Chapter 188
Chapter 188:
Brad didn’t stop. He kept walking, his posture rigid under the glare of the lights.
He didn’t even spare Johnny a glance. “You need to go,” he said flatly.
Johnny’s fists curled tight, his knuckles drained of color. His voice rose. “I’m her friend. That means something. I have a right to care for her p>
At last, Brad halted. He turned slowly, the hem of his coat catching in the wind, revealing the holster strapped to his side.
He stared down at Johnny. His expression didn’t shift. His eyes swept over him slowly, his tone firm and quiet.
“Friend?” The corner of Brad’s mouth lifted, but it wasn’t a smile. “You couldn’t even protect yourself, and now you want to protect her p>
He remembered what might have happened if he’d been just a second later—a rock or a shot from behind. That thought alone made his chest clench. Letting that happen was unthinkable.
Johnny stood speechless, caught off guard by Brad’s rebuke. Rylie stepped in, her voice steady. “It wasn’t all Johnny’s doing. The fault lies with Okvale Museum. Their leak drew the robbers in p>
Brad’s gaze turned sharp, locking onto her with a hard look. His eyes seemed to ask, without words, “You’re taking his side p>
A wave of pressure rolled off him, so strong that even Rylie couldn’t ignore it. Still, she didn’t flinch. She looked him straight in the eye. “If we don’t get to a hospital soon, your coat’s going to end up soaked in my blood p>
Brad’s stare sharpened. His hold on her tightened. “We’re leaving p>
His boots sank deeper into the sand as he carried her away, each step heavy with urgency.
Behind them, Johnny rushed forward, his voice rising. “At least let me ride with her to the hospital p>
Brad stopped just long enough to glance back. His eyes gleamed with menace. “Go check on your grandmother.” He turned fully then, his voice low and cold. “Take one more step, and you’ll find yourself lying in the ambulance too p>
Johnny froze, stunned by the weight of the threat. He had never seen Brad like this before. That kind of edge only belonged to soldiers in a war zone. Was he now seen as a threat?
The air carried a strong scent of blood. Rylie noticed the thick veins standing out on Brad’s neck.
She reached out slowly, her fingertips smeared with blood. They brushed against his Adam’s apple. “Brad p>
At her touch, his whole frame reacted. His eyes dropped to hers, and for a moment, he stopped breathing.
“You frightened him,” Rylie murmured.
And for the first time, she didn’t speak with formality. No titles. No distance. Just his name.
Whatever storm had been building in his chest began to calm.
His mouth lifted slightly. “He earned that. Next time, he ought to think twice before transporting valuables without backup p>