Page 117 of Heir

“Do it.”

I rolled down my window and looked in the side mirror, letting go of the wheel. Gemma grabbed it right away. I waited until the fucker got into my line of vision before turning back and shooting at him.

I missed the fucker and hit the passenger-side mirror instead. The car slowed a bit, but he was still giving chase.

Distantly, I could hear the rumbling of engines.

I smiled and grabbed the wheel back, placing one hand on her thigh and squeezing it in comfort just as a row of motorcycles came into my line of sight. They cut off the SUV, and I could see the bastard trying to backpedal. He might be able to get away, considering how crowded the streets were and we that couldn’t be seen grabbing someone, but I knew Dad would have arranged for another brother to follow the bastard in case he got away.

The parking garage came into view, and I turned into it, pulling backwards into the first available space I found.

I turned off the car, waiting to see if the bastards had any other friends following them.

When it seemed like we were out of the woods, I turned to Gemma.

Her lips and face were pale, and she was trembling in her seat.

Fuck.

I unbuckled her seat belt and reached for her, pulling her into my lap.

She came willingly, letting out a gut-wrenching sob.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s over now, okay? You’re safe. I promise. You’re safe.”

She cried harder, her tremors moving more violently.

I remembered what she had said back at the bar, and I wrapped my arms tightly around her, as tightly as I could, trying to stop the shakes. She buried her face in my neck, speaking so softly at first, I couldn’t make out the words.

Then they became clearer.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

I frowned and pulled her away, taking in her tear-stained cheeks. Fuck, but she was going to make herself sick, crying like this.

“Why are you sorry?” I asked.

“T-those people. I think they c-came for me.”

“What? Why?”

Her bottom lip trembled even more. “I’m sorry, Kai.”

“Baby, you’re not making any sense. Why would they come for you?”

The most likely explanation was that they were after me because of the King’s Men. Gemma was just a woman. She had no skin in the game.

But she shook her head, not saying anything.

“Baby?”

“Please, Kai. Take me home. I’m so sorry.”

I held my tongue.

I wanted to push her, but I knew she was at the end of her tether. She was emotionally drained, and I didn’t want to push too fast, too hard.

Fuck, but I didn’t want to break her.

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