Anger that this was happening to her.
Trigger glanced at her. “Ma’am, you’re safe up here. These walls used to be reinforced for fire protection. Now they’re reinforced for idiot protection.”
I shot him a look.
He amended, “Idiot stalker protection, that is.”
Better.
I double-checked every lock.
Every camera angle.
Every hallway corner.
Every escape route.
Then I checked them again.
Trigger and Havoc didn’t question it.
Saint didn’t even comment.
They knew this wasn’t me being overly cautious.
It was me being exactly who I had to be.
When the sweep was complete and the building secure, Trigger spoke low:
“We’ll take shifts. I’ve got first watch.”
Saint nodded. “I’ll take the second.”
Havoc: “Third.”
I shook my head. “I’m not leaving her room tonight.”
Trigger didn’t argue.
He simply put a hand briefly on my shoulder—a silentwe’ve got you—then the three of them moved out to form a perimeter.
The hallway fell quiet.
I turned back to Nora.
She stood near her bedroom doorway, arms wrapped around herself, eyes searching mine.
“You okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “I… I think so. Just tired.”
“Let’s go in,” I said softly.
I guided her into the room, closing the door behind us.Not locking it—the guys needed to get in if something happened—but I stayed close.
She sat on the edge of the bed. I remained standing for a moment, needing to burn the last of the adrenaline from my system before I touched her.
“You check everything twice,” she said quietly.
