Outside The Law. Michelle Karl

“Now that will be worth waiting here through the night for.”

      He waved as she shut the door and walked up the front steps to her aunt’s house. As she stepped inside, she looked back over her shoulder at the childhood friend who waited to ensure she made it safely. She waved back at him as she crossed the threshold, then closed the door as he parked across the street.

      Only then did it occur to her that her heart was beating rapidly, her palms warm and her cheeks flushed. And as much as she didn’t want to admit it, the truth was impossible to deny—her reaction had nothing to do with all the bullets that had flown at her today, and everything to do with the handsome FBI agent whose car she’d leaped inside of only hours before.

      * * *

      Noel’s cell phone alarm woke him at four thirty-two the following morning. He waved at the police cruiser that had pulled up a few hours ago to allow Noel to get a bit of rest. He didn’t want his ability to protect Yasmine compromised by exhaustion, and it hadn’t been difficult to convince the police captain last night to send some officers over to help out—especially after he played the FBI card. The police cruiser revved up and pulled away as Noel rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Despite his best efforts to rest, he’d spent most of the past few hours fidgety and unable to stop the events of the day from playing out over and over again in his mind. One thing was certain: they needed to talk more about Yasmine’s suspicions surrounding Daniel’s death. Despite the police’s dismissal of her claims, he wanted to hear the story straight from Yasmine herself.

      He unclipped his seat belt to head up to the house and collect her, but she slipped outside just as he disengaged the vehicle locks. She closed the door behind her and jogged down the driveway with far too much energy for this early in the morning.

      As she climbed into the vehicle, she looked at him with wide-eyed concern. “What is it? Is there something on my face? I know, same clothes as yesterday, but my aunt is tiny and doesn’t have anything that fits me.”

      He pulled his gaze from her with a light shake of the head, consciously aware of how his heart had begun to beat a little faster in her presence, and how the suddenly pervasive scent of cinnamon and honey on yesterday’s outfit made him want to lean in a little closer.

      They were childhood friends reunited by circumstance. That was all. That was all it could ever be, especially with him straight out of Quantico and about to embark on a brand-new career that could take him who knew where.

      “Thanks for playing early morning chauffeur,” she murmured.

      “You’re welcome,” he said. He yawned, unable to stifle it any longer. “You’ll have to direct me to the bakery.”

      “Back to the main drag and head south.”

      They drove in silence for a few minutes as Noel racked his brain for the right thing to say. He didn’t want to push for details about Daniel’s death and risk her closing herself off to him, but on the other hand, he couldn’t help unless he had all the information.

      “Mina—”

      “Take a left here,” she said, pointing at the intersection lights ahead of them. Noel nodded and took advantage of the green light to move into the intersection, waiting for a chance to turn. “I did some thinking last night, Noel. I’m worried that—”

      He shifted his gaze ever so slightly toward her, ready to listen, when his eyes alighted on something outside the passenger side window.

      “No!” He shouted and reached for her as a massive black shape barreled toward them. With a deafening crash, the side of the car crumpled inward, the window shattering as Noel’s world descended into darkness.