Leopard 03 - Burning Wild

one you keep pulling off your finger, it wouldn’t make a difference in how he feels about you. They would still be able to get to him through you.”
    “I’m not taking off the ring.” She looked up at him, her gaze fierce. “You just don’t let anything happen to him. I know this party is important and he’s going to insist on going and he’ll tell you that I’m to be your first priority, but you don’t let anything happen to him, Drake. He’ll risk everything for me, I know he will. You don’t have to tell me. That doesn’t make any of this easier to live with, but I’m not walking away from him. I love him. Now they’ve made me angry too.” She rubbed her chin on the tops of her knees, her fists clenched, tears still falling. “Don’t you let anything happen to him.”
    Jake was waiting, pacing back and forth, as the Cadillac pulled up to the house. “What the fuck happened, Drake?”
    “Jake,” Emma interrupted before Drake could answer,
    “you’re supposed to put your arms around me and comfort me. That’s what fiancés do when someone tries to kidnap their betrothed. Drake did his job, I’m fine, three men are dead, and in case you’re interested, Sean’s hurt.”
    Jake let himself look at her. For one moment time seemed to stop. She was alive. She was safe. Tears streaked her face and there was blood on her. His gaze quickly jumped to Drake.
    “Not hers,” Drake confirmed.
    Jake’s knees actually felt weak and he could only stand there, trying to stop the roaring in his head and the hammering of his heart. He reached for her, needing to touch her, to feel her warmth and know she was safe. The moment his arms closed around her and he drew her from the seat of the SUV, he felt complete.
    “Thank you, Drake.” His voice was gruff with emotion, and he turned away from them, burying his face in the silk of her hair, carrying her into his house. “I’m sorry, Emma. I shouldn’t have put the announcement in the paper.”
    “It wouldn’t have made a difference, Jake,” Drake said. “At least we know someone’s watching the ranch. How else would they have known we were on the move with her? And they didn’t have a professional crew coming at us. It was amateur hour.”
    “The police are on the way,” Jake said tersely. “I’ve got the lawyers waiting. I want your report. Tell them everything and do whatever they say when the police come.” He kissed the top of Emma’s head again. “They’re going to want to talk to you, Emma. You’ll need to talk to the lawyers as well, and don’t answer anything the police ask until the lawyers okay it.”
    She nodded, looking a little frightened, and Jake kissed her, his mouth coaxing, feeling her tremble against him.
    The process with the lawyers and police took long, exhausting hours. Emma eventually fell asleep, curled in a chair. The questions had been endless, but truthfully, everything had happened so fast she couldn’t tell them much, only how scared she’d been. Jake draped a blanket over her while he and Drake and the lawyer talked with the police and she’d finally just drifted off.
    After everyone left and the house was quiet and dark, Jake stood over Emma for a long time, just watching her sleep. His lungs burned with the effort just to breathe. His vision blurred as he picked her up, cradling her close to him, sheltering her against his heart. She murmured softly, frowning and burrowing against him.
    “I’m just taking you upstairs,” he said, his heart aching. If this was love, it hurt like hell.
    15
    “YOU look beautiful, Emma,” Jake said, “absolutely beautiful.”
    She was grateful he didn’t say anything about her hair being up. He preferred it down, but it didn’t go with the sophisticated look she was trying to pull off. She was actually a great deal more nervous than she thought she’d be. She cared nothing for these people, but she wanted to be an asset to Jake.
    Knots of gold were on her ears and gleamed in a collared necklace at her throat. More golden knots formed a chain around her wrist. The pieces were spectacular, one of a kind, yet very simple in their design.
    She put her hand in his as he helped her from the car. She tried not to tremble, not to allow him to see her sudden nerves. After all, she was there to support him. But Jake saw everything about her, and she wasn’t surprised when his fingers came under her chin to tip her face up to his. His eyes were sharp, focused, intent.