflate.

“I can help.” The teenager glared at Leif.

“I know. But I can’t have you risking getting hurt.” Leif’s calm tone didn’t seem to help relax Hitch at all.

“But you two get to risk getting hurt? Why? Why am I more important than either of you?” He brought both fists down on the table. “Isn’t this my choice to make?”

I reached out and patted his hand. “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, and Leif promised to keep you safe.”

He pulled away, his glare transferring to me. “Aren’t you only a few years older than me?” he asked bitterly, refusing to look at me again.

“I’m twenty-five. So I’ve got about a decade on you, kiddo.” I smiled.

Leif ducked his head as if to catch Hitch’s attention. “Remember how I told you about the weight we carry for others?”

Hitch went still, and everything in me tuned into this conversation. There was more being said than the words implied.

“This trip is going to be heavy. I don’t want it to break you.” Leif lifted his chin and Hitch followed the gesture.

“Okay, I’ll stay behind.” Hitch glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes.

I watched the exchange, sure I’d missed something important.

“Take care of him, okay?” He grinned at me, all anger suddenly gone, like Leif’s words had hit some switch in him.

I nodded, my mind reeling. “I’ll do my best.”

“I’ve got burner phones.” Leif slid one toward Hitch and one toward me. I didn’t even have an idea where my cell phone was. Lost with the car, possibly, or perhaps the jerk who’d held me hostage had it.

Leif continued talking to Hitch. “Do not turn on your phone no matter what. I’m going to need you to lay low here, okay?”

Hitch nodded. “Will do.”

With that, Leif stood up, and I walked over to him. “Now? Or wait and spring on them in the morning?”

“I feel like the less time we give them, the less time they’ll have to prepare for us to come for them.”

He had a point. I nodded, swallowing hard. Adrenaline still flooded my veins after our encounters, and my whole body hummed with a blazing hot desire. “I guess I’m ready to go.”

* * *

Several hours later,he pulled off the side of the road.

“They’re that direction.” He nodded his head, and I scanned the trees, searching for any sign of anything or anyone. “Can I talk you into letting me handle this?”

I shook my head. Not a chance. I wasn’t going to let him stick his neck out for me. Heck, he’d already been shot because of me. If he got killed… I’d never forgive myself.

“Can I talk you into lettingmehandle this?” I asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

“No way.” He got out of the jeep, and I slid out my side and walked around.

“So fill me in again.” He’d already told me pretty much everything, but I wanted to hear it again, so it was fresh and top of mind.

“There’s at least three of them.” We walked into the woods, and I followed him as he peeked around a tree. “There was one up there shooting when I got you out.”

I scanned the area. “Clear.”

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