She realized there were rumblings coming from the porch, and figured if they were all Lion people, then their hearing was top whack.Which meant the strange folk had not only heard Ryan’s declaration but Adam’s repeating of her surname too.
She shot Adam a tight smile.“I put my pants on the same way as you do if that’s in any way reassuring.”
“Pukes her guts up too,” Shawn pointed out, unhelpfully El thought.
She glowered at him.“Did you have to remind them of that?”
Shawn’s lips just twitched.
Ryan cleared his throat, but she knew he was amused.
Dammit.Was she destined to be around guys who found her funny when she wasn’t trying to be?
“I need you to contact Lewis Erickson and Roberto Santiago.Their number’s on the switchboard.”
“We have a situation in the car.Please, make sure no one approaches the vehicle.There’s a dead body in there.”
Adam’s eyes widened.“A corpse?”
“Yes.”Ryan pursed his lips.“I’m heading to our quarters.I don’t want to be disturbed unless it’s Erickson and Santiago, do you understand me?And even then, I’d prefer them to question us in the morning.”
Shawn broke in, “I can handle some of those questions now.I guess you guys need to talk.”
El blinked at him.“Don’t you want to sweep his quarters?”
“The guy saved your ass, El.”Shawn’s smile was wistful.“I think he’ll keep you safe.”
His words frightened her.She didn’t know why, but they did.
It was like he was pulling away, somehow.
Swallowing down her silly fear, she nodded at him.“Thanks, Shawn.For everything.”
His lips quirked up in a half-smile.“I didn’t do much.”
Her mouth worked.“That’s not true.”
Shawn waved her off.“Go on.I’ll see to the cops.”
She allowed Ryan to grab her hand and tug her away from the main house.She understood now what he meant by compound.This was like a subdivision within a subdivision.
The main house was obviously an administrative base if he wasn’t living there.It was grand, like a white and bright Addams’s family mansion.There was even a turret, for God’s sake.But they stomped over pebbled walkways, which were interspersed with trees and various plants that perfumed the air.
“I’m surprised you don’t have any grass around here,” she said softly as he led her down a path to a house that could be considered a mansion but in comparison to the Addams’s family place, was like a bungalow in size.
With two large pillars holding up the front gable roof, the white house was very fitting for a governor.It overlooked a pool that glimmered a bright blue thanks to lights within the water, and in the middle of the pool, was an island with huge palm trees that hung low.
Used to wealth and its comforts, she was nonetheless impressed by Ryan’s home.
“Having healthy lawns in LA uses too much water,” he pointed out softly.“It’s a waste of resources.”
She stiffened a little, then laughed.“You have no idea how often I’ve had that argument with my father.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.We have a ridiculous amount of garden.He insists on it.Just because we can afford it, doesn’t mean we should use it.They’re very wasteful.”
“But you’re not?”
