Chapter 6

• Emma
• We get out of the hall as quickly as possible. It’s frantic, everyone is still shouting.
• But a few moments later we are outside. The man is navigating the place perfectly like he knows exactly where he is going.
• My hand is still in his. People are running around in the yard, too, with shouts and different voices coming from all directions but we make our way through the bodies.
• We get in one of the cars and he drives. My heart is pounding like mad and I belatedly realize this is a very old car. A car that definitely doesn’t belong to the Levine family.
• The moment the car leaves the yard I also realize I haven't taken a single breath since he told me not to. I lean back in the seat and turn to him.
• The man keeps his eyes on the road, not looking at me.
• “What happened?” I ask and he doesn’t answer. His hands are tightly closed around the steering wheel. He looks angry while I am freaking out.
• “Hello? “I ask again and he remains silent. The fact he is so gorgeous doesn't help me, what also doesn’t help me is that I am thinking about this when I am in a stranger’s car, going god knows where, while running away from I have no idea what.
• Instead of responding he takes his phone out and dials a number. His voice comes out evenly. Not commanding but like stating facts. Composed, just like earlier.
• “Yes. She's with me. Okay. I will send you the address. Yes. We could. All right. “
• Then he hangs up. That’s it. Being here, and from this close, I do not doubt that he is the man I took bullets from the other night.
• Not that I could mistake him for anyone else.
• “You work for Andrew, don’t you? “I ask instead. “I saw you earlier. “
• Was he injured the other night because of Andrew? Is this why he was taken to my hospital?
• He checks if someone’s after us in the rearview mirror and continues keeping his eyes on the road. The man looks like he’d rather be anywhere in the world but here with me.
• “I don't know if I work for him yet. “ he says in the end.“So why did you save me?”“You'd rather I left you?” he snorts and finally looks at me. And I wish he hadn’t. His eyes are a deep grey colour. They look somehow darker than earlier- perhaps they change with the weather? His injuries can’t have healed so fast and he must be in so much pain but he doesn't show it.
• Jesus, snap out of this, Emma, I remind myself. I can't still be drunk, can I? Or it’s the smoke messing with my mind?
• “Are you always like this?” I ask instead.
• “Like how?!”
• “Not explaining to anyone. “
• He shifts in his seat.
• “I acted on impulse. “ he begins, “ I just called Wyatt and told him you are with me. We are going to a place I assume will be safe until things in the manor settle down. “
• “What are you saving me from?”
• The man slides in his seat and drops one of his hands from the steering wheel.
• “You do know what your husband does, don’t you?” His words don't come out like a question but his tone doesn't betray anything.
• My heart clenches and I clasp my hands in my lap.
• “This came out too harsh, I am sorry, “ he says.
• “No, no. You are right, I get it. “
• In moments like those I feel like I am one of them - just a pawn in Andrew’s grand scheme of things. That makes me a criminal too. But that’s not something you tell a random stranger when you're in their car while he is taking you god knows where.
• No matter how attracted you are to him. And I don't even know his name.
• “Is Sadie okay?” I ask after a pause, clearing my throat.
• “Your friend? “
• I nod.
• “Yes, she was with Wyatt just as I came in. “
• My vision is blurry. I don’t know what’s happening to me but my vision blurs and I hide my face behind my palms.
• I am a doctor, right? I am used to seeing death all the time. But that is different. And as I feel my tears running down my face I feel a hand taking mine.
• “You are safe, “ he says, “I am getting you out of there. “
• I look at the man and he lets go of me instantly. Like he took my hand without thinking. My heart is beating so fast it’s going to break my rib cage.
• ***
• The car stops in front of a small apartment in a neighbourhood that’s far from everything I’ve known.
• He gets out first and opens the door for me. Then, as soon as I step out he lifts me.
• “What are you doing?!” I gasp, wrapping my arms around him.
• “You are barefoot, remember, “ he says, ignoring my struggles and pleas to let me go and pushes the door of his car shut.
• He is insane.
• “I can walk, “I struggle but my attempts to punch him don’t affect him in any way.
• We got to a small apartment on the top floor. It’s nice- plainly furnished but with a lot of books.
• It smells like him.
• “We will stay here until things in the main house settle, I assume until tomorrow at the latest.“ he informs me as he puts me back to the ground.
• I fix my dress awkwardly and take his jacket off.
• “Is this your place?” I ask and he shrugs. Then he goes to the fringe and opens it. I leave the jacket on the nearest couch - I can still feel its scent around me.
• “I am afraid I don't have many things.” the man says, “ But coffee?”
• He glances away from the fringe.
• “Or whisky?”
• “I will have whiskey. “I declare immediately and he grins.
• He brings two glasses. I can’t look away from his hands- he has strong hands.
• “I don’t know your name. “ I blurt out while he passes me the glass.
• “Colter.”
• “ Colter, okay, “ I repeated. It feels strange, I don’t know why. Maybe because I can’t stop thinking about him, “And you already know mine. “
• “I would still like to hear it. “
• His eyes meet mine- the dark grey colour has turned a slightly paler shade. Like the sky right before rain but not when a storm is coming. Suddenly my heart started beating like mad again.
• What’s with this man? I have seen so many handsome men, most of the guerillas who work for Andrew are tall and well-built like him.
• And yet… And yet, I am staring at him, the need to touch him growing. To ask him to touch me.
• Woah. I almost flinch at the thought and I swear it’s like he knows what I am thinking about.
• “I am..” I stammer and he slams his glass on the table.
• “I am going out for a smoke, “ he declares, “Call me if you need anything. “
• He is walking towards the balcony not turning to look at me
• “You can use that phone over there if you need to call Sadie. “
• Then he exits. I stare at the phone. It took Andrew weeks to remember Sadie’s name…
• I call her and she says she is fine and that Wyatt took care of taking her away.
• “But what happened?” she asks, “Was it a fire alarm or what?”
• “I… I don’t know… “I say. Of course, the idea of mafia wars wouldn’t cross her mind so that's a possible assumption. I guess this will be the official statement. A fire broke down, and a famous businessman unfortunately lost his life in the flames.
• “It’s important that you are safe, “I tell her.
• “Yeah, you too. “
• We agreed to talk tomorrow and I hung up.
• Colter is still outside and I step out to join him. The city is still brightly lit underneath us and I hug myself against the cold.
• “I can take you somewhere else, “ he says. Colter takes a long drag from his cigarette and turns to me. “Staying here with me is not such a great idea. “
• “Why?” I ask and something in his eyes flashes.
• There’s something dangerous. Dark. Something I haven’t seen there before. Something that keeps pulling me towards him and I can’t fight it. I don’t want to fight it.