Page 21 of Her Grumpy Protector

We stay locked together, breathing hard, hearts pounding against each other. Banks rolls to the side and pulls me into his arms, tucking me against his chest. He kisses the top of my head, then my temple, then my lips, soft and lingering.

"You okay?" he asks quietly, his hand stroking slow circles on my back.

"Better than okay," I whisper, smiling against his skin.

We settle back into the bed, tangled together under the quilt. His hand keeps stroking my back in long, soothing strokes. I feel safe. Cherished. For the first time in weeks the constant knot of fear in my chest feels a little looser.

His phone vibrates on the nightstand. Banks reaches over and checks it, then lets out a relieved breath.

"It's Mack," he says. "They've got Sadie safe. Jace is with her. She's staying at a secure location until this is over. No one will touch her."

Tears prick my eyes. The relief is so strong it makes me dizzy. "She's really okay?"

"She's okay," he confirms, showing me the message. "Jace won't let anything happen to her."

I let out a shaky breath and press my face into his chest. "Thank you."

He kisses my forehead and pulls me closer. "Get some sleep, baby. I've got you."

I close my eyes, wrapped in his arms, the taste of his kiss still on my lips and the knowledge that my sister is safe. For thefirst time since this nightmare started, I fall asleep feeling truly peaceful.

FIFTEEN

BANKS

The first light of morning filters through the window, soft and pale. Anniston’s still asleep in my arms, her body warm and relaxed against mine, one leg tangled with mine under the quilt. Her breathing is slow and even, her blonde hair spread across my chest. I lie there for a long minute, just watching her, letting myself feel the weight of everything that happened last night.

I shouldn’t have let it go that far again. But holding her, touching her, hearing those soft sounds she made when I was inside her, it felt right in a way nothing has in a long time. I press a kiss to the top of her head and carefully slide out from under her. She makes a small protesting sound but doesn’t wake up. I pull on my jeans and head down the hall to start the coffee.

I’m halfway through my first cup when my encrypted phone rings. Crewe.

I answer immediately. "Talk to me."

"We got a hit," he says, voice tight. "One of Wyatt Rivers' credit cards was used last night. Old motel about six miles from yourlocation. Cash transaction, but the card pinged when they ran it for incidentals. Place called The Pine Rest."

Six miles. Close enough to get there fast. "We’re on it."

"Be careful, Banks. If Rivers is there, he might not be alone. And if this connects back to Dad..."

"I know." I glance toward the hallway. "I’ll take Anniston with me. I’m not leaving her here alone."

Crewe is quiet for a beat. "You good with her?"

I rub the back of my neck. "Yeah. I am."

He doesn’t push. "Keep me updated. Colt and Mack are standing by if you need backup. Jace’s got Sadie somewhere secure."

I hang up and head down the hallway. Anniston is just waking up, stretching under the quilt with a sleepy smile when she sees me.

"Morning," she says softly.

"Morning." I sit on the edge of the bed. "Crewe called. Wyatt's credit card pinged at a motel a few miles from here. We’re going to check it out. Get dressed."

She sits up quickly, the sheet falling to her waist. For a second I’m distracted by the sight of her bare skin, but I force my focus back to the mission. She nods, already reaching for her clothes.

Fifteen minutes later we’re in the truck heading down the narrow mountain road. Anniston is quiet beside me, but her hand rests on my thigh like it belongs there. I don’t move it. I sort of like it. Okay, I love it.

The Pine Rest Motel is exactly what I expected: a rundown single-story building with faded green paint and a flickering neon sign. Only a few cars in the lot. I park at the far end where I have a clear view of the exits and kill the engine.