Page 54 of Near Miss

Chapter Twenty-One

Lachlan,pleasecallme.Someone in a silver BMW ran me off the road tonight. I—I think Roshan Haider is back.

The lift was too fucking slow.

Lachlan shouldered his way past the opening doors, his gaze laser-focused on the end of the hall. He knocked on Sophia’s door, rattling it in its frame. If he didn’t calm down, he’d frighten her and alarm the neighbors. Why had he decided to sleep in this morning? Why had he put his mobile on do not disturb and left the bloody thing in his coat? Sophia called again last night and left a voicemail.

Christ.His blood had run cold when he’d listened to it.

The door opened right as he raised his hand to knock again.

Instead of Sophia, a tall woman with blonde shoulder-length hair dressed in jeans and a pink top stood blocking the entrance. She crossed her arms and tossed daggers at him with her light blue eyes. “Let me guess, the Hot Scot. You’re a bit late to the party.”

“Where is Sophia?”

The blonde dropped her arms, her hands curling into fists. “If you think—“

“Emily, it’s okay. Let him in.” Sophia’s voice came from inside.

Lachlan peered around the blonde to see Sophia step out from the kitchen barefoot in a white t-shirt and short, flouncy skirt. Reddish-brown scrapes marred the skin on her knees.

“I just got your message.” His voice was nothing more than a guttural rasp.

Her eyes flew wide.

Her friend’s gaze bounced between him and Sophia. “I, ah, think I’ll go run some errands. Unless you want me to stay?”

Sophia shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. Lachlan and I need to talk. Thanks, Em.”

Emily grabbed a large handbag off the foyer table and gave Lachlan a warning glare before letting herself out.

“Sophia…” His gaze drank her in, alive and unhurt. A shudder wracked him. He took one step, then another, hauled her into his arms, holding her tight. Too tight, but he couldn’t seem to let go. He’d been right. Without her shoes, she barely came to mid-chest. She felt tiny, fragile, and easily broken.

Her midnight floral scent enveloped him. He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, giving thanks to a God he’d turned his back on two years ago.

Sophia’s death would be the one he wouldn’t survive.

She squirmed in his hold. “Lachlan, let me breathe.” Puffs of breath warmed his sternum through the cotton fabric of his shirt.

His grip loosened instantly, but he didn’t release her.

She peered up at him, her eyes full of questions and a hint of anger that clawed at his insides. “How did you get past the security desk?”

“I accessed the elevator through the parking garage.” He gave her a little shake. “Do you see how easy it is to breach your building security?” If he could do it, so could whoever had tried to harm her last night. “Tell me what happened.”

She shoved against him with surprising strength, and he let go. “I tried to tell you last night, but you didn’t answer your phone.”

“I had the ringer off.” It was a miracle she’d even let him through the door this morning. His fingers itched with the need to touch her. “Please, tell me.”

“Someone ran me off the road last night. If Jared hadn’t come along when he did, I don’t know if I’d still be alive.”

“How fucking convenient for Jared.” The words flew out before he had a chance to rein them in. This strange, out-of-control feeling threatened to drown him. He reached for her again, needing to feel the beat of her heart, the soft exhale of her breath against his skin.

She batted his hands away and stepped back to put distance between them. “At least I know where Jared was last night—where were you?” She wielded the accusation like a Sheffield dagger, her hazel eyes glistening with hurt.

The blade sunk in with surgical precision, slicing his heart to ribbons. She’d needed him, and he’d failed her.Like you failed Thom, Fitzy, and the rest of them.

The dagger twisted as he watched a tear make its way down the side of her nose to balance precariously on her upper lip. She swiped at it with trembling fingers. “I thought I was going to die. And do you know what my biggest regret was? That I would never get to be with you.” She gave a sad laugh. “Imagine that.”

---