Ransom by Erica Sutherhome Page A

of a poor joke, but his eyes conveyed understanding above all. 
    “Yes, but you have to know. I trusted you and it took a lot of restraint for you not to…well, you know.”
    “I understand. I wouldn’t have hurt you, Triana,” he whispered.
    She nodded, but couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat.
    “Do you still trust me?  I know it’s hard after what I did, keeping you from the truth and all, but…”
    Triana looked up at him, looked into his eyes and knew her instincts about him couldn’t be wrong.  “Shh.”  Her fingertips rested on his lips as he frowned suddenly.  “You did what you had to do to save a man’s life.  I still trust you.”
    “Well, would you…can I…”
    She giggled, then with her hands gripping the lapels of his shirt, she pulled him into a soft, gentle kiss. When she pulled away, he looked stunned. She laughed at his response.
    “Well, I was going to ask that, but you beat me to it,” he replied, grinning.
    “I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all.”  He gazed into her eyes.  “Can we try that again?”
    She nodded encouragingly as he took her face in his hands.
    When she pulled away from him, he stared at her for awhile. “Maybe we should do this the right way this time.  Would you go out with me?”
    She giggled again.  “It’s a little late for that, isn’t it?”
    “I don’t think it’s ever too late for that. Hopefully we can make it to the second date without tearing each other’s clothes off.”
    She smiled.  “I guess that remains to be seen.”
    “Is that a dare?”
    “You bet.”
    “Then I accept.”  He kissed her then. 
    The promise his kiss offered was good and true.  He would date her and they would see where it took them.  They already liked each other immensely. It couldn’t get better than that.
    ****
    They heard the distant sounds of sirens. Lance knew Triana would be discovered. There would be questions.  They would handle it.  He pulled her to his side and kissed the top of her head.  His heart squeezed in his chest.  After everything was sorted out, he really didn’t think he could stay away from her. He had almost lost her today. He couldn’t let that happen again.
    The police arrived, and he provided the details with Triana’s occasional corroboration. They called her father to the scene and he watched with relief as the man hugged her and looked her over with concern. 
    Triana was put in the back of an ambulance to be checked out at the hospital for possible wounds or shock.  He knew they were concerned about rape.  And he would agree that if it had been any other man, that might have been the case. They might also be worried about her mental stability after her confinement. Although he knew she’d suffered because of his duality, he thought she would be fine. 
    Before they took off, he pressed his card into her hand. She smiled tremulously. That smile gave him hope.
    He stepped out of the van, and watched the doors close. He witnessed it speed away with her father driving behind the ambulance. The man looked him over curiously, but said nothing more.
    Honestly, he thought her father would care more, might offer his gratitude for saving his daughter from a terrible fate, but it was not to be.  Not that he personally thought he deserved anything.
    He watched the emergency crew work the scene.  Firefighters tackled the blaze of the explosion while cops stood around and finished taking statements from witnesses.  He had given the story that he’d stumbled across the warehouse, suspected something was going on and rescued Triana. The perps must have died inside. 
    Though he deeply regretted having taken a life, he would have done it all over again to save Triana. Because there was one thing about that man Hank. He sensed he had been very loyal to Sanson.  And if he’d gotten away, he would have blabbed during visiting hours at the jail or something. And not only would Triana still be in danger, so would