Safe by His Side. Debra Webb

cried, real, soul-shattering sobs. She couldn’t take any more, she was truly at the end of her emotional rope.

      “Don’t start that again.” Raine ran both hands through his hair and shifted uneasily.

      “What am I supposed to do?” Kate gasped out between sobs. “You got me into this mess.”

      Raine blew out a long breath, his eyes softened just a little as he took the step she’d retreated. “I know I got you into this mess.” He looked away for a moment before continuing. “You have to understand that as long as you’re with me and I’m breathing, I’ll keep you safe. But if you pull another stupid stunt—” Anger flared in his eyes again. “You could get us both killed.”

      Kate’s knees went weak. He was right. She had no idea what was going on. She didn’t stand a chance without him. “Are you still going to take me with you?”

      With a resigned sigh, he replied, “Yes.” His eyes locked with hers. “I just hope I don’t die regretting it.”

      Relief flooded Kate at his response. She didn’t understand the situation, but she felt certain he did. She would just have to trust him to straighten things out.

      “Thank you.” She swiped at her tears. “I promise I’ll do whatever you say from now on. You won’t regret it.”

      “I already do.” Raine turned and headed back in the direction of the parking lot.

      Kate combed her fingers through her mussed hair and let out a weary breath. Relief rushed through her, calming her frazzled nerves. She dusted the dirt from her clothes and started out after her less than saintly savior.

      Raine stopped abruptly and turned around. He grabbed Kate by the shoulders and squeezed hard. His expression was stone cold as he stared into her eyes for a seemingly endless moment before he spoke. “But, I swear, if you do anything else that pisses me off, I’ll kill you myself.” With that said, he released her, turned and stalked away.

      Judging by the look in his eyes, Kate had no doubt that he meant exactly what he’d said. She hugged herself tightly for a moment and watched his angry retreat.

      He was crazy. He had to be. But, she was hopelessly at his mercy. Those other men were killers. It would take a killer to protect her from them, if everything he said was true. Kate had no alternative but to follow him and do whatever he told her.

      And she did, still feeling dazed and brushing the dirt from her rumpled attire.

      The last of the sun’s warmth showered down on them through the opening canopy of tree branches as they neared the parking area. Kate noticed that her breath fogged the cold air. She wondered, as she marched behind Raine like a prisoner being led to her execution, where in the world they were. She had no idea even what state they were in.

      Without warning, Raine stopped and Kate smacked into his wide back. He motioned for her to keep quiet as he stepped closer to the edge of the woods and surveyed the parking lot.

      Kate peeked around him. A uniformed man was inspecting their car—the car they’d left in the parking lot, she amended. It wasn’t really theirs, it belonged to the two goons. After the man in uniform circled the vehicle, he returned to his truck and spoke into his radio mike. He wasn’t a policeman. Kate strained to make out the markings on the truck.

      A park ranger.

      So they must be…she suddenly made out the rest of the words: Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A ranger! He could help them. If only… She looked at Raine.

      “Damn.” Raine pulled back from his viewing position. He glanced at Kate and then frowned. “Don’t even think about it.”

      “What’s he doing?” she asked innocently, as if she had no idea what he’d insinuated. How could he know that she’d had the overwhelming urge to scream her head off?

      “He’s running the plates.” He swore. “They’re strict about abandoned vehicles around here. Let’s get moving.” Raine turned and headed back up the trail.

      “Where are you going? We can’t go that way,” Kate exclaimed in a stage whisper. She flung her arms heavenward in mute frustration and then muttered heatedly, “There’s nothing back there but trees and mountains.” Kate stood her ground. She wasn’t about to go back into those woods, not when a perfectly good car waited in the parking lot. If Raine didn’t want to talk to the ranger, all they had to do was wait. He would leave eventually.

      Raine glared at her impatiently. “The guys who are after us will be monitoring reports made by the local authorities, especially the report of an abandoned car with a bullet hole in the roof. Not to mention a couple of loaded nine millimeters under the seat. When that ranger ran those plates he gave them our exact location. They’ll be here soon, you can bet on it.”

      “Don’t you mean the guys who are after you?” Kate set her hands on her hips and glared back at him, all memory of the promise she’d made gone.

      “Same difference. You’re either going or you’re staying. I’m going.” Raine stalked off, leaving her to decide for herself.

      “But the ranger could help us!” Kate called after him, still clinging to the hope that she might separate herself from this whole nasty mess.

      “Dream on,” he called back without stopping.

      Kate rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation. What was she supposed to do? Run to that park ranger and risk being turned over to the other bad guys, or follow a man who could very well be a deranged killer himself?

      One thing was certain, Raine could have killed her already if that had been his intent, but he hadn’t. He had, in fact, done everything he could to protect her. She hadn’t forgotten how he’d stepped between her and Vinny.

      Maybe Raine was a good guy. Instinct told her to go with the known rather than the unknown. But could she trust her instincts? She didn’t even know who she was, how could she know whether to trust her judgment?

      Still less than convinced, Kate headed in the direction into which Raine had already disappeared.