Chapter Two

Runaways

Tucker Bowman

Bennett’s interruption had been unexpected. Before he’d dropped his daughter off in the middle of nowhere, he and Tucker had already agreed on the timeframe Tucker would hold Ella as a surety. It was part of the deal, and it wasn’t open to negotiation, yet now Bennett wanted to change the rules.

Trust Bennett to try to screw me over.

He kissed the top of Ella’s head as a wave of irritation washed over him. He supposed, with hindsight, Bennett’s intervention was not so surprising. The man was a spineless worm who’d suggested his own flesh and blood as collateral. Given Bennett’s spinelessness, his recent change of plan shouldn’t have been shocking, but his intervention was still annoying as hell.

“That’s right.” One of his hands rose to cradle the back of her head. “I’ll take care of you. Just do as you’re told, and we’ll be fine.”

The woman in his arms was nothing like the wildcat he’d had to tame on their first night together. Her large, frightened eyes were soulful, as though Tucker—the man who’d held her hostage—could somehow be her savior.

Savior?

His lips twitched at the preposterous idea. Tucker was a self-centered thug who’d been happy to use violence to get what he wanted in life. He was far from being anyone’s liberator.

“Let’s get ready to leave.” He stroked her hair, still astounded by how silky the strands were.

She was only supposed to have been property he kept as an indemnity, yet in the last few hours, it was like the essence of Ella had seeped into his blood. After Bennett’s threats to take her back, there had never been any doubt in his mind about how things would play out.

He had to leave his beloved cabin, and he was taking Ella with him. Her proposal to be left behind was unthinkable. Whatever chemistry they’d ignited remained unfinished, and while he was genuinely bereft to leave the place he’d come to call home, Tucker had more than enough properties they could use as refuge.

“Don’t you think I ought to have some clothes then, sir?”

She motioned down to his mother’s blanket, reminding him that it was the only fabric he’d offered her since she’d arrived. Only the fire and his body had kept her warm otherwise.

“Good idea.” He smiled, though deep down, it pained him to clothe her.

Ella was so beautiful. He’d have liked to have kept her naked, but he had to be reasonable. They had many hours of travel through the forest to endure before he could get her somewhere safe and comfortable. She’d need to be dressed to survive them.

Reflexively, his gaze slid to the place he’d folded and kept her clothes after her last escape attempt. Somehow, it felt like months had passed since she’d last worn them, yet rationally, he knew it wasn’t true. Time was apparently playing games with his head. After so many years alone, he’d forgotten how powerful it could be.

Planting another kiss on her forehead, he turned and walked to the counter. He crouched and dragged her original outfit from its hiding place before rising and waving the garments in front of her.

“Here.” He threw the pile of clothes onto the bed. “Put these on while I finish packing.

“Yes, sir.” Her voice had a sardonic quality to it as he strode back to his bag, but when he glanced up, he was pleased to see her smile again.

Ella had seemed genuinely panicked at the thought of her father coming for her, as if she might be in real danger. As he shoved the plastic bottle of water into the pack, he hoped she realized he’d do everything in his power to ensure that wasn’t the case. He would never let Bennett, or anyone else, hurt her.

“I thought you told me you didn’t have any bottled water, sir.” Her tone was teasing, but he couldn’t miss the accusation laced within it.

“I didn’t, little girl.” Glancing up from his packing, his breath caught at the sight of her. Dressed only in her tiny panties and bra, she was utterly breathtaking. “I save my bottles for hikes through the forest. That’s why I just went out to fill it with water, remember?” He gestured to the door, though his gaze still burned into her.

“Right.” She pulled her pants past her thighs, her brow furrowing. “I must have missed that.”

“Yeah.” He grinned as he closed the pack. “You did seem a little out of it after your father’s call.”

“Sounds about right.” She snorted. “He does have a tendency to mess things up.”

He watched as she tugged her top over her head, her beautiful body now finally covered. “You should take the blanket with you.” He had no intention of leaving the last remnant of his mother behind, and anyway, he liked the way it looked around her. Ella had come with no suitable outdoor clothing, and the blanket was all the protection she had.

Apart from me.

“Thanks.” She picked up the layer and held it to her chest. “I just need my boots, sir.”

“They’re under the counter.” He signaled in its direction before he drew the pack closed. “Help yourself.”

By the time the huge rucksack was secured, she had pulled the boots on and laced them tightly.

“Are you ready?” Standing in the center of the space, he realized the question was directed more to him than her. No doubt she was ready. Ella had been ready to leave the cabin from the get-go.

“I wish my father had left me with socks, but I’m ready.” She glanced out of the window at the gray light spilling in from the forest.

“I don’t have anything to lend you here.” Though he’d ensure she had everything she needed once they were out of the woods. “You’ll have to make do for now.”

