Barb Han - Texas Takedown

“What does that mean?”

“Did anyone follow you?” The suspicion in her eyes hit him harder than a shot of tequila for breakfast, with a similar burn in his chest.

“No.”

“Are you sure?” More accusations fired in her tone.

“Yes.” This wasn’t the greeting he’d expected.

“How can I trust you?”

“You don’t have to, sweetheart.” He had no intention of hurting her. Her panicked expression ate at his insides. What was she so afraid of? Or maybe the better question was, what had she done?

He took another step toward her so he could really examine her. With her pallor, she looked as if she’d seen a ghost. “But it’s me. And you know me.”

“How did you find this place?” She didn’t seem ready to concede anything.

“The internet. It wasn’t hard,” he said casually, trying to use his voice to calm her.

“If it was easy for you, then he can find me, too. I have to get out of here.” Her pulse hammered at the base of her throat.

Finally, he was getting somewhere. Someone had her seriously spooked. Dylan shot her an apologetic look.

“Who are you involved with? A boyfriend?”

Her head was already shaking.

“Then, tell me who’s looking for you and I can help.”

She didn’t respond. He needed to take another tack. Get her in the car for four hours, gain her trust and he’d get closer to finding the truth.

“I can see that you’re in some kind of trouble. What are you running from?”

Her lips clamped shut.

“Everyone’s worried. Come home with me and we’ll sort this out,” he offered, hoping he could appeal to her on a friendship level.

“No. It’s too risky. He’ll find me.” That same frightened-animal look was in her eyes.

“Who will?”

“Thomas Kramer.” She shivered involuntarily as she said his name.

“The Mason Ridge Abductor?” Stunned didn’t begin to describe his reaction. No way. Dylan checked her pupils for signs of drugs, even though the Samantha he knew would never do such a thing. Something had her acting cagey. He saw pure, unadulterated fear in her gaze. “He’s dead, sweetheart. A pile of ash. Remember? He can’t hurt you from where he is.”

She stood there, trembling, looking lost. Damn.

Dylan made a move to step forward, to comfort her.

Her body stiffened, so he froze.

“It’s not safe here. He’ll find me.”

“What are you talking about?” Dylan held his hands up in surrender, slowly, because he half feared she would bolt otherwise. “I’m moving to the couch to sit down so we can talk about this.”

He walked deliberately.

She moved to the front window, peering outside through the slats in the blinds. “He might’ve followed you.”

The look of panic on her face couldn’t be faked. Something had her completely rattled, but Thomas Kramer was dead.

“Sit down beside me and tell me what happened,” he said calmly.

“I have to get out of here.” Her voice shook with fear and her eyes pleaded with him. She stalked back to the desk and reached inside a drawer.

“Stop right there.” The last thing he needed was for her to do something desperate. Dylan ate the real estate between them in two quick strides and covered her hand, stopping her from raising it toward him. He ignored the fizz of attraction sizzling between them.

Her left fist was closed around an object. He turned her palm toward the ceiling, noticing her white-knuckle grip. “Open your hand slowly.”

She did, exposing a fistful of cash.

“What’s this for, Samantha?”

“Nothing. Take it and get out of here.”

“You’re trying to give me money to leave?”

“Whatever you want, take it. Just go.”

“Rebecca sent me.” If she wouldn’t talk to him based on their history, maybe he could get through to her by using her friend’s name.

“She shouldn’t have,” Samantha shot back. “This is no one’s business but mine.”

That didn’t work. She seemed even more agitated. Maybe he could appeal to her softer side. “How can I help if you don’t tell me what’s going on?”

“I can’t. I don’t even know myself and it’s too dangerous.”

Dylan took a step away from her, releasing her hand, breaking contact before he revealed his body’s reaction to her. Even then he felt the tension coiling inside his body. “Why not?”

“He’ll kill me and everyone I love.”

Chapter Two

“No one’s going to hurt you, Samantha. And especially not a man who’s already dead.” Dylan fished his phone from his front pocket and then paused with his thumb hovering over Brody’s number. “Your friends are worried. I need to call and let them know I found you.”

She shook her head fervently. “He’ll know. I don’t know how but he’ll figure it out if you do that. And then we’ll all be in danger again.”

“Does this have anything to do with the phone calls you received before you took off?” Dylan wouldn’t rule out the possibility someone was using her fear of the Mason Ridge Abductor to manipulate her.

A look of shock crossed her features. She quickly recovered, smoothing her open hand down her jeans.

“I already told you.” Her gaze darted around the room, no doubt looking for an escape route. “You don’t believe me.”

Frazzled, frightened, she had the disposition of a cornered animal. And since that rarely turned out well for the person who tried to capture it, Dylan put his hands up, keeping his cell in his hand, where she could see it. “Look, sweetheart, you’re safe. I’m here. Tell me exactly what’s going on so I can help you.”

“I don’t expect you to understand. But Thomas Kramer is coming.” Eyes wild, she bolted for the door.

Thomas Kramer was dead. Someone was trying to manipulate her by using her fear of the past. Dylan dropped his phone and caught her as she reached the front door. Whatever she’d gotten herself into was clearly more than she could handle. He bear-hugged her from behind and pulled her far enough away from the door that the handle was out of reach.

She kicked and screamed, and her foot connected with his groin.

Doubled over, he tightened his grip around her midsection as he took a few deep breaths to stave off blinding pain and nausea.

He’d almost felt sorry for her when she was stumbling over her words, trying to distract him so she could bolt. But experience had taught him innocent people didn’t try to run.

* * *

“BE STILL,” Dylan bit out curtly. His thick arms were like vise grips around her hips, and it was impossible not to notice the solid wall that was Dylan flush against her bottom. She couldn’t blame him for his words coming out harshly after she’d kicked him in the groin.

If she could loosen his grip, she might be able to break free and run. No matter how much she wanted to confide in Dylan, she couldn’t. The Mason Ridge Abductor had returned, attacked her in the parking lot of her office, and then her father had disappeared after confirming as much and telling her not to try to find him. He’d told her to hide and stay hidden until he could sort this mess out that had begun fifteen years ago. And even though Dylan didn’t know it, she was saving him, too. He didn’t need to get involved and she’d said too much already.

The door was so close. She stretched her fingers toward it. Too far.

Drawing from all her strength, she tensed her body and then jabbed her elbow into Dylan’s midsection. If he could find her, so could Kramer, and her father had said the Mason Ridge Abductor would use her to force him out of hiding.

On some level, she knew Kramer was a pile of ashes, but someone could be using his name to hide behind.