Free No Escape by Heather Lowell Page A

He’s just talking trash because he can’t do anything else. Let’s get in the car.”
    Kevin waited until Aiken’s taillights had disappeared. Then he opened Kelly’s door and helped her into the rear passenger seat. “I think you should lie down back here.”
    Kelly said nothing, just slid over and slumped low in the seat so she couldn’t be seen.
    “Good idea, Kev. I’m going to drive around for a while so we can all calm down.” Tessa met Kevin’s eyes. He knew she was going to make sure they weren’t being followed, but said nothing that would upset Kelly. Instead, he opened the front passenger window and adjusted the side mirror so he couldwatch the traffic behind them. He had no idea what was going on, but since he’d grown up as the son of the director of the FBI, he knew well the security routines that were routinely employed to ensure the Jacobi family’s safety.
    Half an hour later, Tessa turned down yet another residential street. She hadn’t seen any cars behind them, and felt it was safe to go to the shelter.
    “I think she’s asleep,” Kevin said.
    “Good. Christ, what a night,” Tessa said. “I can’t believe I threatened to arrest Sledge Aiken.”
    “I can’t believe what a candy ass he is. He wouldn’t last ten seconds with my wrestling team.”
    “If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I never would have believed it.”
    “Why, because he’s a star quarterback? That’s nothing. He knows how to throw a ball, run, and get tackled. He clearly doesn’t have any experience with self-defense or wrestling. Bet he takes some lessons after tonight,” Kevin said with a grin.
    “God, don’t remind me. Humiliated men with inflated egos make very dangerous enemies. Especially when they have media sharks as lawyers. My boss is going to kill me,” Tessa groaned.
    “Nothing’s going to happen.”
    “What are you talking about?” Tessa asked.
    “You just don’t understand men, Tessa. He’s not going to say anything to anyone. Otherwise, he’d have to admit that he got his ass kicked by me in front of witnesses. His ego can’t afford that. He’s probably worried you’re going to say something and expose him.”
    Tessa hadn’t thought of that. “Since I was instructed yesterday in very specific terms to leave Sledge Aiken alone and not antagonize him further, my lips are sealed. I don’t want anyone hearing how we ran into each other tonight.”
    “Yeah, what are the chances of that happening in a city the size of Los Angeles?” Kevin asked.
    Slim to none , Tessa thought grimly, though she said nothing. Apparently, Sledge Aiken had been following their movements. Since he drove a high-profile luxury SUV, she figured that meant he had someone else following them so he could arrange the meeting in a quiet location—on his terms.
    “Anyway, it’s just as well we left before the police arrived. No one needs this kind of publicity.” Kevin checked the mirror one last time.
    “The police were never an issue,” Tessa admitted. “Kelly called 911, but the system was busy. I was on hold the whole time—when I said the police were coming, it was a bluff to get Aiken to leave.”
    “Unbelievable. Kinda makes you want to sign up for self-defense classes and a permit to carry a weapon, doesn’t it?”
    “Yes, it does. I’m learning the hard way that the police aren’t always there to save the day.” Tessa gripped the steering wheel. She needed to get this investigation moving, and quickly. She wanted to have at least enough evidence to request a restraining order against Sledge Aiken.
    But what good is a restraining order? And how in hell is a legal document going to keep Kelly safe when we can’t even depend on the police to enforce it in an emergency?

Chapter 9
    Los Angeles, California
    Late Saturday night, February 27
    S ledge Aiken aggressively drove through traffic on the freeway. His nose still bled sluggishly, and his neck and head were throbbing from the hold that had