“Can you keep her safe until then?” he asked.
“Yes, of course.”
I could picture the dubious expression on his face on the other end of the phone. “And does that include keeping her safe from your dick?”
12
KARA
I couldn’t have sounded moreskeptical if I’d tried. “I’m supposed to go to a hotel with you?”
Shawn’s gaze was soft and unassuming. “This is what Jason said was best. He was a US Marshal, so he knows how to keep you hidden.”
I sighed and fought the urge to scratch at the bandage on my neck because the adhesive pulled at my skin. I composed an email to my manager Jim, letting him know I had a personal emergency and wouldn’t be reachable until further notice. Then I’d had to power off my phone and wouldn’t use it again until Jason had cleared me to do so.
The landing gear rumbled in the belly of the plane as we drew closer to touching down. The severity of the situation must have wiped Shawn’s fear of flying clean away, for his hand on mine didn’t tense. I was grateful for it because I needed the connection. But, still...
“You really think I’m going to sleep with you after?—”
“No. This isn’t about that.” The serious look he gave was convincing. “I’m not leaving you by yourself tonight.”
Exhaustion crept in, making simple tasks like thinking difficult. We landed. I stumbled while descending the stairs out of the plane, and he gripped my shoulder from behind to steady me. Was he exhausted, too? It felt like we’d been awake forever.Perhaps I was burning too much energy worrying about my sister since we’d learned Juric had escaped.
A charcoal gray Audi waited near the plane. It was sleek and gorgeous, and obviously Shawn’s since Victoria loaded our bags into the trunk. He opened the passenger door for me. I sat down and tried not to notice the interior. Of course the car was beautiful, and it was made more so when he slipped behind the steering wheel. Powerful and in command. In his element.
I pressed my hands against my thighs because I wanted to touch him, but he had one hand on the gearshift and the other on the wheel as he drove away from the tarmac. How the hell was I going to share a room with him?
“How far is it?”
“It should take about thirty minutes.” When his gaze darted to the rearview mirror, I glanced at the side one and my concern grew. A dark vehicle followed close behind. Every turn we made was echoed by them.
“Don’t worry,” he said softly, “that’s one of ours.”
Ours.Notmine.When had that happened?
Munich, the part I saw, was narrow streets lined with white buildings and red roofs, with the occasional church stretching high up toward the stars. Historic and charming.
He pulled into an alley and set the brake just as the service door on one of the buildings swung open and a man stepped out.
“It’s safer if we come in this way,” Shawn explained. “Klaus will bring up our bags.”
He got out, handed his key fob to the man, and came around to open my door. He offered his hand to help me out, which I took, and let him lead me into the hotel and straight onto an elevator. Where, like last time we’d been on one, he didn’t release his hold.
Only this time I didn’t fight him. I held on to him fiercely.
The hotel room was large and extravagant, decorated in the same shade of gold as his beer. There was a living area with a couch and oversized chair to the right, and the large, inviting bed to the left.
Onebed—which I gazed at with nervous eyes.
“I can sleep on the couch,” he said.
His offer was genuine, and I swallowed thickly. The couch was little more than a love seat, and he was enormous. It seemed unlikely he’d get any sleep, but if he did, he’d probably wish he hadn’t. I was sure it wouldn’t be comfortable for anyone.
The truth was, I didn’t want him on the couch. I was mildly concerned that his hand, the one that was still holding mine, was part of what was holding me together.
“As long as you stay on your side of the bed,” my breathing went unsteady, “it’s fine.”
He nodded and looked relieved. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to order something?”
