Angus exited and paid the driver, who sped away.
Nari’s mouth dropped open. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you pack your stuff.” Angus looked around and started walking toward the nearest door. “I take it this is you?”
She nodded, her body numb. “My car is around the left in the lot. I’m not packing.” Why couldn’t she form a full thought? The combination of a concussion and the proximity of sexy Angus Force was too much for her. “Go away, Angus.”
“No.” He opened her door and stepped inside, looking around at her pristine apartment. “The cleanup crew did a good job. Usually there’s fingerprint dust everywhere, even after a good mopping.”
She didn’t care. At the moment all she needed was her bed, so she followed him inside. “All right. Thanks. ’Night.”
Roscoe ran inside, twirled in a circle, and leapt onto the sofa. He yipped, the sound somehow happy.
Nari grinned, even though her head hurt. “Looks like he’s pleased to visit.” Would it be wimpy to ask Angus to let Roscoe stay the night? She didn’t think the intruder would be back and the security from HDD watching the place would be good, but it’d be nice to have company. “You know, he could stay. I’ll bring him to you tomorrow when we meet.”
Angus turned to face her fully, the impact of his gaze almost physical. His left eye was swelling and a bruise showed on his collarbone above his ripped shirt. “I haven’t been clear. Sorry about that. You are going to pack enough clothing for a week and then you’re coming home with me. I have a cabin, and it’s secure. Also, you might want to bring some sheets and a pillow or two, because I don’t have any. Oh, and we’re taking your car.”
She blinked. Her injured body perked right up with interest and a hint of lust. What waswrongwith her? “I most certainly am not going home with you.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Come with your clothes or not. Either way, Nari Zhang, you’re coming with me.”
* * *
Angus drove the car away from the grocery store fully stocked for a week. Nari remained quiet in the passenger seat, pretty much adorable in her pout. Oh, there was no doubt she would do a lot more than pout if at full strength, but right now her lip was out and her arms crossed. She’d refused to go into the store with him, so he’d taken the keys and left the dog to keep an eye on her, hoping they’d eat some of the fast food he’d already acquired.
The bandage above her eyelid stood out against her smooth skin and bruises had formed around her neck in the shape of a man’s hand. Only the fact that she was hurt and worn down had caused her to agree to stay with him. Well, and maybe the dog. She wanted to spend time with Roscoe. She rubbed a bruise on her chin.
Angus tried to expel his anger at the sight, but his hands tightened on the steering wheel anyway. Roscoe cheerfully dug into his second burger in the back seat. “You need to eat, Nari.”
She turned to look out the window.
Amusement stirred through his anger. “It’ll be easier to work on these cases if we’re together.” Now he was trying to cajole her? He really had lost his mind.
She huffed. Actually huffed.
He coughed to hide his chuckle and sped up, keeping an eye on his rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed. The rain started to fall again. The autumn had been wetter and cooler than usual, and he was almost ready for snow. At least then there’d be some blue sky in between storms. Now the entire world was just gray.
He flipped on the wipers and turned up the heat, driving toward the secluded forest and away from civilization. Nari Zhang at his crappy cabin—the two of them all alone. His body tightened, and not with pain this time. They were both injured, but the sofa wasn’t big enough for him. Hopefully he could talk her into sharing the bed if he promised not to touch her.
His groin hardened.
Oh, he really wanted to touch her again. One night together hadn’t been enough. Not even close. The idea that a killer, maybe even Lassiter, had been inside her apartment waiting for her clawed through him, leaving a sense of desperate possessiveness he needed to banish. He had to think and stay clear for this fight.
Angus cleared his throat. He couldn’t wait any longer to get the details. “We have a long drive, so tell me what happened. I have to know if it was Lassiter who attacked you.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “He wore a mask and was in good shape. It’s possible his height was the same as Lassiter’s, and his eyes were brown.”
“Lassiter’s eyes are blue,” Angus murmured, his chest lightening.
“He might’ve been wearing colored contacts,” Nari admitted. “I couldn’t really tell with the mask covering most of his face and even part of his eyes. They looked kind of dead. He was strong.”
Angus reached out and took her hand. “Sounds like you were stronger.” Thank God the woman knew how to fight and how to keep her head in a crisis. “You’re impressive.”
She snorted. “I was lucky. My training kicked in, and he was surprised.”
“No. You were good and stronger than he expected. Now, tell me slowly, from the beginning. Everything you saw, heard, smelled. Close your eyes and remember.” He tightened his hold on her hand to provide comfort if she needed it.
She leaned back her head and closed her eyes, telling him step-by-step what had transpired.
