autopsy. That’s when I bolted.”
“What do you mean?”
“The guy sitting in back to keep me in line had a pen in his pocket. I stabbed him in the thigh with it and dove out the car door.”
She stabbed him? Guess little Sophie was more vicious than he thought. “Please tell me they were parked.”
She shook her head. “They were only going about twenty. I landed well. Rolled. It hurt, but I’m fine. Wish I’d taken my purse with me, though. Or at least some cash.”
He didn’t believe that she was fine. He followed her arm until he found her hand and pushed back the sleeve. Just as he’d thought, her palms were covered in a rash of scrapes and bruises. “Any other injuries?”
“No. Like I said, I landed well.”
“Tell that to your hands.”
“They’ll heal. I’m more worried about staying alive.”
“After you jumped, did they come after you?”
“Oh yeah. It took me several hours to lose them before I came here. I didn’t want them to find you, so I was careful.”
“How did you know where I lived?”
A faint blush crept up her cheeks. “I checked you out as soon as I got home. I even called your mom once. She’s really sweet.”
He was stunned silent for a second. Sophie had checked on him? Why hadn’t she just called him? “My mom told you where I lived?” If so, he was going to have to have a serious talk with her.
“She thought I was selling life insurance and that youshould have some. She thought I was going to mail you an information packet. Don’t be too hard on her. She really had no clue who I was.”
Riley tabled his anger—at both women—to focus on the problem at hand. “Are these men the kind who give up easily?” He hoped.
“Not a chance. This doctor chick wants me and is willing to pay good money to get her hands on me.”
Doctor?
All kinds of warning bells and sirens were blaring in his skull. “Did you get a name?”
“No, but it looks like you might know her.”
“I hope not.” If he did, Sophie had bigger troubles than a couple of thugs. Not that he was going to tell her that and scare her more. Not when she so clearly needed rest. “You should get some sleep.”
“I’d argue, but I’m too tired. It’s been a few days since I did more than close my eyes for a minute. I can’t even think straight right now.”
That made two of them. “The couch is yours if you want it, but my bed is more comfortable. I’d feel better if you took it.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll be fine. I have some work to do still tonight, and it won’t be the first night I’ve fallen asleep on the couch this week. Go on. Get some rest.” He had some research to do on Sophie.
Namely, why Dr. Stynger might want to get her hands on Sophie and what he could do to make sure it never happened.
* * *
It wasn’t until Sophie was safely behind a closed, locked door that she let herself cry.
She’d hurt Riley. It had been the last thing she’d meant to do when she’d left. He’d been so sweet to her. So kind.
That was why she’d run away. He was better off without her. He hadn’t known it at the time, but
she
had.
And here she was, in his home, asking him to help her again.
But what choice did she have? There was no one else she could turn to.
The fact that she was here now proved just how right she’d been to leave him in the first place. A good woman would have never brought trouble to his doorstep. A good woman would have never been in trouble like hers to begin with.
Lies, bad luck, and bad blood. That was what she had to offer.
He deserved a hell of a lot more than that.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. She needed to feel safe—just for a few hours. Sleep, recharge. Plan her next step.
The only time she’d ever truly felt safe was with Riley. Even with bullets flying and her in the midst of losing her baby, she’d known without a doubt that he would get her out alive.
Her baby.
The tears fell faster now. She had
“What do you mean?”
“The guy sitting in back to keep me in line had a pen in his pocket. I stabbed him in the thigh with it and dove out the car door.”
She stabbed him? Guess little Sophie was more vicious than he thought. “Please tell me they were parked.”
She shook her head. “They were only going about twenty. I landed well. Rolled. It hurt, but I’m fine. Wish I’d taken my purse with me, though. Or at least some cash.”
He didn’t believe that she was fine. He followed her arm until he found her hand and pushed back the sleeve. Just as he’d thought, her palms were covered in a rash of scrapes and bruises. “Any other injuries?”
“No. Like I said, I landed well.”
“Tell that to your hands.”
“They’ll heal. I’m more worried about staying alive.”
“After you jumped, did they come after you?”
“Oh yeah. It took me several hours to lose them before I came here. I didn’t want them to find you, so I was careful.”
“How did you know where I lived?”
A faint blush crept up her cheeks. “I checked you out as soon as I got home. I even called your mom once. She’s really sweet.”
He was stunned silent for a second. Sophie had checked on him? Why hadn’t she just called him? “My mom told you where I lived?” If so, he was going to have to have a serious talk with her.
“She thought I was selling life insurance and that youshould have some. She thought I was going to mail you an information packet. Don’t be too hard on her. She really had no clue who I was.”
Riley tabled his anger—at both women—to focus on the problem at hand. “Are these men the kind who give up easily?” He hoped.
“Not a chance. This doctor chick wants me and is willing to pay good money to get her hands on me.”
Doctor?
All kinds of warning bells and sirens were blaring in his skull. “Did you get a name?”
“No, but it looks like you might know her.”
“I hope not.” If he did, Sophie had bigger troubles than a couple of thugs. Not that he was going to tell her that and scare her more. Not when she so clearly needed rest. “You should get some sleep.”
“I’d argue, but I’m too tired. It’s been a few days since I did more than close my eyes for a minute. I can’t even think straight right now.”
That made two of them. “The couch is yours if you want it, but my bed is more comfortable. I’d feel better if you took it.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll be fine. I have some work to do still tonight, and it won’t be the first night I’ve fallen asleep on the couch this week. Go on. Get some rest.” He had some research to do on Sophie.
Namely, why Dr. Stynger might want to get her hands on Sophie and what he could do to make sure it never happened.
* * *
It wasn’t until Sophie was safely behind a closed, locked door that she let herself cry.
She’d hurt Riley. It had been the last thing she’d meant to do when she’d left. He’d been so sweet to her. So kind.
That was why she’d run away. He was better off without her. He hadn’t known it at the time, but
she
had.
And here she was, in his home, asking him to help her again.
But what choice did she have? There was no one else she could turn to.
The fact that she was here now proved just how right she’d been to leave him in the first place. A good woman would have never brought trouble to his doorstep. A good woman would have never been in trouble like hers to begin with.
Lies, bad luck, and bad blood. That was what she had to offer.
He deserved a hell of a lot more than that.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. She needed to feel safe—just for a few hours. Sleep, recharge. Plan her next step.
The only time she’d ever truly felt safe was with Riley. Even with bullets flying and her in the midst of losing her baby, she’d known without a doubt that he would get her out alive.
Her baby.
The tears fell faster now. She had
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