Something lurched inside his chest and he reached out for her. “Stay.”
“It’s okay. I've already bothered you enough.”
“No, you haven't. I understand not being able to sleep. I'm a night owl.” Had been since he could remember. He could nap anywhere — on a recon after he'd been laying in the brush for two days, sitting in a foxhole surrounded by gunfire — but sleep through the night? It just wasn't in his DNA.
“Me too.” Caroline headed behind the couch and gripped the back like it was some type of obstacle she could keep between them. Part of him was glad, but another part wanted to toss the couch sideways so he could be nearer.
“Want to talk about it?”
She shrugged. “Not really much to talk about. Just can't sleep, that's all. So, how are you? I'm surprised you’re moving around so much already.”
Merc kept his distance. Even though he didn’t fully understand why, he knew that if he started edging closer, he wouldn't stop until he reached her. And he had no business being near her the way he wanted to be. “I’m not very good at following doctor's orders. Besides, I want to be ready just in case.”
She cocked her head to the side, her blond hair spilling over her shoulder, the golden lamplight highlighting the silky texture of the strands. “You really think Mr. J will come here?”
“I have no doubt. You don't know him like I do. J has no compunction attacking on United States soil.”
“But you guys have this place locked down. It would be a suicide mission for him to attempt to show up here.”
“I don't think he'll do an all-out frontal attack. He's too smart for that. No, he'll get inside in a way none of us will expect.”
Caroline physically flinched and Merc cursed under his breath. He found it so easy to talk to her, like they’d known each other for years, forgetting for a moment that she was an innocent pawn in the middle of their silent war.
“But don't worry, my team is everywhere, and your dad hired an extra security detail. I’m in the process of putting sensors on all the windows and doors. I'll know it the moment he steps foot onto this property, you have my word.”
She wrapped her hand around her throat, the still-healing rope burns on her wrists standing out in deep red scars on her pale skin. “You make him sound so terrible. So scary and powerful.”
“Not scary, just ruthless and highly intelligent. He’s a master at manipulation.” He'd managed to completely trick Merc and their entire Special Forces team right along with the CIA for years until finally the truth had been revealed. Mr. J’s loyalty lay only to himself – and that meant he would do whatever he could to obtain more power and more wealth, regardless of the casualties.
“So, this will be the room that you guard the whole time?”
Her innocent question warmed him. Even after what she’d been through, she somehow managed to come off as strong and yet vulnerable. A total abstract melding of traits that he found completely beautiful. And sexy.
“No, I was just clearing the area. My men and I will move throughout the house, just like our team outside.” In a pattern that no one can detect or predict.
Her nails dug into the back of the couch and she leaned forward. “So, what you're saying is, I cannot move freely about my own house? That my father lied and he really is going to keep me here?”
“If your father is as smart as I think he is, he will.” That was the only way their team could guarantee her protection and safety. No matter how heavily secured the estate remained, until J was brought down, Caroline Cotter’s life was at risk.
“So then why even bother rescuing me if you were just going to make me exchange one prison for another?”
Merc snorted. “I would hardly call this a prison.”
“And what would you know about prisons?”
Without thinking, his feet carried him across the room, not stopping until his shins bumped into the couch cushion. “I know a lot more than you do, princess. Trust me, your father’s only doing what's necessary to keep you safe. The minute you step out the door, you could be targeted. He has snipers that could kill you from over a thousand yards away, and no matter how hard I try, I won't be able to predict that or stop the bullet.”
“I’ll be trapped here for the rest of my life, then? What kind of life is that?”
“The kind where you stay alive and breathing,” Merc countered.
Her nostrils flared, her knuckles turning white as she squeezed the couch. “I refuse to live my life ruled by fear.”
“I'm not asking you to live like this forever, just until we capture him.” Merc tried to reason with her. Surely she could see his logic, couldn’t she?
“And what if that's a year from now? Two years? Never?” Caroline lifted her chin and Merc’s admiration of her spirit rose. She had an unrelenting thread of strength running through every word. She argued with logic and passion, not tears and emotion.
And although it made no damn sense whatsoever, he found himself agreeing with her. There is no way in hell Merc would let anyone tell him where he could and could not go, or keep him locked up indoors for the rest of his life. Just the thought chafed him, so he could only imagine how it made Caroline feel, especially after being held captive.
