Page 175 of Saving Her

“I drove—”

“Where?” Torian interrupts.

“I don’t know. I was just driving, trying to get out of Portland. But I had to pull over.”

“Why?” I ask.

She shoots me a pained glance, then returns her attention to Torian. “I wasn’t in the best state of mind. So I parked on the side of the road in some sort of industrial area. Not long after, a car came up behind me. I thought it was Luc or Hunter. And because I was still angry, I didn’t even look as the man approached. I just waited for someone to order me out from behind the wheel.”

“You’re sure it was a man?” Torian leans back in his chair, still calm, still unconcerned.

“Yes. The frame was too big for a woman. He came right up to my door and tapped the barrel of a gun against the glass.”

Jesus.

Why the fuck didn’t she mention this earlier?

“Then what?” I reach for her hand and squeeze her fingers.

“I planted my foot. I tried to get out of there straight away, but the car wasn’t in gear. So I panicked, and scrambled for the gearstick. That’s when he fired at the glass. By the time I got out of there he’d shot at me four or five times. Twice against the window, a few against the side panels, and at least one in the tire.”

I wipe my free hand over my mouth, holding in the string of fear-filled aggression. My migraine pulses between my temples. She never should’ve been in that situation. I never should’ve forced her to run.

“Then what happened?” Torian asks.

“I kept driving, even when I lost the tire.” Her words accelerate, tumbling faster from those gorgeous lips. “I don’t know where I went, but the patrol car eventually caught up with me and pulled me over. I didn’t know what to do. I’m not even meant to be alive as far as the government are concerned, so when the officer demanded my ID, I asked if he knew Cole Torian, and when he didn’t react I made up a story about being in witness protection.”

She looks entirely fragile as she relays the story. Fragile yet solid. Vulnerable and strong. Such contrasting facets that make her all the more mesmerizing.

“You mentioned Anissa, too,” Torian grates.

“I had no choice. I didn’t want to be arrested.”

“It’s okay. It’s over now.” I entwine our fingers, trying to offer more support. “Can you tell us anything else about the shooter? What did he look like? What did he say?”

“He didn’t say anything. Just tapped the gun against the window.” She shudders, her fingers trembling in mine. “He wore a thick, black ski mask. His entire face was covered, and his eyes were shadowed with the headlights beaming behind him. I couldn’t even tell you what color they were because all I wanted to do was get out of there.”

“Did you get any details on his car?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t see anything. I’d tilted the rear-view mirror away to stop the glare from his headlights. I have absolutely no information at all. Nothing.”

I meet Torian’s gaze. “What do you want to do?”

He pushes from his chair. “I’ll put out some feelers. We’ll find who’s responsible. Do you have any requests once I catch the culprit?”

“Yeah. Let me deal with them.”

Penny stiffens, but I’m thankful she doesn’t deny my revenge. Nothing will stop me from slaughtering the person who tried to take her life.

“I can do that.” Torian looms over the table, jutting his chin at our entwined hands. “You might want to keep that under wraps. I don’t feel like disposing of another dead body in the near future.”

Penny’s hand slips out from beneath mine, the retreat frantic, as I glare at Torian. “Thanks for the tip.”

He smirks. “I’m nothing if not helpful.” He starts for the hall. “If you remember anything, I want to hear it.”

I stand and turn to Penny as she rises to her feet. “I’m going to walk him out. Why don’t you take a shower?”

She nods, her eyes darting from me to Torian who stalks away. “Have I caused a huge mess?”

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