Read Online Arms of Promise by Crystal Walton - Free Book Online Page B

and twisted toward him. “You’re telling me you memorized the cars outside the apartment and each of their license plates? We were out front for, like, two minutes, tops.”
    He shrugged. Studying an area was part of any op—so ingrained, it was as natural as eating and sleeping.
    “You know, the whole Jason Bourne thing you’ve got going on is starting to freak me out a little.”
    Before Evan could respond, a ding from his cell announced the tracker he’d placed on Crater Face was on the move again. He swiped the screen to check the GPS. The guys tailing Anna weren’t nearby yet, but he didn’t doubt they would be soon. And now he had to add that loser from Megan’s place to the list of people they had to dodge. Evan swerved to the right.
    Anna gripped the door panel. “Where are you going?”
    “Scenic route.” He didn’t see a tail, but they’d stayed longer at the apartment than he’d intended.
    Rain beat onto the window and sent rivulets streaking down the glass. He rotated the wipers up another notch and glanced in Anna’s direction. Streetlights cast soft shadows across her face as she traced an erratic pattern up and down the seat belt, clearly lost in thought.
    Surely, things like tonight showed her she needed protection. He struggled for the right words. “Anna, I know you value your independence, but would it really be so bad for your dad to want to offer you surveillance?”
    “From one of his Secret Service wannabes?” Scrunching her face in feigned seriousness, she raised an imaginary wrist mic to her mouth the way her dad’s guards did any time they found her. “Radiance secured,” she mimicked. “Come on. I’m not the president’s daughter. I don’t need a code name or bodyguards following my every move. You, of all people, know what growing up like that did to me.”
    Without facing her, Evan shifted into third gear. “Some people might call protection love.”
    “And some might call it a cage.” Anna clutched her elbows, her words like a vice around him. Would she ever see it differently?
    He coasted into a parking spot alongside her apartment complex. “Regardless of how it seems, the streets are a dark place.”
    “Relax, Batman. This isn’t Gotham. It’s Chicago.”
    Close enough. And what was with people making superhero references today?
    He unbuckled his seat belt and met her gaze, thankful her eyes had never seen the things his had. “Anna, listen to me. Soldiers don’t train to pacify civilians’ fears. We train because evil’s real. The moment you think it isn’t is the moment it wins.”
    “But admitting it’s real doesn’t mean it loses, either.” Chin lowered, she toyed with the hem of her sweater.
    After losing her mom, Anna had every right to think that. But if she’d just trust him, he’d never let that darkness near her.
    “You’re right, you know,” she said after another moment. “About Social Services. I’ve tried calling before. I knew Megan didn’t have a good home life, but I didn’t realize . . .” Eyes closed, she cut herself off.
    “You can’t change her situation, Anna.”
    She stared at her lap and released a hard exhale. “I know. I just hoped teaching her dance might help make life more bearable . . . the way it did for me.” Anna raised her head. “I’m not giving up on her, Evan.”
    Like she hadn’t on him. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
    “I wish things were different for her.”
    It’d only taken one day with the sweet girl to feel the same exact way. “I know.” He traced his thumb over the back of Anna’s hand and nodded outside. “C’mon. I’ll get your bag.”
    Cold beads of rain landed on his neck as they jogged up to the building.
    She led the way to the second-floor apartment, where high-pitched meows carried on from behind her door.
    “Who are we gonna get today?” he mumbled.
    Anna pulled out her keys. “What?”
    He pointed to her apartment and the incessant meowing still coming from