“I know. I’ll manage, although I’d like to know where we’re headed, sir. I…” Her voice died as she pulled in a breath.

Where they were ultimately headed was a good question. The truth was, he didn’t know, but his self-preservation instinct told him to go. He’d collect his car from the outskirts of the forest and drive to one of his homes. Where they went didn’t matter.

“Do you have another cabin somewhere?” Her gaze drilled into him. “Is that your plan?”

“No other cabin, little girl.” He half chuckled as he reached for his pack and threw it over his shoulder.

Even the bare minimum requirements for the journey ahead weighed down the bag, but maneuvering the handles around both shoulders made the burden easier to bear.

“I have other safe places.” Thrusting his palm in her direction, he waited for her to respond. “Not in the forest.”

“So…” She crept forward, her delicate fingers sliding between his. “We’re leaving the woods?”

Staring down into her large green eyes, he was momentarily lost in them. It was strange to be standing hand-in-hand with the woman he’d worked so hard to curtail and contain as though they were a couple.

Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not ‘a couple.’

Even though he yearned for more of her and couldn’t contemplate leaving her behind, they weren’t equal. He would take her from the prison she detested, but she still belonged to him.

Wherever they were, he wouldn’t let her go.

“Sir?” Her eyebrow arched.

“Yes.” Squeezing her digits, he acknowledged how far they’d come in such a short space of time. Not equals perhaps, but something was definitely different between them. Tucker couldn’t put his finger on what the growing feelings swimming in his senses meant, but he was certainly attached to the blonde gazing up at him. “We’re leaving the woods.”

“Oh.” Ella had never held back about her disdain for their location, yet the flicker in her gaze spoke of uncertainty about the idea of leaving.

“Come on.” He tugged her toward the door, but as she neared the exit, he nudged her ahead of him, pinioning her gently against the wood. “But before we go, there’s one more thing, Ella.”

Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “What?”

“This.” He motioned between their bodies, although only a few inches separated them. “I love how we’re getting on since I’ve untied you, but…” He sighed. “I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings about what this change of plan means.”

“What does it mean, sir?” Her voice was a whisper.

“Only our location is changing.” His timbre deepened as his lips lowered to brush over her temple. “I’m still in charge, little girl, and that applies even more when we’re trekking through the trees.”

“I know,” she squeaked.

“So that means no running.” His hand rose to her shoulder and massaged her muscles. “We both know what happens when you get lost in the woods, Ella, and you won’t survive out there on your own.”

“Okay.” Her gaze flitted away as though she couldn’t sustain the intensity of his stare.

“Okay?” Dissatisfied with her response, his hand shifted to her chin and nudged her attention back to his eyes. “Do we understand each other, or do I need to bind you again?”

It would certainly be easier not to have to truss her. The forest was hard enough to negotiate with all four limbs available to help, let alone helping someone who was bound, but he would restrain her if he thought she was going to make his task even tougher as they fled. The terrain beyond his cabin was dangerous, and with her father and his despicable friends loose in the woods, any escape attempt could land her right in Bennett’s path. Tucker would do anything to avoid that outcome.

“I understand.” She pushed the words out on a sigh, but in her warm gaze, he saw a thousand silent demands.

She wanted him, she trusted him. She needed more than only his cabin and the contrived captor dynamic he currently represented —those were the things he thought he saw gleaming in her green eyes, but he had no way of knowing for sure.

“I won’t run, sir.”

“You won’t?” He wanted to believe her, more than she realized, but deep down, his nagging paranoia persisted. She had a proven track record of slipping away. He didn’t know if he could trust her.

“I won’t.” Resolve resounded in her tone. “I don’t want to be here when Alexander arrives, and I’ve already established how badly I fare out there on my own.”

“So, you’re sticking with me?” Even he heard the unrestrained glee in his tone.

“Yes, sir.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe she was concurring, although the small smile on her lips said she did. “I’m sticking because you promised to look after me, and I believe you.”

Her admission seemed to steal the oxygen from the room. Her faith was more than he could ever have hoped for.

“Okay.” There was nothing smart or funny to say as his thumb trailed a line from her jaw and over the attire now covering her collarbone. “Thank you.”

For one lengthy moment, he just stood and stared at her. His hand fell to his side, his heart hammering as he straightened and considered her words.

She believed him.

Tucker couldn’t recall anyone’s trust ever meaning so much.

“We should go.” His words burst the bubble of tranquility blooming between them because, ultimately, he was right. Bennett and whatever guns-for-hire he was bringing could arrive at any moment, and his little girl couldn’t be there when they did. She couldn’t be caught in any potential crossfire. He simply wouldn’t allow it. “We should use the daylight to cover as much ground as we can.”

He pushed the disconcerting thought of Ella being trapped in the middle of a gun fight from his mind. The best thing he could do was keep them moving.