Page 190 of Saving Her

I hold up my hands in placation. “I’m just trying to understand what the fuck is happening.”

Trying.

Struggling.

I’d been in that room in Greece. I watched as Luther drew his gun and vowed to handle Robert. But we had to leave.

Anissa had been hurt. Scared. In danger.

I heard the gunshot. That blast rang in my fucking ears.

“I need to leave.” Penny scrutinizes her surroundings, glancing around the room as if threatened by the furniture, scanning the yard as she retreats step after step toward the hall.

“You’re safe,” I vow.

“How can you say that? You have no idea what you’re up against. You don’t even trust me. You think I’m crazy.”

“Idotrust you.”

“Then listen to me.” The tremble in her hands increases as she glances between me and Cole. “Please, Luca, you need to believe me.”

“Okay.” I keep my arms raised. “I believe you. I promise I believe you. Just stop walking away from me. You don’t get to run again.”

“I don’t know what else to do. I can’t stay here. He’ll come after me. He won’t stop.”

“Neither will I. You hear me?” I bridge the space between us and pull her against my chest. I stare at Torian over her shoulder, noting the skepticism heavy in his features. “I won’t let anyone near you.”

“You don’t understand what he’s like. He won’t give up.”

I squeeze her tighter, only to have her scamper from my hold.

A gasp breaches her lips. Her eyes flare. “Last night… oh, my God. That was him.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Torian warns. “You need to stop jumping to conclusions. Even if by some stretch of the imagination Robert is alive, he’d know Portland isn’t a smart place for him to hide.”

“He’d never hide.” She pulls back. “He’d be here for payback. He’s here forme. I want a gun, Luca. You need to get me a gun.”

I nod. “We’ll discuss it later. Right now, we have to make a move. Go pack your things. We’re getting out of here.”

She doesn’t wait for any further instruction. She rushes for the hall, her fear-filled expression haunting me even once she’s out of view.

“You don’t buy this crazed bullshit, do you?” Torian holds my gaze, his eyes narrowed. “After everything that happened, you still think it’s possible that asshole is alive?”

I’m trying to piece together the possibilities. We’d heard the gunshot, but we’d left the room. We didn’t physically see Robert dead.

“Did you hear his body hit the floor?” I ask.

“What?”

“Back in Greece. We left the room just as the gunshot was fired.” I pace, raking my hands through my hair. “But did you hear his body hit the ground? There would’ve been a hard clap of his fucking head against the tile. We should’ve—”

“You’re saying you think she’s right?” He scoffs.

“What I’m saying is that I can’t remember hearing Robert’s fucking body hit the floor.”

“We had other things on our mind,” he grates. “Jesus Christ, Luca. You’re thinking with your dick.”

No, I’m not thinking at all. I’m panicking. “What if she’s right? Are you willing to risk your family? Are you willing to risk Anissa? Because if that prick is still breathing, I’m sure he’s going to want revenge for what we did over there.”

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