Page 72 of Protected

His features twist. His eyes are deep and urgent. He signs,Trisha said you left. Left! You didn’t want me anymore. But it was wrong. She lied. You wouldn’t leave me. You never trusted her, and you were right. So I look for you.

I wipe my damp face with both hands. They’re probably dirty and smearing yuck on my skin, but I don’t care at the moment. “Logan really allowed you to leave and take one of the ATVs?”

He shakes his head.Didn’t ask.

I don’t know why it happens—probably some kind of collapse after so much fear and stress—but I start to giggle. Then I can’t stop. Then I almost bend over with helpless laughter until Deck pulls me into a soft hug.

When I’ve finally recovered, I remember Greta and Jimmy, so I take Deck by the hand and bring him over tointroduce him. After I thank them again and assure them that we’ll be fine now, they drive off, looking relieved.

I can’t blame them.

I’m much safer with Deck than I would be by myself.

I’m muchbetterwith Deck than I’d be with anyone else.

When we return to the ATV, he turns me to face him, tilting my head up so I’m focused on him.

Talk to me now?

“Yes,” I rasp. “I’ll talk to you. I’m sorry I didn’t before. I was… I was scared.”

His gestures are rushed and almost clumsy, but he shapes all the words with his hands.I know you were. But you shouldn’t be. Tell me anything, and I’ll listen. You have a problem, I’ll fix it. You run, I’ll follow. You want to leave Logan, I’ll leave him. You want to go somewhere else, I’ll go with you. You want a house, I’ll build it. You want a baby, I’ll make you pregnant. You want a new life, I’ll find one for you.His face is open. Emotional. Nakedly sincere.I’m with you. Always. Forever.

I burst into tears.

Then I fling myself back into his arms. He lifts me up as he hugs me. I’m shaking and crying and holding on to him with all I’m worth as I choke out, “I’m with you too. Always. Forever.”

He makes a helpless sound as his arms tighten around me, and I realize he wasn’t as confident as he seemed.

He didn’t know how I felt about him—not for sure—any more than I was sure of his feelings before right now.

So we’re both overwhelmed by joy and relief andaffection for a few minutes until I suddenly remember all our problems don’t go away just because we’re back together. I pull away with a worried gasp.

Deck frowns.What?

“Trisha! Trisha. She’s working with some sort of gang. Maybe some of her old one or someone else. I don’t know. But they’re going to attack Logan and the others. Soon. They won’t be expecting it. We need to warn them.”

Deck starts moving even before I stop talking. He straddles the seat of the ATV and helps me on behind him. Then he starts the engine, makes a U-turn, and accelerates. Fast.

We might already be too late, but we’ve got to try anyway.

Because Deck might be my person, but he’s not the only person I have. And the others are all in danger right now.

25

We stayon the same road until after dark. Deck explains that Logan told him if he wants to catch up with them again, they’ll be keeping on the same road until it ends.

I was hoping we’d find them before the sun goes down, but it’s low—almost at the horizon—and we’ve still not seen any sign of them.

Surely they’ll have stopped for the night by now. Logan always finds a safe place to camp before dark. They won’t have gone too far from the road. If we don’t see them soon, then we’ll have to stop on our own. Then it might be too late.

I’ve got my arms wrapped around Deck’s waist, and my body is pressed into his back. He feels and smells safe and familiar. I can’t believe I almost lost him. I can’t believe he left Logan to come find me.

The thought swells up in my heart until I squeeze himtight and murmur, “I love you, Deck. You know that, right?”

He jerks his head over his shoulder. Tenses and then relaxes in my grip. He lifts one hand and spells out with his fingers,Love you too.

Smiling, I kiss the back of his shoulder. “They must have stopped for the night more than an hour ago. Surely we’ll catch up to them soon.”

---