Loren had only thought I let her walk away unprotected. But I could tell how distracted she’d been in the airport. It wasn’t safe for anyone to walk around like that, unaware of their own surroundings. So I’d grabbed my checked backpack as quickly as I could, and I’d rushed after her. I’d spotted her in an instant. She was the one at the car rental counter, renting her car in person.
I’d wondered if she didn’t know about the car rental app because of her privileged family, or if she’d wanted to handle the details face to face with a cashier.
I tucked my hands in my pockets. They were trembling more than hers were, and I didn’t want Loren to see.
I’d held it together in front of her, because that’s what she needed. She didn’t need to see me have a breakdown. When I’d seen that jackass move toward her…
He was lucky I didn’t have my gun loaded yet. I would have happily blown a hole through his head if he’d hurt her in any way.
My breath picked up. I closed my eyes, and counted until I was in control again. I was reliving the worst day of my life all over again.
I’d had a little sister once. She was a lot more serious than Loren -- she’d had to be. The only way out of our poky little town in Florida was through good grades and a decent college. But even though she’d never had a fancy camera, she’d loved to take pictures.
She’d been taken from me, from a piece of shit who’d claimed to love her. She’d tried to walk away. She’d even called me for help when I was at home visiting.
But before I could get to her house, he shot her. That asshole had had a real gun, and he’d threatened my sister with it. She’d run, and tried to get into her car.
I raced down the street, but I was too late. I wasn’t going to let that happen to anyone else. Not if I could help it.
I rolled my hands into fists. Now was not the time for a trip down my memory lane.
Loren still hadn’t answered me. “I’m calling the police,” I said.
“No. Even if he’s arrested, he’ll be back on the streets. He didn’t hurt me, so it’s pointless to even get him arrested.”
“That’s a pretty cynical view,” I said.
“It’s true.”
“I can make a few phone calls,” I said. “I know the Chief of Police up here. We can arrange to have this thug held without bail for a few weeks.” I’d served with the Chief years ago, before he retired from the Rangers.
She shook her head. I could tell she was going to keep resisting, and someone was going to walk out here sooner or later and notice us. I walked around to the other side of the car and sat in the passenger seat. “It’ll scare the shit out of him. Make him rethink doing this again.”
“I do not want any favors. Or any strings pulled,” she said.
“Did you keep his gun?” she asked.
“It wasn’t a gun.”
She closed her eyes. “I fell for it.”
“Hey.” I got right in her face and made her look at my eyes. “You did the right thing. No material possession is worth your life. If someone threatens you because they want some money, give it to them. That was smart.”
“You wouldn’t have.”
“I would absolutely hand over my wallet if the alternative was getting shot.”
“I need to get going,” she said.
“You’re not driving anywhere right now.”
“What? You can’t stop me.”
“I can. And I will. I compromised on not calling the police when that thug tried to take your purse. But I’m not going to budge on this one.”
“Jackson. I realize that you just saved me, but you cannot tell me what to do.”
“Watch me. You’re going to return those keys, or hell, you can keep them. But you’re coming with me.”
Her face turned from white, to red.
Before she could protest I shook my head. “I would do the same thing if you were one of my teammates. Even if you were a big strong tough guy, still I wouldn't let you go off alone right now.”
“Your teammates wouldn’t fall apart over this.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” I said. “I had a teammate get stabbed three times and kept going, but the next month an earthquake woke us up in the middle of the night, and he didn’t sleep for a week.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. We all react differently.” I got out of the car, and went around to her side again. I opened the door and pulled her to her feet. Remembering the big hug she’d given me in the airport, I wrapped my arms around her.
She laid her head on my shoulder, and even after all those hours with the stale plane air, she still smelled amazing. She also felt really good in my arms. But now was not the time to be thinking about that.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” I didn’t think the jackass who’d tried to rob her would be coming back, but you never knew. I grabbed her purse from the car and put my arm around her shoulders, walking her to the trunk of the car, where I retrieved her camera bag. With my arm still around her, I led her to the Jeep I’d rented, and nudged her into the passenger side.
I put the Jeep in drive and we took off.
“What about the car I rented?” she asked.
“We’re going to leave it there and return the keys now.” I drove right up to the return area and handed them the keys. “I’m not going to need the Nissan in spot seventy-six,” I said to the attendant. “We’ll call and handle the paperwork later.”
The attendant didn’t argue, so we got the hell out of there.
“Hey, I know you don’t really want to focus on your family right now, but do you think this guy could have been targeting you?” Based on the way he’d acted when I grilled him, I didn't think so, but I was still going to ask.
“No. I didn’t know him.”
“Did he mention anything that might make you think he knew who you were? Or was interested in your mother? Or father?”
“No. I think he was just some jerk.”
“You’re sure?” I asked.
“You spent more time with him than I did.”
That was true. “Can you tell me exactly what he said?”
“I don’t remember. But I know he mentioned my purse.”
“Your purse?” I asked.
“Yeah. It’s a Hermes.”
Was that a brand? A secret code? “I don’t know what that means.”
“It cost around $3,000.”
Holy shit. I didn’t know purses could cost that much. Maybe the loser who’d attacked her knew though. He probably knew exactly how much he could resell it for too.
“Yeah I know. It’s nuts. I didn’t buy it for myself, if that makes it any better.”
“The cost of your purse is not my business. I’m just trying to make sure I don’t miss anything.”
“I really think it was random. It was just bad luck. Is that crazy?” she asked.
“No. That happens all the time.” I glanced over at her. “You want to give me directions to the place where your cousin’s getting married?”
“Yeah. Let me find them.”
She pulled her phone out but dropped it twice. She sighed and tried again, finally getting to the map application.