Page 10 of Rush Turner

---

Rush stepped forward. Slow. Deliberate. He braced a palm on the counter beside my hip, boxing me in without touching. His voice dropped to that delicious rumble I hated to love.

“You’re not going anywhere alone.”

I tilted my chin up, defiant. “Try and stop me.”

He leaned in, mouth brushing my ear. “Gladly.”

Then—KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

We both froze.

A sharp, impatient knock rattled my front door. Three raps. Pause. Three more.

My blood went cold. Rush felt it — his hand came up, cupping my jaw, steadying me when my knees threatened to bail.

“Is that him?” he asked, quiet but lethal.

I swallowed. “I—I don’t know. Maybe.”

His eyes turned to ice — calm, cold, and so terrifyingly sure. He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“Stay here. Don’t move.”

Then he was gone — crossing the living room in two strides, hand sliding to the holster at his lower back I hadn’t even noticed before.

My protector. My biggest mistake. My only chance.

And right now, he was the only thing standing between me and the bastard who hurt my sister. He sounded like he wanted to knock down that door.

8

Rush

Ipressed my back to the wall beside her front door, weight balanced on the balls of my feet, free hand hovering over the grip of my concealed sidearm.

Behind me, I heard her whisper my name — small, cracked at the edges — but I didn’t turn. Couldn’t afford to.

Three raps. Pause. Three raps again.

Whoever this was, they wanted her scared. Message received.

I flicked a glance at the peephole. Shadow of a man. Hoodie up. Stood too close. Couldn’t see his hands. Not a delivery. Not a neighbor. Definitely not friendly.

“Jessa,” I murmured, low and calm, “where’s your bedroom?”

“Down the hall,” she rasped. “But—”

“Lock yourself in. Now.”

She didn’t move. I turned my head just enough to catch her wide, terrified eyes.

“Sunshine. I won’t ask twice.”

Her lip trembled. Then she spun and bolted down the hall, bare feet silent on the old wood floor. Good girl.

JESSA

I slammed my bedroom door, threw the flimsy lock, and pressed my ear to the wood.

---