know, we saw the security footage. Where are you?”
“At a Walgreens. Hang on.” She put her hand over the phone. “Where are we?” The teenager rattled off the address, and Haven gave it to her friend.
“Sit tight, girlfriend. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, let me call the cavalry.”
“Thanks, G.” Haven handed the phone back to the woman. “Thank you. Someone’s coming.”
“Do you want to call the police?”
All Haven wanted was to not be here. “No, that’s okay.”
A few minutes passed and she saw movement at the door. She looked up.
A wild-eyed Leo stared at her through the glass.
Oh, hell. The doors opened and she pushed away from the counter.
Leo strode in. “Haven, we need to go now.”
“Leo, leave me alone. I don’t know how else to say it.”
He grabbed her arm. “You need to—”
“Hey,” the Walgreen’s lady interrupted. “Leave her alone.”
Leo ignored the woman and jerked Haven forward. She shoved at him, but he moved closer.
Suddenly, a candy bar sailed through the air and smacked Leo in the forehead. He blinked, shocked, and Haven glanced to see the teenage girl grabbing another candy bar off a display near the counter.
“Haven,” Leo growled.
“Just leave,” she yelled.
He yanked her again and she pulled back. They spun in an unwieldy circle and crashed into a display. Hair brushes and accessories flew everywhere.
She fell to the floor and Leo landed on top of her. The air rushed out of her.
“My God, what did I ever see in you?” she cried.
She shoved at him, then suddenly, he was yanked off her and he went flying, smacking into a set of shelves.
She scrambled up to see Vander and Saxon standing in the doorway, their faces like stone.
Vander crossed his arms over his chest. “Haven, you all right?”
She nodded.
Then she turned. Rhys had Leo on the ground, one tattooed hand fisted at the front of Leo’s shirt, while he punched Leo in the face with his other hand.
Oh, God.
She raced over. “Rhys, let him go. He’s not worth it.”
That got her no response. Leo moaned.
“Rhys!” She clung to his side. “Please.”
He hesitated.
“I need you. I feel a huge freak-out coming on.” Not really, she was more pissed than upset, but she did a pretty good job of making her voice shake.
Rhys dropped Leo. He turned to her, face like thunder and his eyes boiling.
“Rhys,” she whispered.
He yanked her up and kissed her. She sank into him, feeling a punch of emotions—relief, desire, anger. His tongue touched hers and she slid her hands into his thick hair.
When he finally pulled back, he pressed his forehead to hers and she clung to him. Then she let out a happy, little sigh.
He tilted his head. “What happened to the freak-out?”
Oops. “Oh, well, your kiss chased it away.”
His dark eyes narrowed, but then his lips twitched. “You wouldn’t be trying to distract me from beating the shit out of your ex, would you?”
“Who, me?”
He shook his head, his lips twitching.
“You said you weren’t dating your boss.” Leo’s voice was nasally and his nose was bleeding.
“He’s not my boss,” she huffed. “He’s my boss’ brother.”
Leo scowled. “He’s an asshole—”
Rhys shifted, and quickly, Haven stepped in front of him to block his view of Leo.
“Be quiet,” she snapped at Leo. “You don’t exist for me.”
“But this asshole does?” Leo scowled at Rhys.
Behind her, Rhys tensed. She pressed a hand to his hard gut, and was momentarily distracted by feeling his six pack through his shirt.
“He does. Tell your friends I have nothing to do with you.” She turned. “Can we go home now?”
“Yeah, angel.”
Rhys picked her up and she snuggled into him.
“I can walk,” she said.
“I know.” He didn’t set her down.
She leaned into him as he headed out the door.
Chapter Twelve
As Rhys unlocked his front door, his chest held a knot of residual anger and a whole lot of relief.
He held Haven tucked under his arm. She was alive. Safe. Breathing.
She looked fine despite her ordeal. He wanted to take care of her.
And he definitely didn’t want to feel the fear that had hit him knowing she’d been taken again.
They walked in and he flicked the lights on.
“Why don’t you take a bath?” he said. “Relax—”
“I don’t want a bath.” She walked into his place and his gaze took in the back of that damn dress. Or rather lack of a back.
She spun, her blue gaze on him.
Then she ran at him and jumped.
He caught her with a grunt, sliding his hands under her ass. “Haven.”
“I know what I want.” Her