“Will do, sis. See you later.”
Bella’s laugh was soft when she jogged down the stairs. She wasn’t stupid. Her sister was up to something. She wouldn't be at all surprised if Donna found her way back into the interrogation room as soon as Maria Mendez turned her back.
Since it was so early in the morning and Bella was driving in the opposite direction of rush-hour traffic, it didn’t take long to get home. But when she turned into her driveway, the path to her garage was blocked by a black Cadillac SUV. Even though she doubted an attacker would lie in wait, parked openly in her driveway, Bella grabbed the gearshift of her old school Chevy, shifted into park, and snatched her pistol from its holster.
Bella got out of the car and scanned the area for danger. All was quiet, so she crept over to the SUV and peered inside. It was empty. There was always the possibility that someone would be in her house, but for them to park in the driveway would be ludicrous.
“Detective?”
The voice came from the side of her house. Bella trained her weapon in the direction of the sound. A tall white man dressed in black stepped out. His jacket lifted when he raised his hands, exposing the handgun on his side. “Ma’am, my nameis Cody McClain. I work with Colonel Creed. I’ve been entrusted with the protection of your family.”
Bella kept her weapon trained on the man who had called himself Cody. She really had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth. She’d seen the men at the Creeds’ compound, but she hadn’t studied any of their faces. She didn’t know any by name. She didn’t even know the name of the soldier who’d been assigned to protect her. All she knew was that he was in the way, and she needed to get rid of him. Otherwise, how would she and Donna trap whoever it was that was hunting them?
With his hands still in the air, Cody stepped over to her porch and walked backward up the steps. With his left hand, he placed a key in the lock and unlocked the door. “Mr. Creed is waiting inside.”
“Step away,” Bella ordered as she moved closer.
Cody walked down the steps and sidestepped until he was near a hedge that divided Bella’s house from her neighbor’s. Her eyes never left the man as she took the steps and twisted the knob. Lincoln’s man must’ve thought she was a paranoid freak. But people were trying to kill her. He would just have to get over it.
Bella stepped inside and secured the door. She turned around to discover an empty living room. “Donna’s not here, Linc!” she shouted toward the back of the house.
“Neither is Lincoln!” came from the bedroom.
Bella smiled, pleasantly surprised by the sound of her man’s voice. She returned her handgun to its holster, dropped her bag, and made her way down the hall. Lucas was standing in the doorway to her bedroom, leaning against the doorjamb. His thick, black waves had grown nearly to his chin. In a white T-shirt and jeans, Bella noticed that his physique hadn’t suffered even after being bedridden for weeks.
“Hey, babe,” she nearly sang.
“Hey, babe,” Lucas repeated in the same manner but with the sexiest grin. “Mm-mm-mm,” Bella moaned. “You lookin’ good, Lucas Creed.”
“Yeah?” he questioned. The sparkle in his emerald gaze nearly took Bella’s breath away.
Bella moved in and snaked her arms around his neck. When she peered up at him, she could see the heat behind his eyes. It was a heat that warmed her to the rawest, most ravenous part of her core. She needed him bad. Only she loved him more. “Does your mother know you’re here?”
With wide eyes, Lucas shook his head as if he was afraid. “Hell, no! I sneaked out.”
Bella chuckled and dropped her head on his chest. The feel of Lucas’ hands sliding over her back caused her to melt in his arms.
“Long night?” Lucas whispered against her hair.
It was a basic question, but in his voice, she heard the same desire. “Long night, indeed.”
Bella didn’t know whether Lucas knew about the man who’d intended to kill her, and she wasn’t about to tell him. At least, not in the moment. She was just relieved to be in his arms. But in arms, resting against his chest, Bella could hear labored breaths and the quick beat of his heart. “Come, Honey. Let’s sit down.”
“I’m good, sweetheart,” he lied with a heavy sigh.
Bella reached up and rubbed the stubble along his jaw. “This is hot.”
Lucas covered her hand with his. “I missed you.”
Bella closed her eyes and inhaled the clean masculine aroma of his bodywash. She missed it. She missed his scent on the sheets, on the pillowcase, and on her. “I missed you too, baby. But, right now, I need you to sit.”
Lucas chuckled and planted a sweet kiss on her forehead. “All right, my love. I’ll sit.”
Bella kept her arm around his waist and walked with him to the bedroom. Once they entered, they passed the wheelchair that Lucas should have been using and walked over to a chair in the corner.
He laughed when she tried to help him sit. “Bella, baby, I can sit and stand by myself.”
Bella frowned. “That don’t mean you should be sitting and standing by yourself.”
