I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,55

soon blocked out all other noises.

“Almost there,” Tristan assured me.

Once we could see the clearing, Tristan rushed me to the car, throwing open the back door and helping me inside. “Get on the floor and stay down.”

I did as told, shaking uncontrollably as he closed the door and locked me inside.

Minutes felt like hours as I lay on the floor of the backseat, trembling as if hypothermia had set in. How had that man found me? How had he gotten by Tristan? Who else knew where I was? Who else was coming?

I could hear dogs barking inside the shelter. I’d let go of the dogs. I’d left them to fend for themselves. And, poor Doris. I hoped Tristan told her to lock herself inside.

Sirens bellowed in the distance and relief washed over me as they moved closer. Tires sped up the dirt road and the sirens grew louder; the dogs inside the shelter began to howl. When the sirens stopped, I heard doors open and slam shut then footsteps pounding on the ground. Police officers seemed to spread out in every direction. I heard voices outside the car. I could finally breathe. The cavalry had arrived.

I pushed myself to my knees and peeked out the tinted windows. Police officers scoured the area. EMTs ran into the woods with a stretcher. Briggs jogged around checking the perimeter of the woods.

I pushed open the back door and hurried to the shelter wanting to make sure Doris was okay. She didn’t ask for any of this. I’d brought danger to her sanctuary. I tried the knob, but the door was locked. Good. I knocked on the door. It took a minute, but Doris peeked through the window, her eyes wide with fear. When she saw it was me, she unlocked the door and I pushed my way inside, locking the door behind me. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, visibly shaken. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. But I had to let Simone and the boys go.”

“They’re already back in their cages.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”

“Was anyone hurt?” she asked.

I nodded. “He was after me. And my bodyguard shot him before he hurt me.”

“Oh, honey. Why would someone want to hurt you?”

I peeked out the door. Tristan stormed toward the car—the one I was no longer in. “Doris, I’ve gotta go outside. But I promise I’ll explain.”

“Is it safe out there?”

“I hope so.” I ducked out the door and heard the lock click as I headed toward Tristan, ready for him to ream me out for leaving the car.

Anger clouded his eyes as he approached me. But instead of yelling at me, he wrapped his arms around me and held me to his chest.

I felt myself melt into him, needing the safety of his arms more than I ever imagined. Tears stung my eyes.

He tightened his arms. “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. If I ever lost you…”

Lost me?

But he didn’t want me.

“…I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”

“You shot someone…” I swallowed. “…for me.”

“I thought he was gonna get to you,” he said.

I closed my eyes, realizing how close I’d come to being hurt or taken. “I’m okay. Are you okay?”

He pulled back and stared into my teary eyes. “Am I okay? Seriously?”

I nodded, terrified that either of us could’ve been hurt.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine, kissing me slow and purposeful. Even if this was just the shock of what happened, I still let him kiss me. I needed him and wanted to melt into the kiss, needing it more than I needed air. Needing him more than I needed air. He pulled back and dropped his forehead to mine. “I’m so damn sorry I let him get by me.”

“I heard you call out. I knew to run.”

His eyes pinched tightly. “I should’ve been walking with you. I was giving you your space when all I really wanted to do was be in it.”

I said nothing, knowing I had a lot to do with the reason he was keeping his distance.

“Listen, I’ve gotta go explain why there’s a dead body in those woods.” He gave me a reassuring nod as he released me and stepped back. “Lock yourself in there with Doris. I won’t be long.” He turned to walk away.

“Tristan?” I called.

He stopped and looked back. “We’ll talk when I’m done, okay?”

I nodded and then he was gone.

I spent the next thirty minutes assuring Doris no one would be back to