Bulletproof Badge. Angi Morgan

bar was crowded and hot. A huge neon sign flashed “Keep Austin Weird” against a mirror, making her want to shade her eyes.

      It was hard to breathe at armpit level. For people who were tall, they never had a problem finding each other in a crowd. For someone just over five feet two inches, it was terrible. The last thing she needed was to become light-headed, but that’s exactly how she felt.

      Shutting her eyes for a second brought the gory image of Isabella and Trinity. She covered her stomach with one hand and clutched her mouth with the other.

      “Are you turning green or is it the lights from the dance floor?” Garrison tried to pry her hand away, and she stopped him. “Okay, that’s you. Bathroom is...this direction.”

      Her hero excused himself with each gentle shove to part the crowd. He got her to the ladies’ room in record time, cutting straight across the dance floor. And he didn’t stop there. Making more excuses, he cut in front of everyone, then flashed his badge when he waltzed through the door with her.

      “I’ve got this part on my own.” She tried to push him away before the bile rose.

      “Can’t let you out of my sight. Sorry, miss. Give us five, will you?” Even though he sounded polite, he wasn’t really asking. He guided the last person out before she could use the hand dryer.

      “Seriously, Garrison, I’m okay now. Let’s just leave.” She tried to open the door, and he stopped it with his toe.

      “You’re still as white as a sheet, Kenderly. Dammit, why don’t they have paper towels anymore? Can you splash your face or something?”

      The image in the mirror was sort of scary-looking. No makeup, seriously pale. Cooling her skin was actually a good suggestion. “Just getting away from all the people helps tremendously.”

      She wet her hands and patted her cheeks, cooling her hot flesh. She took a deep breath of semiclean air. The need to throw up no longer registered, so she stood straight and faced Garrison.

      “You really okay?” He placed both hands on her shoulders and searched every inch of her face. “Still think you can eat something? Will you keep it down?”

      “Yeah, I’m sure. I’m sorry we haven’t found my friend.”

      There was a knock on the door. “Management. Do we have a problem?”

      Garrison flattened his lips and raised his eyebrows, sort of shrugging in the process of reaching for the door handle. He flashed his badge before they got a close look, sort of gave an explanation, and they were out on the street without the help of a bouncer after a couple of minutes.

      “The cool air feels great.” She twirled on the sidewalk as they headed back to their borrowed car, thankful for the crisp feeling in her lungs. “Where do we go from—”

      Garrison jerked her in the opposite direction. “Stay close.”

      She had no idea what was happening. But after having her life threatened twice, she completely trusted the man at her side. He’d tell her when he could. They walked at a very fast pace away from the car.

      “What about Isabella’s jewelry case?”

      “Oaks will have to take care of it. Right now the cops are too close for us to get back to his car.” He cursed under his breath.

      She looked up and saw the red, white and blue reflections in the windows. “Can’t you explain to them who you are?”

      “Not unless I want to completely blow my cover and not find the murderer.” He slowed a little after they turned a corner. “Right now we’re both wanted for questioning.”

      “So the cops don’t know you’re a Texas Ranger?” Kenderly looked up and saw a fast-food restaurant. “Can I borrow five dollars?”

      “Right. Sure. We’ll get something and sit in the back corner.” Garrison ushered her through the doors and stood outside checking the street for something. He backed in the door and pulled out his wallet, handing her a twenty. “Bacon cheeseburger, ketchup, no pickles and any soda.”

      She placed their order and watched him at the front window looking at his phone. He was texting one minute, then talking furiously the next.

      No matter what he was currently doing, Kenderly decided to follow his original instructions and sit at the back booth.

      “Hey, we’re closing in fifteen minutes,” the teenager behind the counter called out. “You’ll have to leave by then.”

      “No problem,” Garrison let him know.

      Kenderly ate her small, dry burger and fries alone. Her hero texted, made more calls and popped outside the door another time. She had no idea if he was leaving messages or holding conversations about her future. His food sat in its bag.

      The drink gathered sweat and made a ring around the bottom of the medium cup. She was mesmerized with the droplets.

      It kept her from wondering what might have happened if Garrison hadn’t been there today. She would be dead. No question about it. She felt helpless. She dipped a fry in the ketchup, and a red drop hit the table. She froze. Even though she knew it was ketchup, she couldn’t eat another bite.

      The clock over the front door indicated three minutes until they closed. She should quickly use the restroom before they were kicked out. She locked the door behind her and almost immediately heard Garrison yelling on the other side.

      “Kenderly, are you there?”

      “Give me a second, please? I promise, I can’t get away. There aren’t any windows.”

      “We have to get out of here.”

      “I know, they’re closing.”

      “Listen to me, Kenderly. Cops are gathering outside. The kid must have called us in. Our status changed from wanted for questioning to wanted for murder. It’s scrolling on the television. Tenoreno has a bounty on our heads.”

       Chapter Five

      “Do you have any idea where you’re going?” Kenderly had lived in Austin most of her life, but she was getting disoriented. Garrison had turned down almost every street and doubled back and then doubled back again. She tugged him to a stop not only to get her bearings but also to catch her breath.

      “I’m certain of one thing. We have to keep moving.” Garrison reached for her hand, but she took a step away from him.

      “I can see that you believe you’re right. But I can’t keep this up all night.” She glanced at her watch. They’d been walking just over an hour since the burger she’d choked down. “Don’t you have a plan?”

      They’d blended in with college students for a while, but were alone again on the corner of Brazos and Eighth Street. It was late enough that hardly anyone was around in this area.

      The thought of being scared fleeted across her mind. She certainly had good reason to feel that way, but she didn’t. The Rangers had convinced her they were legit and wanted to protect her. It was hard to get used to having someone else make the decisions. Limited choices as she had, every path she’d taken was completely hers.

      He flashed that perfect smile at her and tilted his head like he was actually curious about something. “Sweetheart—”

      “Stop right there. Your wicked gorgeous smile might work on the girls you’re trying to pick up and sway back to your tiny little house.” She caught her hand shaking as she pointed in the direction they’d come from. She quickly wove her fingers together. She might be upset, but she didn’t need to show the world. Or him. “I have no choice except continue wherever you go. I know that. So you don’t need to convince me of anything.”

      “Wicked gorgeous?” He winked.