Page 40 of Never and Always
There was a shout from the still-idling car. My guy whirled. I grabbed his shirt, but he broke free and dived into the car.
The other guy fighting with Caden fell to the ground, scrambled up, then jumped in the back of the car. The engine gunned and the car accelerated away, the doors still open, fishtailing on the icy road.
Adrenaline-soaked rage pumped through me. I turned and saw Allie and Piper clutching each other a few feet away. Ro was physically keeping Tessa, Jazz, and Sierra on the front porch. Gunner was at the front gate, ready to help.
Fuck. I felt the anger pumping off Caden as he yanked his woman into his arms. Allie clung to him and buried her face in his chest. Piper stood there, face white and eyes wide. She started shaking.
“Hey.” I cupped her cheeks. “You’re okay. It’s over.”
“T-they tried to kidnap us. Oh, God.” Her cheeks went even paler.
“That was never going to happen.” I pulled her against my chest. Her hands gripped my shirt and she burrowed in. Pressing her cheek to my chest. I wrapped my arms around her.
“They could have hurt Allie,” she whispered.
They could have hurt her. Of course she was worried about her friend more.
“It was the people after Chance.”
Her voice was so low I barely heard her.Fucking hell. Ellis hadn’t done what he’d promised and gotten his sister free and clear of his mess. My jaw tightened.
I looked over at Caden and saw the darkness in his gaze.
“Are you both all right?” Tessa reached us and grabbed Allie’s arm, then reached for Piper’s hand.
“They’re fine,” I said.
Ro stood nearby, face set in serious lines. He didn’t look happy. Gunnar was frowning.
Piper’s shaking got worse.
“You need to come in and sit down,” Tessa said.
“No, no.” Piper looked shocked and confused. “I just need to get back to the hotel.”
My gut clenched and I shared a look with the other men. “No.”
Her head jerked up. “What do you mean, no?”
“It isn’t safe. Not until we know for sure whoever tried to snatch you won’t try again.”
“God,” she whispered, swaying a little.
I hauled her back against me. “You’re staying with me tonight.”
“Everett—”
“No arguments for once, big city. You need to get out of the cold, and you need some rest and some quiet.”
“I think it’s a good idea, Piper,” Ro added.
She bit her lip.
I slid my hand up under her hair and gripped the back of her neck. “Piper.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
“We should report this to the police,” Gunnar added.
