Chapter 2

Twenty-two angst-filled minutes crawled by.

Lara spent the time peering out from her concealed location in the phone store. During that time, seven police cars, two fire trucks, and an ambulance rushed into the lot with lights and sirens blaring.

Firemen doused the car, and the fire subsided, leaving behind an ashen, skeletal heap of metal.

Her great job, her new car, her perfectly ordinary, blissfully routine existence—all had gone up in flames, leaving behind devastation that sank to her core.

How would she ever recover?

Somehow, knowing that Dominic Aiello would be there soon saved her from a complete emotional collapse.

"Miss, I need to start closing up," the young man helming the store said, his voice carrying a hint of apology as he began dimming the lights.

She sent him a pained smile. "Okay." She noticed the hours of the store plastered on the window read 9 am – 6 pm. "Thanks for letting me stay as long as you have. You've been a godsend for me tonight."

He hesitated before reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. "Seems like you've had a hard day. I hope the phone I set up for you will work out, and your person gets here soon."

She clasped the burner phone he'd sold her in her hand. She'd already sent Isaac and Dominic, her person, texts from the new number. "It's great." She swallowed. "In a day of misery, you've been a light shining through the gloom."

With an aw-shucks grin, he said, "Glad I could do that for you. I hope you get the help you need."

A black Dodge Charger swooped into a parking space directly in front of the store. "I think the cavalry has arrived."

Twenty-three minutes. How many speed limits and traffic laws had Dominic violated to get there in record time?

A weary, grateful smile rose to her lips.

An instant later, Dominic burst through the door. His sharp gaze scanned the interior until his eyes landed on her.

This wasn't the reunion she'd imagined.

In some long-lost fantasy, she'd pictured them meeting again at a party hosted by mutual friends. Their eyes would lock across the room. They'd drift closer together throughout the night until they "accidentally" bumped into each other at the drink station. They'd exchange pleasantries, rehash old times with a few laughs. Later, as she walked to her car, he'd catch up to her outside. He'd back her against her vehicle, set his hands on either side of her, and confess he thought they were always meant to be. Then, with the same heart-melting passion he had when she was a freshman and he was a senior, he'd kiss her. Age meant nothing now, he'd tell her, and he'd never forgotten her. And he wanted to whisk her away into a fairy tale life she'd envisioned with him since the moment they met.

Those whimsical thoughts flashed by in seconds, but the reality of seeing Dominic again stirred entirely different feelings within her.

Long black coat flapping behind him, revealing an impressive suit underneath, he blew into her life again like a thunderstorm, filled with swagger and heft and power. He was way bigger than she remembered, his shoulders shockingly broad. Almost intimidating. His deep blue eyes were harder, his features sharper, more angular than the fun-loving bad boy she'd once known.

But still tall, dark, and sinfully handsome.

In any other scenario, she might've swooned. At that moment, she felt lightheaded with relief.

His intense gaze landed on her. "Lara."

He rushed to her and swept her into a crushing embrace that lifted her off her feet. His powerful strength surrounding her felt comforting, anchoring her in the moment.

As he set her down, one hand clasped her face, the other swept her hair back. "You have no idea how worried I—Isaac has been." He clutched her closer, whispering into her hair, "Talk to me. Get me up to speed."

"Not here." She nodded toward his car.

Dominic ushered her outside into his Charger, shut the door once she was safely tucked inside, and then rounded the car to slide into the driver's seat. Glancing at the mayhem of emergency vehicles and flashing lights in his rearview mirror, he said, "I take it that torched car belongs to you. And you haven't talked to the authorities yet."

"Yes, it is. And no, I haven't."

"Good."

"Dominic… What are you doing here? With me?"

"I work with Isaac now. Long story, but that's for later. Give me the gist of what you're up against, and we'll go from there."

Anxiously bunching her hands along the hem of her skirt, she recounted the miserable list of experiences she'd endured that day, even sharing what her helpful local bartender had mentioned about the charges against her boss.

Dominic ran a hand through his dark hair and exhaled. "This is worse than I thought."

"It is?" She gripped the seat as her panic grew.

