Say You're Mine

“Hang on,” is all he says right before we hit the shore hard.

The boat comes to a grinding halt, half of it now on the bank and the other back half still in the water. He grabs me by the arm and tries to pull me, but I don’t let go of the bar I’d grabbed on the side of the boat.

“Do you really want to fight me?” I stare up into his dark gaze and see pitch black. For a moment there’s a look I don’t understand, but then it’s gone.

My fingers let go of the bar knowing he’s right: I don’t want to fight him. He hauls me off the boat, and my feet barely hit the ground before he has me over his shoulder and he takes off in a run. How can someone this big run so fast, and also do it while carrying a person on his shoulder? He’s some kind of freaky superhero, minus the good stuff.

I try to get a look at where we are, but my wet hair sticks to my face, blocking most of my view. It’s not long before he’s pulling me off his shoulder and I slide down his body. When my feet touch the ground again, my hands rest against his hard chest for balance.

“Get in.” He pulls open the passenger door of a waiting car and pushes me inside. The door slams shut and when he jogs around to the other side, I go for the handle. I frantically try to find it, but there’s nothing but a blank space where one should be.

“Looking for this?” he asks, holding up the door handle as he gets in. He tosses it in the backseat before starting the car and taking off. With each second that ticks by, I know it’s one second closer to me not being found.

“Do you have a death wish?” the man asks, and he sounds super pissed. “I’ll take that as a yes. You jumped off a boat and your little ass can’t fucking swim.” He actually sounds worried about me.

“Little?” I snap and want to take it back. Why did all my focus go to him calling me little? I’ve never been called little in my life, but I suppose compared to him everyone is.

“Yeah, little,” he grunts, glancing over at me. I notice where his eyes linger, and I realize my wet dress is clinging to my body. “Being stupid will get you killed.”

“What choice did I have? You might kill me.”

“Wrong, little bit. My mission is to save you.”

“Save me? From who? You already kicked Brock’s ass. Wait, do you work for my dad? Is this all a mix-up?” I say a silent prayer hoping this is some kind of stupid misunderstanding. One that includes high-speed getaways, shooting guns, and a possible drowning.

“I was hired by your father.” I start to relax, knowing it’s all going to be okay. “Your real one. I’m saving you from the Adairs.”

Chapter Four

Dutch

“You’re lying.”

She scowls at me, and she looks like a grumpy kitten after a bath. I want to laugh, but it’s been so long since I’ve done it, I don’t know if I remember how.

“Why would I lie?” I make sure to keep an even speed so that I don’t draw attention.

“I don’t know, so maybe you can kidnap me.” She points to herself like it’s obvious.

“I’ve already kidnapped you.” I put the same emphasis on the word she does. “I have nothing to gain at this moment by lying to you.”

“So you might need to lie to me in the future.”

“Yes.” I look at her like she’s ridiculous, and her eyes widen in shock.

“This is crazy. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“No.” I put on my turn signal to merge onto the highway and curse the traffic.

“No?”

“Do you have water lodged in your ears?” I reach in the back for a towel and hand it to her. She jerks it out of my hand and wraps it around her. It’s a pity, because I could see her delicious curves around the wet dress.

“Tell me why you think my parents aren’t my real parents. Wouldn’t I know? I’ve been with them my whole life.”

“Be quiet.” I look into the lane next to me and see an opening.

“Be quiet!” she shouts, and I can feel her hysteria rising. “I was shot at!”

“If it makes you feel any better, they were shooting at me.” Up ahead there’s an accident that’s slowing traffic down, but they’ve got it pulled off to the side now.

“No!”

“Enough.” I turn to her and point a finger. “Enough shouting in this tiny car. You will be quiet and do as I say. My job is to deliver you to your real parents and nothing more. I’m not here to answer questions.”

I watch as her golden eyes begin to fill with water, and her bottom lip wobbles.