Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(49)

“I wasn’t going to Wyman.” Now, her gaze did lift. She stared straight at him. “I was getting away from you.”

Jay took that hit right in the heart. “I see.” He let her hands go. Eased back. “With everything that’s happening, did you really think it was safe for you to be on your own?”

“Wyman is in custody. The threat is over. You don’t have to keep me close any longer.”

I want you close.

“I’m not a prisoner, am I?”

“You weren’t ever my prisoner, Willow.” Is that what she’d thought? Fuck, he’d been trying to show her how he felt. And all along, she’d been—what?

Waiting for the moment to leave?

“You had West tail me to Push. You followed me, too. If every step I take is watched, then how am I not a prisoner?”

Her voice was flat. Cold.

“I can’t live like this. I can’t be a ticking time bomb.” Her gaze darted to the open ambulance doors. “Waiting to explode.”

He didn’t know what the hell he should do.

“Take me to Wyman,” Willow said. “Take me, or I’ll just find him myself.”

The ambulance attendant was heading back toward them. “You can’t trust Wyman. He’ll lie to you.”

“I can tell when someone lies. I’m stronger than you think.”

Now he had to laugh, but it was a rough, grating sound. “Baby, I never doubted you were strong.” He jumped out of the ambulance, motioned for her to follow him. She came down quickly, her body brushing against his.

They were lovers. He’d had her in his bed, then she’d run.

Run to Push? He still didn’t understand why she’d gone there.

“You want Wyman?” He locked his fingers with hers. “Fine. You deserve your shot at him. But if he tries to get in your head again…”

She glanced away from him. “He’s a demon I have to face. You don’t know, you don’t understand what it was like—”

“Don’t I? I kept you away from him last night because I wanted to protect you. The bastard said he was your father.”

She jerked away.

“Mind games,” Jay gritted out. “That’s what he does. But if you want him to screw with your mind again, then fine. We’ll go face off against the bastard.” He pointed to his car. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

He turned, marching for his vehicle, but Lucas stepped into his path. Lucas—the guy had soot streaking over his cheek. His shirt was torn, and his blue eyes were way too intense as he locked his stare on Jay. “Running from a crime scene?”

“Hardly running. More like a slow walk.” Jay took the guy’s measure. He’d worked with Lucas before. Found the man to be ruthless as hell and dangerous to the core. Normally, traits he liked.

What he didn’t like was the way the guy’s gaze kept darting to Willow.

“The cops know where to find me,” Jay added. “I already answered their questions. When the arson investigators get done, they can come and grill me again.”

“It was a bomb,” Lucas said quietly. “Actually, I think it was two bombs. Two bombs that were placed in your club.”

Wyman.

“You still have that long list of enemies?” Lucas asked as his lips curved into a faint smile. “So many people gunning for you.”

Beside Jay, Willow was silent.

“Maybe you need some extra protection,” Lucas muttered. “You think about that?”

“West has my six,” Jay responded flatly. “He’s my security.”

“Oh.” Lucas blinked. Once more, his gaze swept to Willow. “And here I thought she was the new bodyguard. That’s the story I heard on the news.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear.” Blue and red lights swept the scene. A crowd had gathered. Cameras were rolling. It was past time for Jay to get the hell out of there.

But Lucas was still in his way. “Benjamin hired me. He wants me in charge of security for his clubs.”

Jay glanced back at the wreckage that remained of Push. “Hate to break it to you, but you aren’t off to that great of a start. I mean, weren’t you in the club right before it exploded? You’re all damn lucky you didn’t get blown to hell.” And just thinking about that—about Willow burning, dying—had his body tensing.

If Wyman did this…

“The place didn’t blow,” Lucas took a step toward him, “not until you arrived on the scene. Interesting timing, don’t you think?”

“What?” Jay snapped right back. “What in the hell are you—”

“Just got through checking the security feeds from the cameras that were outside. The feed goes to Benjamin’s phone. He likes to keep tabs on things, you know.”

Yeah, he knew. Jay had set up that freaking feed for him.

“Less than thirty seconds after you came roaring to the scene, the place ignited. You parked your car, lingered, then jumped out—running to the back of the club. Interesting that you went that way.”

He’d gone to the back because West had told him that Willow went in the back door.

“And boom…the place exploded. Right after you arrived.”