Page 70 of Saving Her

I can’t help it. I’m anxious. Completely and utterly unsettled.

The engine is cut as I slide back. Seatbelts are unfastened. The men climb outside. Then Luca is at my door, pulling it wide to wait for me to join them.

I don’t know how they do it—mask the adrenaline, play it cool.

I can’t keep focus. I’m not the heartless automaton I thought I could be. I pictured myself coming here, entirely determined and lethal. Instead, I’m pretending not to desperately fight off paranoia as it slays me with a million possible pitfalls to our plan.

“Get moving, shorty.” Luca keeps his expression impassive, not giving me a hint to his emotions. “We’ve got eyes on us from the front door.”

I don’t look. Don’t nod.

“Ready?” His gaze bores into me, intense and filled with concern.

I give a subtle incline of my head and follow his lead toward the house. I stiffen when his gentle grip glides over the crook of my elbow, but it’s too late to warn him of his mistake. Two guards exit the front of the mansion—Argus and Otis—both of them looking down at where Luca holds my arm.

“You shouldn’t be touching her.” Argus places the butt of his rifle on the ground, his pinched brows pulled tight.

“I know.” Luca tugs me forward. “But she’s a feisty little thing and I didn’t want her attempting to run again.”

“She tried to escape?”

“Tried. Failed. Got punished.” Luca stops us before them and releases his gentle grip to run a taunting hand through my hair. “Didn’t you, pretty Penny?”

I shudder.

His touch is kind… but those words… that name.

The provocation from his lips shakes me to my core.

I jerk my head away. “Merely keeping you on your toes, asshole.”

He drops his hand from my hair to reclaim my arm. “You learned your lesson though, didn’t you? And if you attempt that stupidity again, nothing will save you.”

I suck in a breath at how real his threat sounds. How sickening. Then his finger gently strokes the inside of my arm, the delicate brush in contrast to his vicious words.

He’s trying to comfort me. Attempting to ease his flawless act with a reaffirming touch.

I appreciate it. I appreciatehim.

I don’t want to.God, how I don’t want to, but I do.

“So, let’s get this party started.” Hunter claps his hands together. “Point us in the direction of the women. I’m ready to see what all the fuss is about.”

Otis starts for the mansion doors when a grunt of muted sound disturbs the night air from the yard. It’s a noise of death that isn’t entirely discreet.

Argus must hear it too because he stiffens, his focus shifting to the darkness over my shoulder. “What was that?” He raises his wrist, preparing to speak into his comms device.

Holy shit.

I break out in a cold sweat, certain our attack is about to be discovered.

“I heard it, too.” Luca turns toward the yard, stepping closer to me, increasing the brush of his finger. “Want us to check it out?”

I stop breathing.

One wrong move…

One suspicious word…

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