“Grabbed her arm.” Zane reached for her right arm, and it was then that she realized she was cradling it to her chest again. His fingers closed around her forearm, and he pulled it away from her chest with a gentleness she hadn’t known he possessed. He eased it straight, then returned it to a bend. She couldn’t stop the wince. “I’m sorry, Ivy. Can you move it on your own for me? Let me see if we need to take you to the hospital?”
“I’m not going to the hospital.” She flexed her arm at the elbow to prove to Zane she could, even though it made the burn on her shoulder pull and twist. “See?” She used her left hand to tug on Zane’s shirt until he pulled his eyes away from her arm and met her gaze. “You look like you ran over a puppy. Let it go. I’m fine.”
“You’re hurt.”
“I was already hurt. And I think I should point out that hurting means I’m not dead. Given the option, I’ll take the one that involves pain and not the absence of it.”
The elevator dinged. They climbed on. Zane reached into his wallet and pulled out a keycard that he used to unlock the elevator, then pressed seven. The doors closed, and Zane’s attention refocused on her. She needed a distraction of some kind, so she asked, “Can you tell me where we’re going?”
“Tessa’s apartment.”
Zane had a key to Tessa’s apartment?Thatwas distracting enough to ease the pain. Zane stared straight ahead and didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Luke was staring at his feet, but his lips were twitching. He clearly thought there was something amusing about this, while Zane did not. Either way, Tessa had some explaining to do.
Two minutes later they entered the apartment, and Luke stood between her and the door while Zane prowled through the apartment.
From where she stood in the entryway, Ivy could see the living area and the floor-to-ceiling windows that opened onto a balcony. An irregular but roughly rectangular ottoman was flanked on one side by a cream sofa. The throws and pillows were eclectic and colorful. The rug on the floor was a splash of blue and teal. Two chairs and three floor pillows rounded out the seating.
Zane returned and gave them a quick chin lift. “Clear.”
At that, Luke grabbed his phone. Zane pulled the curtains, hiding the stunning city views, then returned to where she stood studying her new surroundings and herded her to a cushy chair on the opposite side of the room from the windows. He stalked to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of water, which he opened and handed to her.
“Thanks.” She took a sip. Then turned the bottle up and drank half of it in one go. Then went back for more until she’d drained it.
“Want another one?” Zane removed the empty bottle from her hand.
“No. I think I’m good now. Thanks.”
He ignored that, and a few seconds later he was back in front of her with another bottle. “Can I get you some meds?”
“No. I’m fine.” Another lie, but there was no way she was going to break down in front of Zane and Luke. She had to hold it together.
Luke joined Zane, and they both made no effort to conceal their study of her. “You’ve had a busy day, you’re in physical pain, and in a few minutes your adrenaline is going to crash, if it hasn’t already.” Luke grabbed a throw blanket from the back of Tessa’s couch, flipped it out, and settled it over her. “Try to relax.”
“Right.” Did he have any idea how ridiculous that suggestion was?
“Did you ever hear the details about what happened last spring?” Luke flopped onto the sofa and propped his feet on the ottoman.
“No.”
“It’s a thrilling tale, made better by the fact that you already know we survived.” Zane settled onto one of the floor pillows and leaned against the wall. They were trying to distract her. Maybe they were also trying to distract themselves. She didn’t call them on it. She snuggled deeper into the chair and said, “Let’s hear it.”
25
THE HOTEL LOBBY was still a buzz of activity, but when Jacob arrived on the scene, Gil and Tessa found a quiet corner of the lobby to give him an update. Faith joined them a few minutes later when her boss, Dale, arrived, and the joint update continued. When they were done, Dale directed a question at Gil. “You think they were coming after your friend?”
“It’s the most likely scenario.”
“Will Detective Morris take the case? Because I think it would be best if we kept any hint of Secret Service or FBI involvement out of it.” Jacob gave Gil and Tessa a pointed look.
“Agreed.” Dale took in Faith’s appearance. “Although Faith certainly doesn’t look like an agent in that getup.”
“I’ll communicate our desire to be kept out of the press conference,” Gil offered, and Jacob and Dale both nodded. A few minutes later, both special agents in charge left the premises.
Faith watched them leave. “It’s a good thing they get along.”
“That’s true.” Their agencies had been on friendly terms ever since Gil had come to Raleigh, but that was because Dale and their former SAIC, Michael Weaver, had been friends for decades. Fortunately, when Jacob took Michael’s position, theopen communication and sense of camaraderie had continued. “I’m going to head to the police station. What are you two going to do?”
Faith pointed to the building. “I think we need to make sure everything’s settled in there. Then head to Tessa’s.”