He sent her a long look. "I'll lay it out. Tell me if any of this rings true. Your boss has run his own financial services company for around ten years. Long enough to have a hefty clientele and credibility. From what you've told me, I'll wager that everything seemed above board until about a year ago. Then he started to make a transaction or two that didn't seem right. He gave you a solid explanation, and you ignored your instincts for another six months, wanting to assume the best. Why would you assume the worst? He's given every reason to trust him. He's a pillar of the town, he wouldn't wrong the families and close-knit community who've invested in him."

Amazed at Dominic's spot-on insight, she nodded. "He's an alderman. Everyone knows him and trusts him. The wealthiest families have investments in our firm."

"But your instincts told you something was off. Over the past six months, he's made more transactions that weren't in line with the norm."

"Right." She swallowed. "He kept leaving at lunchtime saying he was going to the post office to mail envelopes to clients. But until then, we rarely mailed anything until tax time."

"My guess is, he has a P.O. Box there. Do you know anything about a key?"

She chewed on her lower lip. "Sometimes, when he returned from his ‘lunch breaks' he slid something into his top drawer, then locked it. He never used to do that."

"What about recent transactions he made? Did he ever ask you to make one for him?"

She gasped. "Actually, yes." She hadn't thought about that for weeks. "One night I was leaving work when he called my cell and demanded I conclude a transaction. He was on a business trip, and for some reason, the wire transfer wouldn't go through." She gulped. "Dominic, I know it went to an offshore account. The account number didn't align with anything we'd normally transfer."

"I'll bet it's not the first time."

She grudgingly shook her head and lowered her chin.

"He's been using you to do his dirty work." Dominic clenched his hand and bounced his fist off the steering wheel. Jaw tight, he nodded over his shoulder. "And tonight, he tried to tie up a loose end."

"What? No. Mark wouldn't…he…" Everything in her wanted to deny Dominic's claim. But hadn't she come to the same reluctant, fearful conclusion? Even if she didn't want to believe it?

Burying her face in her hands, she let out a sob. "My God, what am I going to do?"

"You're coming back to my place."

Startled by his demand, she brushed her cheek and dismissed the idea. "I couldn't. I mean, I can't interfere with your life. I'm sure you have a wife, kids…"

"No wife. No kids. No girlfriend." He arched a lordly eyebrow. "Like it or not, you're coming home with me, where I can keep you safe."

Tempting as that sounded, she knew she needed to give some kind of statement to the police. To keep everything above board and keep herself safe. "If my boss is evading the law, I need to abide by it. I have to talk to the authorities."

"Agreed." He sighed. "But not here, where dozens of onlookers will identify you. Let's head to the police station to give your statement."

With a tight swallow, she nodded.

Dominic tapped the nearest police station into his GPS. Once he shifted the car into drive, he reached out to gently cup her hand in his. As if he had every right to hold her hand, making her feel safe and secure, like it was them against the world, and they'd come out on top.

Then the edge of his long forefinger swept across her knee, caressing the bare inches between the top of her boot and the line of her skirt. Startled by the intimate gesture, she felt a rush of heat fill her veins and warm her cheeks. She glanced at him, but he stared straight ahead without acknowledging the bold contact.

She cleared her throat. "Why didn't you ask if I had a boyfriend or a husband…or kids?"

He lifted a broad shoulder. "Isaac was the first person you called for help." He grazed the tip of his thumb over her bare ring finger. "No diamond ring on your hand. And if you had kids, you wouldn't have stopped at a bar on your way home from work after a life-changing day or snuck into a strip mall phone store wisely seeking anonymity. You would've instantly called your kids' sitter and mentioned them the second I walked in the door."

Faultless logic, she admitted. Sherlock Holmes would have approved. "What have you done for a living these past twelve years?"

"Joined the military. Then leveraged that into a career with the military police."

"The bad boy avenger," she said with a smile in her voice. "Like Batman."

That dragged a laugh from him. "I might be that noble, but I'm not that rich. Sorry, honey."

"I had no expectations," she assured with an appreciative sigh. "I'm just so glad you're here."

His hold firmed on her hand before he threaded his fingers through hers. They arrived at the town's small police station minutes later.

As he opened his car door, he realized she hadn't moved. He turned to her. "What's on your mind, honey?"

"It's the dumbest thing." Her face crumpled as she stared at her hands clenched in her lap. "I can't help thinking about the keepsake from my recent trip to Hawaii. This little hula girl on my dashboard. I adored her. And she…she's gone. My whole life is just gone."

