“No, I had the concierge get it.” He strides into the bedroom and lays the tray on the edge of the bed. I follow him, still dragging the brush through my tangles.
“Why?”
“Because it’s what you drink,” he says, turning.
Shocked, I glance from the steaming white mug to his face and find an expression I recognize. He was wearing the same one last night when we were lying in bed, facing each other. When I desperately wanted to cling to him, but was too restless and hesitant to do it.
You’re mine. Do you understand what that means?
It means that I take care of you. I protect you. I don’t let anyone hurt you.
I suppose it also means that he notices things. That he goes out of his way to do things just to make me happy. And I suppose that all adds up to one simpletruth—he cares. Though, it doesn’t feel simple; it feels like a lot. More than I know how to handle right now, if I’m honest.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you,” I say on a whispered croak, my voice thick with emotion.
Dios,I want to jump his bones. I don’t really know what to do with all these big feelings, but wanting him is the only part I’ve never really questioned—the only thing that’s easy.
He sits on one side of the bed and gestures to the other end of the tray, effortlessly redirecting Some Bills, who seems very interested in the bacon and eggs on his plate. “We need to talk about what’s going on.”
Oh, right. Hitmen after me. Life in danger. It’s not quite time for the good stuff.Down, girl.
I take my seat and pull a plate over to my side of the tray. “So, to the safe house we go?”
“Not anymore. The attack yesterday changes things—I got locked out of the General’s system, so I’m flying blind.”
I made a sympathetic face. He must hate that.
“All I know is that the bloke that grabbed you was another assassin in the area, and he’s still out there somewhere. So we’re going to my center of operations. I need my team for support, and all my best equipment is at the mansion. And it’s a fortress—we were safe here for the night, but I’m not taking any chances with your life.”
My smile is quick, then I shove an entire length of bacon into my mouth before Some Bills can swipe at it. “Your team?” I ask, intrigued.
“Mac and Dimitri. And then there’s the girls.”
My eyes widen, and I can’t stop the grin. “There are girl assassins on your team?” I ask, breathless with excitement.
“Eleanor and Nicole are not assassins,” he says, almost chagrined to let me down. “But they live there too, and they’re lovely. You’ll like them.”
Irritation prickles that he’s describing another woman as “lovely” but I decide to table that irrational jealousy. “Well, we should stop at mytío’son the way. We need that data.”
He considers that with a frown, taking a thoughtful bite. “I’ll go.”
“We’llgo,” I correct.
He cuts me a look. “We don’t know who might be out there looking for you. It’s safer if you stay here.”
Yeah, that might be true, but it won’t matter to Tío. He’s not exactly friendly to strangers—especially ones who know his business. “If I’m not with you, he isn’t going to give you the data. He doesn’t trust people he doesn’t know.”
“I don’t like the idea of bringing you somewhere I’ve never been.”
With a soft smile, I reach out and lay my hand over his. “Don’t worry. We’ll be safe there.”
He heaves a sigh, flips his hand over and squeezes mine. “Fine. But we’re taking the bike.” When I make a face, he explains, “Quick getaway if things go sideways. And with your face hidden and hair tucked up in a helmet, no one will know it’s you.”
“Fair enough,” I compromise, pushing my empty breakfast plate away. “When do you want to leave?”
“No sense waiting,” he asserts, standing. He grabs the empty tray and places it on the desk, taking the last sip of his juice. “Are you ready to go?”
I consider his ass, so perfectly in my line of sight. “We’re safe here now, right? For a little while anyway?” At his curious nod, I smirk. “What if we left in 20 minutes?”
