Charlie should do something. She had learned specific moves just in case something like this ever happened, but her feverish brain couldn’t figure out what action to take.

“Didn’t think you’d be here until later, honestly.” The voice was hot in her ear.

Fight. She was supposed to fight. But all she could focus on was the drip of liquid running down the side of her neck. Was she sweating? Then the burn of pain set in.

No, it was blood.

“I don’t have much money.” She hated how shaky her voice sounded. “I had to leave work early, so I don’t have any.”

That was the truth. Maybe if she gave this guy the seventeen dollars she had in her wallet he would leave.

He laughed, his putrid breath nauseating her stomach so much more, and pressed the knife harder against her neck. “I guess I’ll have to take payment in other ways.”

Her exhausted sick brain finally kicked in. She hit his hand with the knife, pushing it away from her neck enough that she could drop her weight to the ground. It enabled her to move without getting cut further, but she found herself with his fist still wrapped in her hair.

He laughed again. “Ground will work too.”

She yanked her head away, ignoring the pain that shredded through her, and flipped over. Oh God, it was that druggie guy she sometimes saw in the alley. She hadn’t thought he was this dangerous. He wasn’t very big and was completely strung out. On most days she would be able to take him. But she could already feel everything graying around her.

She had to hang on. Had to get out of here.

All she could see as he crawled over her was the space where one of Druggie’s front teeth was missing. He had the knife in his hand again. “Been a long time since I had a woman. Wasn’t what I was after tonight, but I guess that’s okay.”

She pushed at his chest with all her strength, but it wasn’t nearly enough. She willed herself to fight harder, to find some inner core of determination, but it was all she could do to just to hold on to consciousness.

And then the man went flying off her. She immediately scrambled to the side and started crawling toward the door. If his dealer or other druggie enemy was coming after him, she wasn’t going to wait around to see how it turned out.

She got to her feet, albeit unsteadily, and focused on the door. It was all she could manage, just focusing on one thing at a time.

Door. Car. Escape.

A hand grabbed her shoulder and she ripped around in terror.

“Charlie, it’s okay, baby. It’s me.”

“Finn?” The relief was almost more weakening than the fear. Her legs collapsed again.

“I’ve got you.” Those strong arms wrapped around her. She couldn’t do anything except lean into his strength. She couldn’t see him very well in the dim light, but she didn’t need to. She just wanted to stay here, breathe in his scent, borrow some of that strength he took for granted.

God, she just needed a moment to lean.

The druggie who had attacked her was moaning on the ground.

“Let’s get you out of here.” He reached over and touched her neck. “He cut you, but it doesn’t look too bad. Are you all right?”

“I knocked the knife away before he could do any real damage. How’d you find me?”

She wished she hadn’t asked the question when he stepped back from her, taking away that strength she needed so badly. It was all she could do not to reach for him. Not to cry out at the loss.

“Oh, I think there’s quite a bit you and I need to discuss. Finding you here is just the tip of the iceberg. Now let’s get out of here in case any of this guy’s pals decide to come looking for him. I’ll call the sheriff and get him to deal with this situation.”

“Finn. . .”

“So help me God, Charlie, if you argue with me about leaving this place, I will take you over my knee and—”

She raised an eyebrow, feigning a casualness she didn’t feel. “We both know how that would turn out if tradition holds.”

He almost smiled. He hid it, but she could tell. Good. If he was exasperated with her, maybe he wouldn’t realize how close to complete collapse she was.

But her traitorous body decided to pick that moment to stop working. Everything spun. She didn’t even realize she was falling until he caught her.

“Goddammit, Charlie. Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt? We need to get you to a hospital.”

The world spun even more as he swept her up into his arms. Like she weighed nothing. Like he had the strength to carry her for a million miles. Which he probably did.

She wanted to remember this. She wanted to hold on to this moment. She never thought she’d be here again.

But she couldn’t even get her arms to function enough to wrap around his neck. All she could do was collapse against his shoulder.

It should scare her to be this helpless, but if there was one thing she knew about Finn Bollinger, it was that he wouldn’t let her fall.

“I’m not hurt. Just that little cut.”

She felt Finn’s fingers graze her cheek. “Jesus, you’re burning up. Let’s go.” A moment later he was tucking her gently into the passenger side of his Jeep.

“No hospitals.” The words came out as a whisper, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t afford it.

He shook his head. “Are you going to tell me why?”

“Not if I don’t have to.”

He reached over and fastened the seat belt around her. “Still so stubborn,” he muttered.

She wanted to tell him he sounded just like Ethan whenever she mentioned starting a longer and harder book. But she couldn’t get the words to form. She could only stare at his darkly handsome face.

“You’re going to be okay, princess.” He shook his head ruefully, then reached over and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m here. Go to sleep now, nothing’s going to happen to you.”

And as if her body had just been waiting for him to say it, she did.