Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
In all fairness, they were going to kill me.
I blink a couple of times. “Uh-huh.”
Max takes a sharp right, then asks, “Are you hurt anywhere?”
Finally, life starts to return to my body, and I shove the bag and weapon into the space by my feet. I glance over my body, then shake my head. “No. I’m fine.” My eyes dart to Max. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” His jaw is clenched, and he still has a ruthless expression.
I slump back in my seat and focus on my breathing and rapid heart rate while processing the fact that I could’ve died tonight.
The threat is real. Very real.
My dry lips part, and I whisper, “Jesus, someone just tried to kill me.”
“No one’s killing you on my watch,” he mutters, his tone low and deadly.
I nod, my eyes trained on the road ahead. “In that case, can I keep you forever?”
He lets out a chuckle and continues driving until we leave Paris.
Max keeps checking the rearview mirror, and it has me glancing out the back window while asking, “Are we being followed?”
“No.”
Minutes later, he pulls over at a gas station and brings the SUV to a stop. We both stare out of the windshield for a few seconds before we look at each other. His eyes search over my body, then he lifts a hand, and taking hold of the back of my neck, he pulls me closer to him.
When my face is only a couple of inches from his, my heartbeat picks up again.
With Max’s eyes locked on mine, he says, “As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep you safe.”
The crazy emotions from the nightmare back at my penthouse overwhelm me, and I feel tears sting my eyes.
I lift my hand and grip hold of his forearm. “Not that it matters what I think, but I’m grateful you’re a badass assassin.”
The corner of his mouth lifts into a hot smirk. “It has its perks.”
My chin starts to tremble, and I close my eyes to fight back the tears. When I feel calmer, I look at him again.
This man saved my life.
Closing the distance between us, I press a kiss to his cheek, then whisper, “Thank you, Max.”
For the second time tonight, he pulls me into an embrace, and I soak up the comfort his strong body gives me.
When we pull apart, he says, “We’re going to put in gas, then head for Troyes.”
“What’s in Troyes?”
Max opens the SUV’s door, and as he gets out, he replies, “One of my safe houses.”
While filling the tank with gas, he pulls his cell phone out and makes a call.
“The penthouse was hit. Camille is safe, and I’m on the road with her. I killed four men,” I hear him say. “She’s just rattled but handling things well…Yeah, hold.”
He leans into the SUV and holds the device out to me. “Your father.”
Taking the cell phone, I press it to my ear. “Papa?”
“Are you okay, mon amour? Did you get hurt?”
“I’m fine.” My voice is hoarse, and the tears threaten to fall. “It was terrifying, and I’m scared.”
“Max will keep you safe until I get to the bottom of this.” Hearing the concern in my father’s voice makes a tear trickle down my cheek.
“I don’t understand why this is happening. Why do you have to leave politics?”
Papa clears his throat. “It’s because I’m encouraging the country to go green. Many energy companies will suffer losses if it happens.”
“Seriously?” Frowning, I shake my head. “That’s not worth killing people over.”
“When money is involved, many people are willing to do the worst.”
Letting out a sigh, I ask, “What do I do now?”
“Just stay with Max and do as he says. I’ll deal with the mess and the media on this side. Think of it as a vacation.”
“Okay,” I whisper. “Please be careful.”
“Don’t worry about me. I have a whole team guarding me.”
Yeah, but none of them are Max.
“Je t’aime, Papa.”
“Je t’aime aussi.” My father lets out a tired sigh. “Let me talk to Max.”
Leaning across the driver’s seat, I hold the device out. “Max.”
He takes the cell phone, and I shamelessly listen to his side of the conversation.
“I’ll keep her safe…only use the encrypted phone to call so it can’t be traced…we’ll move around a lot…yeah, I’ll take good care of her.”
His reassuring words make warmth spread through my chest, chasing some of the chills from the attack away.
I watch as Max tucks the cell phone into his pocket, then he leans down. “I’m just going to run into the store. Don’t leave the SUV.”
I nod, and my eyes follow him into the small convenience store. Not even a minute later, he comes out, and as he walks toward the vehicle, he glances around.
The man is attractive, but after seeing him handle a gun and kill to keep me safe, I know it will be impossible not to fall for him.