“Quinn brought some of your stuff, so you don’t have to go back there any time soon. Anything else, I’ll get the goddamn store for you, OK?” I reluctantly lower her to the floor, my hand glued to the back of her neck, unable to let her go completely.
“You’re doing it again,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “Being over the top.”
My unapologetic shrug amuses her and she crouches next to the bag. “I want to call her. How is she holding up? Poor Quinn.”
“She was very scared for you. Now she’s mad. She might track your brother faster than the FBI.”
“Could you—” She bites her lip, unsure.
“Tell me.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage, but…could you spare one of your security guards to check on her?”
My knees hit the soft carpet and drag her onto my lap. “Ask me for the world, kitten, and I’ll bring it to your feet in an instant.”
Her eyes widen and get misty.
“Her home is already secured, and she’ll have a tail on her 24/7. I won’t let anything happen to your friend.”
Eliza closes the small space between us with one of her bone-crushing hugs and exhales deeply. My relief mirrors her. Twelve hours ago, I didn’t know if I’d be able to hold her again.
“How did you find me?” Her question is faint, into my chest.
“Do you want to talk about it now?” I run my fingers through her hair. “A hot shower would be better.”
“There are too many gaps in my memory. Not knowing what happened while I was out of it is an itch I can’t scratch.”
It should be no surprise I’m incapable of refusing her anything. I love this reality where she can ask me for anything, and my only purpose is to make her happy.
I release a long sigh. “Logan’s surveillance drone picked up the truck parked inside the compound.”
She makes a “Hmm” in the back of her throat. “Remind me to name our firstborn son after him,” Eliza says, dead serious.
I rock her in silence to the sound of my singing heart. She’d never say that as a joke.
After a couple more stolen seconds her mood shifts. “I don’t think he wanted to harm me,” she says tentatively.
I close my eyes and reign in the rage aimed at her father. “You’re giving him too much grace, Eliza. What would have happened if you’d said no? Would he have just let you go?” The thought leaves me sick and desperate to protect her from now on.
Eliza shivers in my arms, burying her head deeper into my shirt.
“This house has the best security system there is. A team is guarding the perimeter. You’re safe here.”
“Is it necessary?”
“Until they get the bastards, yes.”
“But—”
“He’s very dangerous, kitten.” I lean back and cup her shoulders. “How much did he tell you?”
She looks at her trembling fingers. “I didn’t catch much. Something about a family operation.”
“He was an army firearms instructor. Dishonorably discharged.” I wouldn’t burden her with this, but she has to know who we’re dealing with. “He started with petty crimes when your brother was born and graduated to gun trafficking. He’s been smart enough to avoid capture. This time he slithered his way out of the compound through secret tunnels the CIs knew nothing about.”
She’s pale, nodding with a faraway look. “Do you think they’ll catch him soon?”
“I’ll make sure they do,” I say resolutely.
