Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,47

the room. “So we go somewhere else until when? They find us there like they did here? And after that, we’ll be forced to go to yet another place, and another...” She shook her head and crossed her arms. “I don’t want to keep running all over the damn country, Jay.”

“We won’t.” He covered the small space between them. “As soon as we landed, I made a phone call. There’s a place we can go. A cabin in Colorado.”

Her blue eyes grew wide. “Colorado?”

“It’s secluded and secure. A hundred acres surrounded by a high-powered, electrical fence. It’s located in a valley with nothing around but mountains and wilderness for miles.”

Mike could tell she still wasn’t convinced, so he stepped closer, took her face between his palms, and tipped her head up so she was looking back at him.

He needed to look into her eyes when he said this next part.

“I don’t know about you, but I meant what I said tonight. I love you, Juliet. I think I have from that first moment I laid eyes on you.”

She blinked, a single tear escaping down her cheek and landing on his hand. “I love you, too, J—”

Mike took her mouth in his, the kiss swallowing that godforsaken name. Hearing her say she loved him was the best sound in the world, but it tore him to shreds knowing she was in love with someone who didn’t even exist.

When we get to the cabin...that’s when I’ll tell her.

Shitty situation or not, the guilt was eating him alive from the inside out. The longer he waited, the harder it was going to be. Juliet didn’t deserve that.

I don’t deserve her.

Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I need you safe, baby.”

“What about you?” She looked up at him. “You shouldn’t have to stop living your life just to protect me.”

“Don’t you get it? Baby, you are my life. My everything.”

Juliet was his. His to love. His to cherish. And his to protect with everything he had.

Another tear fell when she nodded. “Call your friend. Tell him we’re coming to Colorado.”

Chapter 12

Juliet sat on the large, flat rock and stared out over the water. Crisp and blue, the small river flowed at a soothing pace as a cool breeze blew through her hair.

Lifting her gaze higher, she took in the entire scene. The tall, thick evergreens lining both sides of the river seemed to go on forever. The mountains’ jagged and gentle slopes resting against the beautiful horizon.

Quiet and peaceful, it was picture-perfect. Truly the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. Too bad it was her personal prison.

“It’s starting to get pretty cold,” Jay said from his spot beside her. “We should probably head back to the cabin before long.”

Jake had flown them to Colorado late last night...on his private jet. Juliet still couldn’t believe he owned one. She also was shocked to discover that—in addition to being Jay’s childhood friend—he was Jay’s boss who also happened to own the whole freaking company.

It didn’t matter to her one way or the other. By the time they left the hospital and boarded the jet, she was dead on her feet—no pun intended—and within minutes of taking air, she was out like a light.

It was too dark to see much of anything when they’d landed, but this morning, after checking to make sure the immediate area around the cabin was as secure as Jay’s friend had claimed, he’d deemed it safe enough to go for a short walk.

“It’s gorgeous here,” she spoke wistfully. “So quiet and peaceful. It’s almost feels like we’re in a completely different world than the one we live in.”

“I agree.” Jay wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I could stay right here with you and be perfectly content.”

She could almost envision a life like that. She and Jay living in a quaint, quiet cabin in the woods. No one around to bother them or recognize her. Somewhere she could spend all day, every day just...being.

I want that life, someday. I want that life with him.

“Come on.” He pushed himself to his feet and then held out a hand. “Let’s get back before a bear decides to wonder up here and have us for dinner.”

“Thanks for that lovely image.” Juliet chuckled as she accepted his help. “Speaking of dinner, what sounds good to you?”

“I don’t know. Ben stocked the fridge and cupboards before we got here, so there should be a good variety of things. Why don’t you pick?”

“Oh,