Dominic climbed out and came around to her side. He pulled open the door and lifted her from the passenger seat, waiting until her feet met solid ground.

Then he wrapped her in his arms and just held her.

Her whimpers turned to sobs that crushed him. He tightened his grasp. All he could do was stand there and let her fall apart in his arms.

Closing his eyes, he could've held onto her forever.

When her breathing regulated, he pressed his lips to her tear-streaked temple. "Remember that time we took shop class together in high school? You squeezed into a senior-level class, even as a freshman, because you convinced the teacher your dad had taught you so much."

She gave a watery laugh. "My dad wasn't even in the picture then. I just wanted to learn how to be handy, to fix stuff for my mom around the house when it broke. I didn't know I'd whittle wood to make some stupid, useless clock."

"I'd hardly call that whittling," he said dryly. "You used power tools that at first intimidated you. By the end of the semester, you showed up half the guys in class with your skills."

At least he'd dragged a smile from her, before she asked, "What's your point?"

"You're not easily intimidated. You were the only girl in the whole class, and you held your own. I know you," he said. "You're strong, you accept challenges like you're born for it. This won't take you down. A hurdle, sure. But you're stronger than your fear. I believe in you."

She gripped the lapels of his coat. "You do?"

"Absolutely. Always have. Always will."

She released a heavy sigh and gently pushed away from him to stand on her own two feet. "Thanks for the reminder."

He didn't release her. "Remember…what I always told you?"

The allusion to his former statement during their phone call registered when she nodded. "You said: When I really needed you, no matter what, you'd be there for me."

"Still holds true, Lara. Here I am." He stroked his palm down the length of her hair. "You've got this. And I've got you."

She didn't meet his eyes. "I never expected to hold you to that. You said those words a long time ago."

"When I said always, I meant it."

"Thank you," she whispered.

He sighed, wishing he could've been there for her all along. But fate had brought them together again. This time—the gift of a second chance—he wouldn't let her go. And she wasn't doing this alone.

He brushed away the teardrop that clung to her bottom lashes. "I'm right here with you. Ready to give your statement?"

She exhaled a determined sigh. "I'm ready."

"That's my girl."

Tucking his arm securely around her, he escorted her into the police station. He flashed his military badge and requested an urgent meeting with an available detective. Two of the town's three detectives on duty were at the site of the bombing, the dispatcher revealed.

"We have information about that," Dominic stated.

Recognizing Dominic's position of authority, the woman swiftly led them to Detective Rally's office. She knocked before introducing them. "These folks want to give a statement," she said. "About the bombing tonight."

The detective stood and ushered them inside. The dispatcher closed the door for privacy.

"How can I help you?" the man in his late forties asked, a haggard expression etching creases in his forehead. His gray-flecked goatee framed the weariness in his mouth. No doubt this small-town force rarely faced the drama of a bomb going off in their jurisdiction.

Dominic revealed his badge again, and Detective Rally straightened. "This woman owns the car that exploded forty-five minutes ago."

Detective Rally's eyes widened, his expression alert as he set down his coffee cup. A welcoming tone colored his words as he asked them to have a seat. He reached for a pad and pen, ready to take notes. "I'm glad you're still here to give your statement, ma'am," he said, his tone laced with compassion and concern.

Dominic immediately warmed to the detective, sensing his professionalism.

Lara hesitated before speaking. "I don't want to accuse anyone without proof. But today my boss Mr. Landon was arrested on charges of…" She paused, rubbing her forehead. "There were five charges, I didn't memorize them."

The detective cleared his throat. "You mean Mark Landon, the financial consultant?"

Lara flicked a fearful glance at Dominic. "This was a bad idea. I-I don't want to say anything more."

"We're here because you're in danger, Lara," Dominic interjected. He shifted toward the detective. "And we believe her professional association made Landon orchestrate that bomb to destroy evidence—to destroy her. An attempt on her life." Dominic's jaw clenched as he directed a sharp look across the desk. "You took an oath to serve and protect." His voice lowered to a menacing octave. "Is there any reason you can't fulfill that duty, on behalf of a woman who needs your help? Because you might have a personal connection with the potential perpetrator?"

