Chapter 77
Chapter 77:
“If you come near my wife again,” Dallas said, low enough that only they could hear, “you won’t get up p>
He wrapped an arm around Eliza’s shoulders, shielding her from the stares, and led her away.
They walked out to the valet stand. The black Maybach was already waiting, its engine idling. Eliza got in. She was shaking now, the full weight of the reaction setting in.
Dallas got in the driver’s seat but didn’t pull away. Rain drummed against the roof, sealing them inside a private world.
He turned to her. “You called me. But only because you were running from him p>
Eliza looked at him, confused. “I didn’t call you. I didn’t have time. You just — appeared p>
𝖯o𝗽𝗎l𝘢𝗋 𝘀𝘵𝘰r𝗂𝖾𝘴 о𝗻
Dallas reached out and touched her cheek. “I am always watching, Eliza.” He tapped the dashboard. A small screen glowed, showing a tracking dot. “But when I saw him follow you, I was already coming in.” He paused. “And then you grabbed my hand like it was a lifeline p>
“You are my lifeline, Dallas,” she whispered.
It was the truest thing she had ever said.
Dallas’s expression softened. The hard lines of his face eased, one by one. “Good,” he said quietly. “Remember that p>
The Maybach moved through heavy city traffic. Rain lashed against the windows, blurring the world outside into streaks of grey and neon.
“What about Bella?” Eliza asked, looking back toward the restaurant, suddenly remembering she had left her friend in the middle of the chaos. “I left her alone with them p>
“My security team is escorting her home,” Dallas said, his eyes flicking briefly from the road to her face. “She’s safe p>
Eliza stared out the window. Her heart rate was finally settling.
“How long have you known Anson was following me p>
“Since you left the office,” Dallas said. “My security detail spotted him waiting in his car two blocks away. They alerted me p>
Eliza sighed and rested her head against the cool glass. “I can’t escape him. He’s like a ghost. He haunts everywhere I go p>
“He is a man,” Dallas corrected, glancing at her. “Men bleed. As you proved today.” His gaze dropped briefly to her shoe. “You stomped on him. I’m impressed p>
There was genuine pride in his voice — not the patronizing praise Anson used to dispense, but the respect one soldier extends to a comrade.
Eliza smiled faintly. “I learned from the best. You told me not to let them intimidate me p>
“And you didn’t,” Dallas said.
Eliza turned in her seat to face him. The soft glow of the dashboard lit his profile in warm, amber tones.
“Do you think —” she hesitated. “Do you think love can grow after marriage? Or is it just duty p>
Dallas gripped the steering wheel. His knuckles tightened. The car seemed to hum with the tension of the question.
“Why do you ask?” His voice was guarded.
“Because I don’t want to be just a duty to you,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be another promise you kept to a dead friend p>