Smiling, I kept my eyes closed, enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime experience for what it was. It was the only slice of normalcy I’d ever get.
While it had been a mistake to spend the night with her, I didn’t give a damn. I didn’t have much longer with her in my arms, so I’d decided to live life for once, instead of just surviving it. I’d decided to see what all the fuss was about and slept with a woman curled up in my arms. Turned out, sleeping with a woman was . . . nice.
Better than nice.
But it was daytime now, and it was time to find my brother and end this, one way or the other. And to do that, I had to make sure Heidi stayed out of my way and out of danger. I skimmed my fingers over her bare arm, and she made a soft sound in her sleep, burrowing closer to me. My smile widened.
I couldn’t help it.
She felt good.
Run with me. If you run with me . . . I’ll go. My heart picked up speed as her words replayed in my head for the millionth time. Ever since she’d spoken them, those blue eyes of hers shining at me with so much emotion it had choked me, I hadn’t been able to get them outta my head. Hell, I’d even dreamt about them. Run with me. If you run with me . . . I’ll go.
It was the one solution I’d refused to accept.
The one solution I’d ignored, because I didn’t fucking run.
It wasn’t me. But with her . . . could I do it? Take one of life’s ultimate challenges and turn a guy like me into a law-abiding citizen. Start a mechanic shop and try life on the legal side of the tracks. But could I really be that guy? Could I—
The downstairs door to my apartment opened slowly.
I stiffened, every nerve in my body awakening at the sound of the creaking hinge, keeping my eyes shut in case someone was watching me already. Sliding my hand under my pillow, I felt around for my pistol . . .
And then remembered I’d set it down by the door while fighting with Heidi last night. I still had the one Chris had given me, but that meant I’d left a weapon out there. A weapon that could be used against me, instead of for me. “Shit,” I muttered.
“Hm?” Heidi asked, stirring beside me. “What’s—?”
I slammed my hand down on her mouth, and she came to with flailing arms. One managed to clock me on the side of the head before she finally focused on me. The second she did, I held a finger to my mouth in a shh gesture and cocked my head toward the door, hoping she’d get the message. She looked terrified, but she nodded.
I lowered my hand and whispered, “Get under the bed. Now.”
She didn’t argue with me. Within a second of my command, she threw the covers off and crawled under my bed, wearing nothing but a shirt she must’ve pulled on during the night. I wore nothing at all . . . and we were under attack.
I never should have let my guard down.
Making sure to move silently, I rushed to my nightstand and pulled out the loaded Glock I kept hidden there. My pulse raced, and adrenaline pumped through my veins. Looked like I didn’t have to find Scotty after all. He’d found me.
“Whatever you see or hear, don’t come out.” I stepped into a pair of sweats. The last thing I needed was my cock hanging out as I fought for our lives. I glanced down at the floor. There was no sign of her, but I knew she was under the bed. “Not even if they kill me in front of you. Got it?”
She peeked her head out, locking eyes with me. I saw so much in hers that it made me even more determined to get the hell out of here alive . . . no matter the costs. I saw my fucking future. My life. My past. It was all there, staring back at me. For the first time in my life, I truly, fully, completely regretted something.
I regretted not running with her when I had the chance.
“Lucas . . .” she whispered.
“Don’t. Come. Out.” I tipped my head. “Now, get back under.”
She nodded and slid back under the bed as far as she could go. “Be careful.”
I tightened my grip on my gun, sent a quick prayer upstairs in case that God everyone always talked about actually gave a damn, and crept to the door. Heart racing, I plastered myself against the wall next to it, gun held at the ready.
The second they opened it . . . I’d be on them.
With any luck, I’d have the element of surprise since they’d expect me to be asleep in bed. Footsteps crept up to the door, and hushed whispers came through the door. The knob jiggled, and then the door flew open. A man came bolting through it, gun raised, so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger. Blood sprayed all over my face and splattered all over the wall behind the first bastard trying to kill me today.
I didn’t have time to check and see if I knew him, because there were more.