Detective Rally bristled slightly. "No, sir. I take that oath seriously. In fact, my grandparents have their life savings invested with Mark Landon." The man paled slightly. "If he's been arrested on financial fraud charges, most of this community has a stake in what you have to say, Miss…"

"Atlas," she said. "Lara Atlas."

"I need to record your statement. Are you okay with that?"

She glanced at Dominic, and he nodded with encouragement. "You need this on the record. An official statement, to protect yourself."

Her lower lip trembled. "In case…something happens to me…"

"Nothing's gonna happen to you, honey," Dominic vowed with steel in his voice. As long as I'm alive and in your world, no one will hurt you, Lara. Ever.

She spent the next thirty minutes giving her witness statement, valiantly providing detailed accounts of her experiences despite her anxiety. She also revealed her doubts about her boss's recent behavior, based on what Dominic had logically pointed out, reinforcing her concerns and worrisome conclusions.

When the interview concluded, he felt proud of her.

"One last thing." As he walked them out of his office, Rally pulled Lara aside in the hallway "Off the record." He scratched his goatee, shifting from foot to foot. "My grandparents poured their life savings into Landon's funds. Grandpa worked damned hard as a butcher for three decades in this town before he retired. I'd hate to think they'd be left destitute, without access to the money he slaved for his whole life. Lara, can you check on their account balance?"

Disheartened, she said, "Sorry. I no longer have access to anyone's balance or accounts."

"Then, you can't even help your clients who count on you?"

She withered. "I wish I could."

Disliking the detective's insistent tone, and seeing Lara's distress, Dominic stepped forward. "I'm no financial expert—that wasn't my arena in the Military Police—but the Feds likely froze all account transactions. There's nothing Lara could do. Maybe reach out to your contacts at the CBI?"

"Yeah, I suppose so. Y'all have a good night."

As they walked toward the front of the building, Dominic wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. "I know that was hard. You did great back there."

Weary to the bone, she leaned into him. "I hope it helps."

"Your statement gives you the ground you need to stand on. It'll be worth its weight in gold when your boss faces charges in a courtroom. You did the right thing."

She nodded.

Beside her, he froze. "Your only connection is a burner phone. Rally needs a legit contact. Hang tight, I'm going back to give him my card so he can reach me any time."

Glancing over her shoulder, she watched her self-appointed protector take strong strides down the hallway. Dominic had always been so good at identifying the crux of an issue and dissecting it until something overwhelming became manageable.

God, she admired him. That had never faded over time. If anything, this experience solidified how amazing he was in her mind. Ever the brave, valiant avenger.

Don't fall for him again.

The thought made her chest ache.

Yet how could she not?

How could she keep her heart walled off when he inspired the same feelings he had when she'd tumbled head-over-weak-knees in love with him as a teenager?

During the three months they explored their secret attraction, his forbidden kisses had given her the first taste of passion she'd ever known. She'd never forgotten how he'd made her feel back then—the stroke of his finger against her leg during the ride to the station had made her weak with desire all over again.

Despite the constant trail of cute girls that forever hounded him in high school, lounging poolside in bikinis under the hot Las Vegas sun—somehow, he'd made her feel important to him. For one magical summer, the tough, sexy bad boy had wanted her. His attention had made her feel special, important, worthy of devotion from her ultimate crush.

Later that same summer, she'd moved away from Las Vegas with her mother, after her parents divorced. Mother and daughter had made a fresh start in quaint, quiet Springfield, Colorado. She hadn't kept in touch, part of her suspecting that if she had, he would inevitably break her heart. Her parents' divorce had been devastating enough, she didn't need more wreckage heaped on her fragile emotions. But her secret yearning for Dominic never entirely went away.

Needing some air, she tucked her hands into her coat pockets and stepped outside the police station doors. She inhaled, welcoming the bracing chill of the October evening.

From the corner of her eye, she watched as a rusty black pickup truck swerved into the station lot. It wove through the parking lot before coming to a stop in front of her. The vehicle idled, the old engine sputtering and spewing unpleasant exhaust fumes.

A man wearing a gray baseball cap tucked low exited the driver's side. She nodded in acknowledgment without a second thought.

As his shoes scraped the ground with irregular movements, he came toward her. Too close.

Her pulse kicked up.

Something's off about this guy. The corners of her eyes tightened.

When he didn't veer off his direct approach, she instinctively turned toward the building.

