11
Tying up loose ends
The windowsin Lila’s apartment were covered with plywood that night, with the replacement window rush ordered to arrive within the next few days.
Until then, Lila needed a safe place to stay. Sawyer drove her and Hans to the Redmond Guardian Service office in the company car, the still-to-be eaten Thai food now cold and waiting in the backseat.
“Your parents will stay at the safe house tonight,” Sawyer said. “According to Rusty, this group of mercenaries was hired by Senator Griswald to take your father out of the political arena. Your dad’s policies were a threat to his public transportation ventures. In the end, it’s always about money. Until Griswald is caught, we can’t be sure the threat is gone. Don’t worry though, it’s just a matter of time before we get to him. Rusty reshuffled some things, so you’re going to stay in the suite he keeps for people under close watch. He and Kaylin live on the floor above it.”
“Will you go home?” Lila asked, drumming her fingers against the dashboard.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Did you… tell Rusty?” she asked, nervously.
Sawyer shook his head. “Not yet. But he’ll figure it out.” He parked on the street outside the building, and ushered Lila and Hans into the dark office. “I’ll bring more of your things once you’ve settled in. Rusty is at the police station dealing with the dead body, and Kaylin’s at the hospital. We have the whole place to ourselves. Would you like the grand tour?”
Hans trotted across the tile floor to sniff the office chairs and desks. He turned his nose up at those and made his way into the break room in the back.
“Hans knows where the snacks are,” Sawyer said. “Come on.” He took Lila’s hand. “This is the lobby. That’s a conference room. And that’s Rusty’s office.
Come here boy,” Sawyer whistled, then patted his knee to call Hans from back out of the break room. “The stairs are hidden in the back.”
He led Lila through Rusty’s office into the center of the building, then opened a wooden door to reveal stairs going up. “After you.”
The stairs led to a landing, and Sawyer swept in front of Lila to open the door to one of the small guest suites Rusty kept for clients who couldn’t go home, but still needed someone to keep an eye on them. He’d installed cameras over the door and retractable storm shutters over the windows. Hans jumped on the bed and laid down.
“I guess that spot’s taken,” Sawyer observed wryly.
“I can move him,” Lila said. She ran her fingers down Sawyer’s arm. Sawyer kissed her forehead.
“You should try and get some sleep.”
“How?” Lila leaned against him. “Someone tried to kill me twice today. Could you sleep?”
“I’ve been to war,” he reminded her, grinning. “I can sleep through anything.”
“Can you sleep through this?” Lila slowly dragged her fingers down the front of his pants.
Sawyer leaned his head back, closing his eyes. “Maybe notanything,” he said. He focused on the feel of her hands on his body. If she didn’t want to sleep, he didn’t want to force her otherwise. He gripped Lila’s hips and tugged her hard against him.
“I have a confession to make,” Sawyer whispered.
“I’m all ears.”
“I don’t know what kind of magic spell you cast over me in the past twenty-four hours, but I’m madly in love with you.”
Lila blushed, “And here I was thinking you were the one casting magic spells.”
Sawyer could see it in her eyes. She loved him as much as he loved her. He leaned in and kissed her passionately.
