Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(46)

She just didn’t know where she was supposed to go. At first, she’d just been running blindly, the image of Jay’s bloody body tormenting her, over and over again. She’d needed to get away from that bedroom. She hadn’t been able to breathe because her fear had been so strong.

Only now…

Her breath slid in and out. And Willow realized that she’d turned on the street that led to Push. It was the middle of the day, and the club was closed down. The place would be empty inside.

The perfect place to stop. To think. To get her mind in check again.

She parked the vehicle and ran around to the back of the club. She grabbed for the door handle. Locked. Of course, it would be locked. But…

Willow just yanked harder. The heavy lock broke, and she rushed inside. The club’s interior was dark and still. At first, she was afraid an alarm might sound, but there was no terrible blaring. There was only silence.

Her shoulders lifted and fell as she heaved out heavy breaths of air. And then…

A footstep.

Her head whipped up. Someone was in the club. Someone coming toward her. Someone—

“Seriously?” Benjamin Larson growled as he held his gun aimed at her. “You’re the one who just broke into my place? I am not in the mood for this shit.”

She could rip the gun away from him. He was about fifteen feet away from her, but she could bound across that room so quickly.

“Don’t even think it, sweetheart,” he warned her with a knowing smile. “You got the drop on me before, but that was when I didn’t know about the super soldier freaks out there.”

She flinched.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “How about…that was when I didn’t know about your enhancements?”

“I’m not here to hurt you.”

“No? Then why are you here?” He looked around. “Here…without your shadow?”

Her shadow?

“Jay,” he snapped. “Where the hell is he?”

“I don’t know.”

Benjamin laughed. “Right.” He didn’t lower the gun. With his dark hair and dark eyes, the guy looked sinister. Dangerous—which he was. “Look, you’re gorgeous as all hell, but you’re deadly. And I’m not going to make the mistake of ever lowering my guard with you again.”

She winced. You made a man face his worst fears once…and he never forgave you.

Jay forgave me.

A door creaked. The sound came from upstairs.

Someone else was there? “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Just tying up a business deal. One of Jay’s friends will be taking over security for this place. A good thing considering that I just had a break-in.” His eyes gleamed.

Footsteps slowly padded down the stairs.

“Okay, Willow.” Benjamin’s voice was nice and easy. “Since we have an audience coming our way, how about you and I play nicely?”

She had been playing nicely. The guy wasn’t unconscious, was he?

A few moments later, the other man appeared. He was tall, broad-shouldered. He wore a faded jacket and loose jeans. His thick hair was shoved back from his forehead, and faint laugh lines slid away from his eyes. “Hey, Ben!” the guy called. “There a problem here?”

Benjamin had just tucked his weapon into the back of his jeans. “No problem.” He had a broad smile on his face. “Got someone for you to meet, Lucas. This is Willow. She belongs to the other owner of Push.”

Lucas stiffened, just a bit.

So did Willow. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

Benjamin gave a long and suffering sigh. “She’s involved, man. With Jay Maverick. So I’m telling you now, the woman may look like the best sin you’ve ever seen, but you’re gonna want to keep your hands very much off her. And your eyes, too. Because if Jay catches you drooling over his lady, no way will he allow our deal to go through.”

The guy didn’t look like he was drooling. But there was something odd about his stare. It was too hard. Too…intense.

“I never take what doesn’t belong to me.” He strode forward and offered her his hand.

Willow stared down at his hand. A wave of unease slid through her. “Do we…have we…I’m sorry…have we met?” She took his hand.

His fingers immediately closed around hers. “You tell me.” His voice was low. Gruff. And for a second, his eyes blazed.

I think I know his voice. “I’m sorry.” She hated the tremble in her voice. “But I was in an…accident a while back. I’m afraid that my memories aren’t what they should be.”

His gaze narrowed. Swept over her.

“If we’ve met,” Willow continued carefully, “then I don’t remember you.”

Benjamin cleared his throat. “Right, um, let’s talk about who you do remember. Jay. Does your good buddy Jay know you’re here?”

“We haven’t met,” Lucas said smoothly as he continued to stare at Willow. His hand tightened around hers. “I’m sorry to hear about your accident.”

She was aware of a strange unease sliding through her.

His voice roughened. His heartbeat kicked up. His hold is too tight.

He was lying to her.

Every single nerve in her body went on full alert. She stopped trembling and hesitating. Willow pulled her hand from the stranger’s as her spine straightened. “Jay doesn’t control my movements. No one does.” She nodded briskly to Benjamin, then to Lucas.