Suddenly, he attacked her.

The moment she opened her mouth to shout, his hand clamped over it, muffling any sound. He seized her from behind, propelling her toward the truck cab.

Oh, hell, no. She resisted his menacing grip, grappling with all her might.

They struggled, his size and force overpowering her. She clawed at him desperately, digging in her nails.

As he reached for the passenger door—did he plan to push her inside, kidnap her?—she used his hold to lift her legs and kick her boots off the side of the truck. They crashed to the ground, and she landed heavily on top of him, causing him to bear the brunt of the fall. He grunted and gasped as if the impact had knocked the wind out of him.

Rolling away, she struggled to her feet, her terror manifesting in a piercing scream fueled by rage.

The stranger seethed and growled, moving to lunge toward her. She forcefully shoved him aside just as the station door behind her swung open with a bang.

"Get the fuck away from her!" Dominic bellowed with a devil's fury.

The guy abandoned his pursuit, leaping into the truck and slamming the door behind him. Tires squealed as he peeled away, leaving her shaken but safe at the moment.

As he tore through the parking lot on foot, pursuing the vehicle and the brazen bastard, Dominic grabbed his phone from his back pocket and managed to capture a snapshot of the rear license plate.

Knowing he couldn't exact immediate revenge, he stopped mid-stride, heaving aggravated breaths. Then he turned and raced back to Lara.

He wrapped her in his arms, cradling her against him as though she was the most precious thing in the world.

Had her head hit the ground? Did she need medical attention?

"Are you hurt, honey?" He pulled back to hold her face in his hands.

Dazed, she focused on his face and blinked. Her eyes were clear, though terrified. "I-I think I'm okay. Just…shaken."

He clung to her. "I left you for three minutes. What the hell happened?"

Catching her breath, she hauled in gasps. "I think…that guy…tried to abduct me."

The muscles in Dominic's jaw tensed. "He messed with the wrong woman."

Carefully, he dusted her knees, her skirt, her coat, as though assuring himself with his caresses that she was still in one piece. Then his gaze centered on her lower lip.

Jaw flexing, he said, "You're not okay.

He traced a warm trickle that oozed from her lip to her chin. She winced at his touch. "I tried to defend myself."

"That's because you kick ass," he said, a smile seeping into his words. He took her hands in his, investigating them. "Did you connect with skin?"

"No, he was fully covered." She stared at two broken fingernails on her right hand. "I have no evidence for DNA," she said, feeling vaguely defeated despite thwarting the attack.

"You were damned brave."

"I'm still here." She glanced up at him through a blurry sheen of fading fear. "Thanks to you."

"You fought him and made him regret his stupid decision. It gave him extra reasons to back off."

"I'm not convinced it was enough," she said. "I might be at a stranger's mercy if not for you."

"I'm here for you." He gave her an encouraging smile. "We need to go back inside. Detective Rally will want to hear all about this." The corner of his mouth lifted. "You know how to leave an impression, sweetheart. You keep all the guys coming back for more."

Despite the shocking attack, now that she felt secure with him by her side, she mustered enough trust to find his observation amusing. She rolled her eyes and quipped, "I'm just that irresistible."

"I know," he replied so quietly she almost didn't hear him.

Detective Rally's bellow from a window high above them made her wince. "What the hell? That guy came at you at my police station?"

"At least nothing slips by Detective Rally. Or the station's video cameras." Dominic sighed, pressing a kiss to her hair. "We're gonna be here for another few minutes until they run the plates and check the footage. After that, I'll take you somewhere you can relax."

"Relax?" She huffed a stilted breath filled with equal parts frustration and exhaustion. "If it isn't obvious, my life as I knew it is over. With no job, I have no clue how I'll pay next month's rent. I can't even go to my apartment. If someone put a bomb in my car and a guy just tried to abduct me in front of a police station, I can't risk going to the one place I've always felt secure."

"You're safe with me. You know that, right?" Dominic asked softly.

She dug the jagged edges of her broken fingernails into her palm. A serrated reminder of how life could turn in an instant from normal to never the same again.

His lips softly brushed her cheek. "I know you must be exhausted from everything you've been through today. The hardest part is almost over. Let's get back inside so we can finish this."

Dominic tucked her against him and led her back through the station doors.