“I’m assuming she didn’t like being called Memaw Judy?”
She threw her head back and laughed. The sound warmed that heart people said he didn’t have. He had a feeling she hadn’t had a lot of reasons to laugh lately.
“At first, she didn’t, but then…she really warmed to it.”
“But you don’t like your full name?”
“Think about having a name like that when you’re in school. It was…I just didn’t like it.”
He knew there was another story there, but he didn’t push. She had been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours.
“We aren’t going to use an airline. I called in some help and got us a private plane.”
“They will watch for Dillon planes.”
He cocked his head as he studied her. “I know how to do my job. Trust me.”
For a long moment, eyes ping ponged back and forth as she held his gaze. She was assessing him. When she finally nodded, he let loose a breath he didn’t know he had been holding.
“Good. Now, get some sleep. We can worry about who tried to kill you tomorrow.”
“You promise no one will get hurt here.”
She grabbed his hand and held on so tight he was sure it would cut off the circulation. It was an insane worry for her. Ian, El, Jenner, and his father were all trained operatives. Yes, his father was older, but he could still handle a gun. If anyone showed up, they would probably be able to handle them. As he studied her, he realized that she wouldn’t rest until he assured her.
He gave her a nod. With a sigh that was filled with exhaustion, she settled against the pillow. He watched as her breathing evened out, and he could tell she had finally fallen asleep.
He looked down. She was still holding his hand.
Eight
Lila came awake with a start, gasping for air as she shot straight into a sitting position. Pain radiated out from her stomach, filtering throughout her entire body.
“Lila, are you okay?” Ian asked.
His deep voice, and that sexy accent wrapped around her. It was dark in the bedroom and even though she knew he sat in the chair and wasn’t in bed with her, there was something intimate about it.
“Yes. Well, mostly.”
She shoved a hand through her hair, then winced when her fingers tangled in a knot.
“What is it?”
She frowned and looked at Ian. “What?”
“You made a face.”
“There is no way you could see that.”
“I have excellent night vision.”
“There’s no need to brag, Ian. We all get that you were a super spy assassin.”
“I’m not…” He stopped, then muttered something under his breath. “I could see your expression.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll get some pain killers for your incision. How’s your head?” he asked as he rose to go into the bathroom.
