Bodyguard by Melanie Shawn

51

Savannah

I stood nervouslyon the street corner, waiting for Mac to appear.

I had to admit, a street corner was exactly where I looked like I belonged.

I was dressed in the same outfit as earlier, with the exception of the skirt having been traded out for something much shorter, and several more buttons being undone on the blouse.

My make-up was dialed up to eleven, as well. I didn't feel like myself at all. Which was, all things considered, fine by me. I was about to do something that was very out of character. So I might as well look the part.

I saw Mac round the corner up ahead and settled even further into character. When he drew close to me, I gave him a shy smile and a coquettish wave.

That was the key to reeling him in, I knew. I'd been bold and sensual in the chat. That was what had drawn him out—the promise of things to come.

Now that we were together, though, I had to play a little hard to get. Men need to work for it. If I came on strong, it might spook him.

I ran my fingers lightly over his upper arm. "Oooo..." I said, my voice breathy. "I didn't know you were going to have muscles."

He didn't have muscles. But he flexed like he did.

Men were predictable.

"Yeah, I work out," he said, barely-disguised pride filling his voice.

I started to feel a little guilty. This kid might be a directionless nobody, but he hadn't asked to get caught up in his father's dirty dealings any more than I had. Yet, here we both were.

And I was about to facilitate his kidnapping.

Just think about getting your dad back, I admonished myself, pushing down the guilt. This will all be over soon. Just think about getting your dad back.

I stepped in closer to him, laid a hand lightly on his chest. Then I looked up at him through the lacy lash extensions I'd glued on, putting on a shy demeanor like a winter coat. "I never do this," I breathed, as if I couldn't quite believe I was. Which was true enough, so hopefully it would read as genuine in my voice. "But your skills in the game...oh my God...they were such a turn on."

He grinned, and his chest puffed out a little under my hand. "Yeah. I mean, don't feel bad. I'm kind of a badass. You're not the first girl to lose her shit over it."

I would've bet money that I was.

"Oh, I can imagine!" I lied.

I might have been trying to reel him in, but I needed to wrap this up. Every second that I stood out here on the street with him, exposed—even though Bear and Gage had thoroughly vetted this corner and knew there were no security cameras—was one extra second of risk and danger that we just didn't need.

I moved my wandering fingers up to his face, ran them down his jawline. His pupils flared, and I knew I had him. I leaned in closer. "I have a place," I whispered.

He gulped and nodded, and I took his hand and led him down the alley behind us.

The van was parked at the end of the alley, and I opened the back door that led to the cargo area.

I'd made it look kind of cozy, with a mattress and bedding on the floor, and gauzy blankets draping the walls. I'd strung fairy lights around the ceiling.

I had to admit, it did look kind of romantic.

I'd had a whole story prepared about my place being off-limits because of roommates, and this being my brother's van, and I hoped he didn't mind...but none of that ended up being necessary. He climbed in the back of the van without a word, turned and plopped himself right down on the mattress.

I felt another sick, sinking wave of guilt wash over me, but I pushed it down just like I had the first time.

This wasn't even just for me. This was for my father. This was for Gage, so we could live a normal life.

This was for the future, and to escape the past.

I slammed the back door on Mac's surprised face, and locked it immediately. I hated to do it, but I did it anyway.

I climbed in the passenger side of the cockpit. Gage was in the middle, Bear in the driver's seat.

And, just like that, we were off.

We had officially kidnapped an innocent person. Who was, even now, yelling from the back of the van, trying to get us to tell him what was going on.

I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Yes, he would probably be fine. In fact, out of the four people in this van right now, he had the best chance of surviving the upcoming events of any of us.

But, still. Without our intervention—without my intervention—he'd still be sitting on his couch. Eating pizza, smoking pot, playing video games. Maybe lying to some other girl about his prowess. Some girl that he might actually have had a chance with.

I didn't know how I felt about any of it.

Gage took my hand and I looked over at him, expecting to see anger and judgement. After all, he hadn't been behind this plan to begin with, and he had made his feelings utterly clear throughout the bait game at Crypt's.

But that wasn't what I saw at all.

His eyes were soft and compassionate, and he kissed my forehead.

"That can't have been easy," he whispered to me, and part of me crumbled inside.

"It wasn't," I whispered back, and a lone tear ran down my cheek.

He wiped it away, kissed the streaky track that it had left in my pancake make-up.

"This is all going to be okay," he whispered in my ear. "I promise you, Savannah. It's all going to be okay."

I searched his eyes, looking for...something. I didn't even know what. "How do you know?" I whispered, my voice stretched taut with tension, even at whisper level. "How can you possibly know that?"

He gave me another kiss on the forehead and said, "Because it's you and me. And I will protect you. And I will make sure it's okay. Because our story doesn't end like this. It just doesn't."

I knew that wasn't really an answer. I knew there was no real evidence or proof in it. But I didn't care. As I settled my head onto his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close, I believed him. Even if it was only because I wanted to. Because it felt so good. I didn't care. I believed him.