Craze by Anne Conley Read Free Book Online

least she’d saved the little boy. Who knew how many more there were, but she’d saved the one. And now that they had her, maybe they wouldn’t go after Tate. Those words from Mr. Lowe had scared her more than nearly anything else ever had.
    Eye Candy seemed surprised she wasn’t fighting him, but he didn’t let go of her as they walked out of the bus station and back down the street to where she’d come from. He ushered her into the driver’s side of an enormous truck with huge tires. Pushing her over gently, he buckled her seatbelt. She wasn’t sure if it was a gentlemanly gesture or an attempt at restraint, but she was too tired to fight.
    She hadn’t slept well in her car this morning—fitful snatches of sleep between waking with chattering teeth to street noises. At sunrise, she’d started her engine and driven to the used car dealership, sold her car for cash, then walked to the museum, if only to have someplace warm to sit and think.
    No solutions had come to her. She had enough cash to hopefully start over, although what she would do about her identity was a mystery to her. She didn’t know how to get a job without a driver’s license, or Social Security card. And she certainly couldn’t use her own anymore, not if she was going to truly disappear.
    And she would miss her family too damn much.
    Tears of frustration escaped as she watched the enormous hunk of man reach into his pocket with his free hand and pull out the handcuff key. He unlocked the cuff from his wrist and tugged her down to lock the cuff on something under his seat. The adjustment lever, she thought.
    “You asked for this, Krista. I was perfectly content to take you without the cuffs.” His voice sounded almost kind, and she looked at him, surprised.
    The truck was full of his scent, man, and something fresh and woodsy. It reminded her of her dad’s truck with its smells of gasoline and motor oil, and man. She’d feel comfort if she wasn’t handcuffed to a seat just inches away from a muscular thigh that could crush her.
    He was a predator in the truest sense of the word. He looked like one, with a chiseled face, muscles with muscles, and a grace which told her not to even think about running again. The tone of his voice made him sound friendly, but his next words sent a chill through her, reminding her again of what she’d gotten herself into.
    “Sarge wants to meet you before we hand you over to Lowe.” She sniffed back her tears, trying desperately to find something inside her. Some sort of strength to get out of this situation.
    “Please, don’t take me back to Ed.” Her voice was low and weak, but she couldn’t stop the pleading that came next. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” With her hand cuffed under his seat, her face was practically in his lap, but she craned her neck to look up at him. “Please.”
    His gaze travelled over her, from her dirty feet swelling in her favorite peep-toed shoes, up her legs to her wrinkled skirt, to the flannel shirt that smelled like him. She was suddenly thankful for the baggy shirt; it protected her from his stripping gaze more than anything else.
    He grinned at her, and her heart thudded to a stop as he flashed gleaming white teeth. “Didn’t say you did, Sugar.”
    She wanted to be comforted by his smile. It seemed so sincere, but she was afraid he was a wolf wearing eye candy. Was he a bad guy? She tried to let her eyes wander over him while he drove. Blond hair, cut short, framed a rugged face that had spent a lot of time outdoors, making it hard to determine his age. Early thirties maybe? Maybe older? He had broad shoulders, his black t-shirt stretching across them, showcasing a well-built torso—a torso she could feel if she would relax her head. His legs were long and strong, wearing worn, faded jeans really well. He had hiking boots on his feet, and his hands were massive, veiny, callused things with rather delicately structured fingers, considering the rest of him