Free Shades of Darkness (Redemption Series) by Melynda Price Page A

to go?” he asked, changing the subject. “We’ve got a lot of miles to cover.”
    “Yeah, just a minute,” Olivia said, fighting back tears as she slid out of the booth. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room before we leave.” She got up and walked down the narrow hall leading to the restrooms. As she passed the supply room, the waitress walked out and nearly ran into her.
    “Hey,” she said, grabbing Olivia’s arm to stop her. “You’ve got an amazing guy there. Don’t let that one out of your sight.”
    “Thanks,” Olivia said, caught a little off-guard. “I don’t intend to.”
     
    ***
     
    Damn, he needed some fresh air. Hearing Olivia admit that she still loved him had released an unexpected tide of emotions he’d been fighting like hell to hold back. Her confession had flowed from her lips liquid smooth and sweet as her honey-flavored kisses.
    Liam stepped outside to wait, letting the screen door slam shut behind him. Resting his palms against his thighs, he pulled in a deep breath of air that wasn’t so fresh, after all. The pungent stench of sulfur burned his nostrils and jacked his senses online as his body tensed, instincts heightened—they were close.
    The warrior in him itched for a fight, but wisdom told him to run with Olivia while he still could. This wasn’t the time or the place for Heaven and Hell to collide—that would come soon enough.
     Spinning around, he charged back inside. He knocked briefly on the bathroom door, announcing his intention to bust inside. Commanding the lock to disengage, he shoved the door open. Olivia jumped, water splashing on the floor where she stood at the sink, washing her hands. The instant she looked at him, her fear slammed into his chest with wrecking force.
    “We’ve gotta go. Right now!” he ordered.
    Grabbing her hand, he pulled her along with him. Olivia stumbled to keep up as they exited the diner and jumped into the passenger seat as soon as they reached the car. “Are they here?” she asked, her voice tight with panic.
    “They will be any minute.” Hopping in the driver’s seat, Liam punched the accelerator, sending the Camaro into a fishtail. The car tore out of the parking lot, and he took a hard left, leaving a layer of burnt rubber on the asphalt.
    After he’d put a good several miles between them and his instincts simmered with the passing threat, he glanced over to find Olivia watching the cars behind them in the side mirror, anxiously chewing her bottom hip. It was a nervous habit she’d yet to break, even after all these years.
    “You shouldn’t do that, you know.”
    “Do what?” she asked, casting him a quick glance before staring back at the mirror.
    “Your lip. You’re biting it. I’m sorry I scared you, Olivia. We just needed to go. Once I get you hidden, I’ll neutralize this threat and you can go home.”
    “I understand. It’s just… I’m not used to this anymore. I honestly thought they’d given up, or forgotten about me.”
    “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not very forgettable.”
    “Lucky me…” she commented dryly.
    He let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah, lucky you.”
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    The moment the brown Buick pulled into the diner, Haden jumped out of the car, anxious to get some distance between himself and these assholes. He worked alone—always—and didn’t appreciate being assigned to this bunch of fuck-ups. Gahn must be laughing his ass off right about now, a little payback for his insubordination, no doubt.
    You’d think if the girl was so damn special, they could have found a better legion than this one to get the job done. But then again, maybe this was the only crew stupid enough to take on the warrior. Hell, if he had to spend much more time with them, he might just flip to “Team Liam” and take a couple of the bastards out himself.
    Walking in ahead of the others, he hadn’t taken two steps before abruptly stopping. Holy shit! They’ve been