When the trucks are ready to roll, he turns to me, ready to brush his fingers across my lower back.
Just in time, he stops himself.
I swallow hard, yearning for that momentary connection. “I’ll…ride with Lila.” It will give me some much needed space from him, and I know she’ll have plenty to say.
His mouth curves, that infuriating half smile that promises I’ll replay every second of this morning when I’m lying awake tonight. Six months from now, I’ll probably still be replaying it. “See you at your new home, Ms. Hollis.”
He leaves, his boots echoing, and Lila shuts the door behind him with an audible click. I slump against the cracked wall, pulse still hammering.
Lila waves her iced coffee at me like a wand. “Come on. Let’s go before you change your mind and run off to Vegas with him.”
I scoff. “Not likely.”
Her grin is razor sharp. “Sure.”
The AC in her car does almost nothing for the heat as we merge into the tangle of Midtown traffic, my apartment shrinking behind us like a bad secret.
“He hired movers.” Lila wrinkles her nose. “Brought pastries. Taped your box of…secrets. I’m not saying he’s Prince Charming, but?—”
I cut her off. “Don’t. We both know he’s dangerous as hell.”
“All I can say is, kolaches and movers aside, if he hurts you again, I will bring a shovel and some bleach.”
I bark out a laugh, leaning my head back against the sticky seat. The hum of Houston, the honk of traffic, the swirl of old heartbreak and fresh confusion all knot together in my chest.
When we finally pull into the parking garage of my new building, my new life, I press my palm to the car door to steady myself.
How can this be real?
Rags to riches.
Seeming to read my mind, Lila plucks off her sunglasses. “You deserve it.”
After swiping my keycard across an electronic eye, the elevator slides open, and we glide up to my floor.
And when we exit, I come to a dead stop.
Blackwell is there. And so are two other men that I don’t know.
Chapter Ten
Seraphina
They’re all standing outside my door. In my confusion, I almost misstep.
Lila glances at me, looking for an explanation.
Every bit as lost as she is, I shrug.
As we near, I notice a hole in my wall, and there are wires hanging out from it. The technicians who are working are all wearing black jackets emblazoned with the words Hawkeye Security in bright yellow lettering.
I’ve heard of the company. They’re known for protecting everything from people—good guys and bad guys alike—places, and even priceless artifacts. There are rumors of dark ops, but the owner himself has refused to confirm or deny the rumors. Which probably means they’re up to their eyeballs in government contracts, shit no one else will touch.
“Uhm…” Stopping, I glance at Blackwell, my keycard still uselessly clutched in my hand. “I assume you have an explanation?”
“Just making sure you’re safe.”
The arrogant asshole took charge of all this without ever consulting me? Annoyance firing warning signs through me, I look up at him. “In case you hadn’t noticed, this building has a doorman. And you can’t get in through the parking garage, either.” I know from Tasha, the property acquisition specialist he hired, that having a secure building was the number-one priority on his list of requirements. The three places she’d shown me all had similar measures in place.
