TWO

      Thea gasped as the car’s wheels spun on the snow-slicked pavement. The driver revved the engine and the car made a beeline for her. Her first instinct was to say a quick prayer as she waited for it to slow or turn. Instead, it picked up speed.

      A quick glance at the man she’d distanced herself from showed he’d noticed the car, as well. His gaze darted between her and the vehicle. This wasn’t the first time she’d faced death. Like the other times, someone was with her. The fact that she wouldn’t be facing it alone should give her some solace.

      It didn’t.

      Out of the corner of her eye she could see Ronin rushing toward her. He would die for her. If anything, knowing he would try to save her made her even more terrified.

      On instinct, she turned to run, too, to save herself, but her feet slipped out from under her and she hit the pavement. The ground was frozen and slick beneath her as she turned, hoping to get to her feet. But before she could, she was pulled against a hard body. Ronin’s strong arms encircled her, encasing her in a cocoon of safety.

      His warmth seemed so familiar yet so new all at the same time. The fuzzy memory was so close she could almost reach out and pluck it from her mind. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

      He rolled against the pavement, pulling her with him. Thea buried her face against him. They landed in a heap of tangled arms and legs against the far curb. The car flew by in a whoosh of air, barely missing them.

      Ronin held her close, but she turned her head against his chest to see the car attempt to screech to a stop after passing them by. The sudden braking sent the car spinning out of control on the ice. Metal scraped metal as the car sideswiped the few vehicles parked in front of the diner.

      “Are you hurt?” Ronin asked, sitting them upright. He quickly ran his hands over her arms and legs, checking for broken bones.

      “I’m not sure.” Thea closed her eyes tightly, then opened them slowly in an attempt to clear her head. Her body shook with the gamut of emotions flooding her. She was alive and thankful for that.

      The car continued its slide down the street. It came to a stop only when its front fender smashed into a light pole at the far end of the street. Sirens sounded in the distance.

      “Can you stand?” His voice was filled with concern as he stood, then outstretched his hand to help her to her feet. Two black-clad figures stumbled from the vehicle. Thea watched in shock as they pointed in her direction. They were men, big and bulky, about the same height as Ronin. One of them reached inside his coat and pulled out a handgun, waving it in her direction as the other man shouted and made wild gestures with his hands.

      The sirens grew louder. Blue and red police lights lit the night sky.

      “Can you stand?” Ronin repeated, louder this time as he grabbed her hand. He pulled her to her feet without waiting for an answer. “We need to go, Princess.”

      Thea gave no protest as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. It was only a matter of time before the men finished whatever argument they were having and came after them. Worse yet, they might decide to use their guns and start shooting at them. She followed Ronin’s lead as he guided her across the city square and the park to where he’d left his car. Sleek and black, it was exactly what she would expect him to drive. Dangerous yet powerful, just like the man who controlled it. He held the door open for her, but before giving in to the compliance she knew was expected of her, she risked one last, quick glance around her.

      Police sirens grew closer. He was right. They had to go. Staying would endanger not only them, but also any innocent bystanders who might get in the way if the men came after them. The local police would be here soon, but men like these held no regard for the police. She slid into the passenger seat, her body strangely numb to everything going on around her. She barely noticed as Ronin grabbed her seat belt and fastened it across her.

      Within moments they were leaving the small town behind them.

      Tiny bits of ice hit the windshield, the wipers keeping a steady rhythm in an attempt to keep the windshield clear.

      “They were trying to kill me.”

      She glanced over at Ronin in the driver’s seat. His eyes remained on the road ahead, except for occasional glances in the rearview mirror.

      He had risked his life for her.

      “We could have both been killed,” she whispered.

      “You’re safe now, Princess Dorthea.” She knew his words meant to calm her, but safe was something she hadn’t felt for a very long time.

      Part of her was still wary of him, but the way she’d felt when he’d wrapped his arm over her shoulder and steered her to the car had sent her back in time. It had brought back the memories of when another man, much older, had protected her and made her feel safe when her world had been falling apart. For so long she’d hoped and prayed for a life that was normal again. Safe would be nice.

      “Thea,” she said. “My name is Thea now.”

      She wasn’t sure if he was even listening now, but she cringed every time he used her formal name. Princess Dorthea was a person people died for. She was tired of that person. It might be her title, but she wasn’t a princess anymore. She wasn’t sure if she ever really wanted to be again.

      Thea relaxed against the headrest and took a deep breath. Her stomach turned, both from hunger and the stress of the events of the evening. She fought against the nausea rising in her throat. Asking him to pull over so she could vomit was one humiliation she’d prefer to not have to deal with.

      In an attempt to take her mind off her stomach, she turned her head to study Ronin’s profile. Thea couldn’t quite put her finger on what was so familiar about him. Maybe he looked like someone she’d once seen in a movie or on television years ago. That must be it. He just had that sort of face.

      “Is everything okay?” he asked, catching her staring at him.

      “That’s a silly question.” Thea attempted a laugh, but it emerged as more of a choked squeak.

      “Yeah, I guess so.”

      “I’m sorry about your head and the brick.” Thea reached toward his face, her fingertips brushing over the nasty cut just above his eyebrow.

      “Are you?” he questioned.

      “Yes, I am. Despite my earlier behavior, I’m not the sort of person who runs around bashing unsuspecting men upside the head.”

      “If it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t totally unsuspecting.”

      She smiled at his remark.

      “And if it makes you feel any better, it probably won’t scar.”

      “Even if it did, it would blend right in with the few I have already.”

      “Well, then it would make you look even more dangerous.” Thea studied his face, taking in the few faint lines of small scars she’d not noticed earlier. He’d seen his fair share of battles of one sort or another. “I assume looking dangerous comes in handy in your line of work.”

      “And what sort of work is