LITMIR.BIZ

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and lost.

      “Molly.”

      Face pale, she lifted her gaze to Dare.

      “They’re gone now, remember?”

      Slowly, by small degrees, she gathered herself and nodded. “You killed them.”

      “Yeah.”

      Chris listened to the exchange in amazement. Dare had admitted that to her? He’d told her that he killed them?

      Un-fucking-believable.

      Letting out a shuddering breath, she relaxed again. “Where I live, older cars aren’t uncommon, but usually they’re sedans or compacts, not vans.” She shook her head. “Other than early evening, when the old folks sit on their porches, there aren’t a lot of people outside to pay much attention to what’s going on.”

      Molly was about the most fragile woman Chris had ever met, but she also put up one hell of a good front. And she had a very likable disposition that excluded any self-pity at all.

      She was shaken, but she wasn’t damaged. Hoping his curiosity wouldn’t upset her, Chris asked, “How’d they get you all the way to Mexico?”

      “I don’t really know. They … someone held me down, and another guy gave me a shot of something. I fought to stay alert, but there wasn’t anything I could do. I passed out. I came to a few times, but before I could get my bearings, they’d stick me with another needle, keeping me drugged. When I finally came around, we were driving again, but in a different car. Everything was different. It was so hot, and I felt sick. Then they dragged me into that awful little shack.” She swallowed hard. “It didn’t take me long to figure out that I was in Mexico. But I never found out why.”

      Deliberately removing Molly from those memories, Dare went back to cooking and told Chris, “Get her address and find the easiest way to travel there.”

      Chris heard the edge in Dare’s tone and knew he was affected by Molly’s unrelenting manner, too. “Right.”

      “I’d prefer to drive if I can go up and back in one day, overnight at the most. If that’s not possible, then charter another flight.”

      Anxious to help her in any way that he could, Chris went straight to the computer area. “Nothing commercial, right?”

      “Not until I know what’s going on.”

      “Another private flight? Is that much precaution really necessary?”

      “Yes.” Dare left no room for argument. “It is.”

      Molly fretted. “But we have to finish discussing our—” she glanced at Chris “—terms.” And then, in a lower voice, and with a frown, “Dare, I’m not sure I want to pay for two chartered flights.”

      Chris choked on a laugh, saw her face and sucked it up. “Why don’t you give me the address while you and Dare hash that out?”

      Begrudgingly, she shared her address but then turned on Dare. “We need to talk about this.”

      “You already hired me, and you already agreed to do things my way.” He turned the chicken as if he didn’t have a single concern. “It’s too late to change your mind now.”

      She tucked in her chin. “Dare, I do not have unlimited funds. The way an author is paid … Well, it’s sometimes feast or famine. I’m not saying I’m poor, because I’m not. I’m very comfortable financially. But I need to check my accounts and see when my next big check is due.”

      “Don’t worry about it right now.” And then to Chris, “What’s taking you so long?”

      Never before had Chris seen Dare disconcerted by a woman. Usually his word was law, period. Intriguing stuff—not that he’d dare say so.

      Chris turned his attention to the computer and typed in the address Molly had given him. “Hmm. It’s not far at all.” He skipped past Dare and glanced back at Molly. “Are you up for a four-hour drive?”

      Looking mulish, voice low, she said, “Whatever Dare wants is fine by me.”

      Such a loaded statement, full of possible sexual innuendo.

      Knowing Dare was already poised to verbally shut him down, Chris quickly held up a hand. He wasn’t about to say anything that might make Molly uncomfortable.

      He got back to business and finished checking a map. “It’s looking good. A fairly straight shot. Morning soon enough for me to finalize things?”

      “What’s to finalize?” Molly asked. “You have the route right there.”

      “Dare likes details. Lots and lots of details. He’ll want me to include where to stop to eat, and if eating isn’t necessary, then possible locations for a bathroom break. Any construction in the area. Any landmarks that he’ll pass that might be conducive to sabotage—”

      Dare interrupted to say, “Morning is soon enough.”

      “You taking your SUV or a rental?”

      “Mine is fine.”

      “Got it.” Chris couldn’t help but give in to a grin. It wasn’t that Dare showed much emotion; on the surface, he was the same cool cucumber. But Chris knew him better than that.

      Probably better than anyone.

      Sure, Dare and Trace were close. Alani, too. But as Dare’s personal assistant, Chris was involved in every aspect of Dare’s life. That gave him insights that the others wouldn’t be privy to.

      And right now, he knew the biggest source of his boss’s temperament was a bad case of lust. Given the little lady had just gotten through an extended spell of abuse, with a very uncertain future ahead, Dare was too noble to act on that lust. Even though, Chris observed, Molly seemed to have her own wealth of feelings for Dare. It was there in the way she watched him, her body language when he was near.

      But that could be gratitude as much as anything, which Dare had to realize, too. Dare had saved her, had slain her dragons, and he was now protecting her.

      There was more than enough room for misconstrued emotions—on both ends.

      Poor Dare, to find himself in such a complex romantic situation. It was going to be interesting to see how things rolled out.

      Chris turned around on the desk stool. “Did you want me to clean up after you’re done in here?”

      “I can do it,” Molly volunteered.

      “Morning is soon enough for that, too.” Dare checked the veggies with a fork and decided they were steamed enough.

      Since Chris didn’t care much for cleaning—immaculate conditions were Dare’s forte—he finished off his juice and put the glass in the dishwasher. “I left messages on your desk in the library, but did you maybe want them on your bedroom desk instead?”

      “That’d be fine.”

      “Some of them were from Trace. I think he’s hoping to somehow help with your …” He started to say complication, but when he glanced at Molly, he decided to censor the usual mockery and instead nodded toward her with his head. “With her.”

      “I’ll touch base with Trace tomorrow, but he should really just concentrate on Alani right now.”

      “True,” Chris said. “I’ll put an updated calendar in your room, too, although the next few weeks are pretty clear—”

      “Dare?”

      They both looked at Molly.

      Chris noted her unease.

      Dare must’ve, too, given how he gave her his full attention. “What is it?”

      Hesitation had her fidgeting, but in the next breath she straightened her shoulders. “You said you don’t want me signing in to any of my online accounts.”

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