Page 24 of Wicked Obsession

If she asked, she knew Ryder would carry her barefoot to the car, but she was determined to make it under her own steam. Besides, she’d be sandwiched between two big men in the back seat again, and while they’d try to be careful, it wouldbe too easy to get her feet stepped on. No, she had to put on shoes.

And she would. In a minute.

The detective had assured her that Sarah was fine, but Langley wished she could see that for herself. Ryder was hellbent on protecting her, though, and he wouldn’t take her anywhere someone might expect to find her. That meant her friend’s house was out of the question.

Langley frowned. Mitch was out there. Somewhere. He might be dangerous. The kidnapper had said enough that surely the police were investigating him, he must realize that. But a man like that didn’t disappear quietly and her friend was the perfect target.

Her sigh was nearly silent. There was nothing she could do about it, not right now, and according to the cop, Brett Taggart was with Sarah. The man was a SEAL and Langley trusted that he’d look after her friend despite their breakup—the same way she had faith that Ryder would defend her despite their own split.

Thinking of Ryder reminded her she needed to get moving. Grabbing her sock, she pulled it wide and eased it over her toes. The whimper escaped before she could swallow it. Her low-cut running socks were normally comfortable, but the spandex made it cling, and that hurt. A lot. Reluctantly, she drew it over her heel and released it.She swallowed a gasp as the top of her sock hit the blisters her stilettos had left behind.

She eyed the tennis shoe distastefully. These were her most comfortable pair—she’d run 5Ks in this style—but damn, she hated the thought of putting them on.

Langley heard the front door open, and if she didn’t get moving, Ryder would be here to check on her. Then she’d have to put on her shoes with an audience. As she did with the sock, she pulled the upper part of the shoe as wide as she could and tied the laces as loosely as she dared. She tested it out from her sitting position. Her heel slipped a bit, but they wouldn’t come off or make walking more difficult than it already was.

Wiping away a stray, unwanted tear, she put on the other sock and shoe, but stayed where she was. Damn, she didn’t want to put weight on her feet.

There was a light tap on the door, and before she could say anything, it opened. Ryder leaned his shoulder against the jamb and studied her for a moment. She wasn’t sure what he saw, but his expression became concerned. “Are you okay?”

Uncertain she could pull off a full smile, Langley curved her lips instead. “Fine.” He didn’t look convinced. Sobering, she admitted, “Look, we both know my feet and legs hurt and that I haven’t slept in twenty-four hours, but my injuries areminor, and the detective assured me that Sarah was well. Considering what could have happened yesterday, I am fine.”

After a moment, he nodded. “I’ll help you up.”

Langley hesitated when he reached her and held out his hand. When he was taking care of her, it was too easy to forget why she’d ended things. Too easy to lie to herself and pretend she meant something to him. Ryder would be this solicitous with any ex-girlfriend—it was the way he was made. As long as she kept that in the front of her mind and didn’t let herself fall into fantasy, she’d be fine.

She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. There was nothing she could do to hide the grimace, but she released his hand immediately.

Ryder patiently walked with her as she headed toward the front door. She was slow and extremely unsteady, which was no doubt why he was frowning as he stayed by her side. When they reached the front door, he held it open for her. She eyed the steps. There were only two short ones to reach the walkway, then it was flat the rest of the way to the curb where the Explorer was parked. She could do this.

As she teetered, Langley grabbed the railing, but she made it down the stairs. It was smooth sailing from here, she told herself.

Picking up her pace, she kept her eyes glued to the open back door of the SUV. Or as she thought of it, the goal. Once she reached there, she could get the weight off her feet. She might be able to prop them up on the center console of the front seat. She simply needed to reach the car.

Her shuffling gait annoyed her, and she was moving with the steadiness and grace of someone on a three-day bender, but it was the best she could do, and she was almost there.

Ryder hovered, and she tried not to be annoyed. She could fall at any moment—her balance was that precarious—but she hated to be viewed as delicate. “You’re doing great, hellcat. You’re nearly halfway.”

Halfway? That was it? Damn.

Watching her shoes, Langley forced herself to continue putting one foot in front of the other, and when she felt wobbly, she held her arms out like a tightrope walker. Perhaps she was swaying like a sapling in the wind, but she hadn’t needed Ryder to catch her. She felt great satisfaction when the house’s walkway met the neighborhood sidewalk. Now she truly was almost to the SUV.

She raised her gaze, but that was a mistake.

The sidewalk wasn’t completely level and the toe of her tennis shoe caught a raised section of concrete. She couldn’t maintain her balance.

As she started to fall, a sharp report echoed through the tree-lined street.

Ryder’s arms wrapped around her before she hit the ground, but instead of helping her stand, he dragged her to the car and threw her in the backseat.

He piled in after her, pushed her head down, and covered her body with his. “Drive.”

Mako took off, wheels squealing.

That had been a gunshot. Someone had shot at her.

Chapter 10

Ryder pulled down the sedan’s visor because even with sunglasses on, the glare from the evening sun was bad. It would be dark by the time they reached the safe house the ambassador had arranged and that didn’t make him happy. If the cop hadn’t derailed their plans last night, they’d have arrived in Tahoe around dawn, and maybe no one would have shot at Langley. The sniper changed everything, and to get her to their hideaway as covertly as possible, they’d needed to handle a few things before leaving San Diego. Like buying two used cars.

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