Slade entered the last of the security system’s six-digit code before turning and facing the woman standing in the cabin’s modest entrance. “You didn’t know?”
“Nope.” Shadow shook her head while letting her beautiful gaze soak in the rustic scenery. “I had no idea this cabin even existed. Of course, up until a few hours ago, I also didn’t know my mom was a government spy, so there’s that.”
He bent down and picked up the bags they’d packed for their stay and carried them farther into the open space. Their first stop after leaving the office was at a big-box store so Shadow could get enough clothes and toiletries to last her several days. After that, they’d made a quick run by his apartment so he could grab a few extra things, as well.
“I knew it was here,” Slade commented on the cabin. “But this is the first time I’ve ever been.”
He had to admit, the two-story structure was the nicest safe house he’d ever seen. With its exposed log walls, wooden floors, and windows that stretched damn near to the ceiling, it looked more like a hunter’s resort than a place to hide out from a killer.
“The master bedroom is over there.” Slade pointed to the doorway on their left. “But you and I will be sleeping upstairs.”
With her backpack slung over the same shoulder she’d recently shrugged, Shadow turned back around to face him.
“You and I?” A playful look flashed behind her stunning gaze. “I’m flattered, big guy, but don’t you think you should at least take me out to dinner first?”
His heart thumped and his dick twitched at the mere idea of the two of them sharing the same bed. And though he knew her comment had been made in jest, there was something other than quipped humor hiding deep within the woman’s sarcastic demeanor.
She’s as tempted by the notion as I am.
“There are two bedrooms on the second floor.” His jaw muscles twitched with the clenching of his teeth. “I’ll take the one closest to the stairs.”
That way, if danger did somehow manage to find them, it would be his ass on the front lines. Not hers.
All signs of humor left her playful expression as she told him, “In case I haven’t said it yet, I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“Why am I sorry?” A soft huff of a breath fell from the half-smile lifting one corner of her luscious lips. “Oh, let me count the ways. Let’s see, I’m sorry for going MIA on the team and not coming to you guys instead. I’m sorry I’m the reason you were shot at last night…and for almost shooting you myself. And I’m sorry because now, because of me, you’re stuck pulling babysitting duty in the middle of nowhere for however long my father decides.”
“That sounds like a lot.”
“Yeah, well…” A small shrug. “Apparently, so am I.”
The womanwasa handful. A fact that had been made clear from the very start. But Shadow was also intelligent, capable, and determined to right a wrong from her past.
Even he couldn’t fault her for that.
“You already apologized for your little disappearing act,” Slade told her. “And yeah, you should have come to us first. But I understand why you did what you did.”
“You do?”
He gave a quick nod of his head. “You went to Ohio to get justice for your mom while also trying to protect the team and your father by keeping us out of the loop. Not saying it was the right call, but…I get it.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s something else you need to accept, though.” Slade stared back at her with laser focus. “You have to know that what happened to your mother wasn’t your fault.”
Shadow frowned, her lids blinking quickly as she gave her head a quick shake. “I never said it was my fault.”
“Didn’t have to. The guilt you feel is written all over your gorgeous face.”
He hadn’t meant to call her gorgeous while discussing her mother’s murder, but the compliment had slipped out as though it was the most natural thing for him to say. Luckily, the conflicted woman either hadn’t caught it or was choosing to ignore it altogether.
“I was a kid when she was shot, Digger.” Her tone thickened with defense. “It’s not like I could have done anything to stop a grown man with a gun.”
“You’re right.” He took a slow step toward her. “You also had no way of knowing it was Stanton behind that mask.”
“Ishouldhave known.” She set her backpack down onto the log, dining room table to her left. “I’d met him before that night. Once, when my parents invited him over for dinner.”
