“You and me. I’ll carry your bag. Leave your phone and computer and any other electronics here.”
With a frown, I open my tote bag and start to unload the electronics, but I can’t help but ask, “Why?”
“Because they can be traced.”
I nod and reach inside.
“You’re not going to fight me on this?”
I shake my head as I finish laying my iPad on the bed, next to my laptop and phone. I feel bad that I haven’t spoken to Chelsea. She’ll worry when she can’t reach me.
“Maybe I should text—”
“Don’t text anyone,” he interrupts.
“Chelsea will worry when she doesn’t hear from me.”
He’s quiet for so long that I glance his way and see that he’s grinding his teeth together.
“No texts.”
Rubbing my lips together, I start to think up something to say. I know he didn’t like my best friend. He called her a bad influence.
If he only knew.
But then I remember that man holding a gun to my neck, and then the jerk of his body when he was shot and the blood flowing out of him when he fell.
I’ll never forget that.
It’s one more nightmare I’ll have for the rest of my life, and I already had more than my share.
So without tapping out a quick message to Chelsea, I set the phone on the bed and turn to Gideon.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
His eyes narrow, as if he doesn’t trust me. “You’re really not arguing with me.”
I shake my head once and take a step toward him. “No, I’m not. Get me out of this fucking house.”
Without a word, he lifts my bag, and I step into the hallway with him and then scowl when no one else is waiting for us.
“Where are the others?”
“The other what?” His voice is just like I remember it. Hard. Gruff. And it makes goose bumps erupt on my skin.
“Members of my detail.”
“It’s just me.”
I stop and turn to him. “But you’re not—”
“I’ll tell you more once we’re on the fucking airplane. Let’s move. We’re going out the side exit, through the tunnel, to a waiting car. You know it well. You escaped through there many times.”
Pressing my lips together, I resume walking. I can’t even be mad at him for his snarky comment.
He’s not wrong. I know that tunnel well.
Surprisingly, we don’t run into anyone on our way through the house. My parents said their goodbyes about an hour ago, and I haven’t seen my other detail guys.
