Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“And Trav voluntarily has that in his bedroom?”
“It doubles as the panic room for this place. I guess it makes him feel safer, and he can sleep at night without worrying about someone coming to get him. Travis West has had a bounty on his head more times than I can count.”
“What do you guys actually do?” Harley’s freaking out, but I can’t help finding it cute.
A laugh escapes. “Right now? I’m protecting you, so grab what you need and get your cute little ass into Trav’s room.”
“What about you? Everyone else won’t get here in time, and—”
I place my hands on his shoulders. “I’ve got this. I can handle whatever is thrown at me.”
Harley looks down at his feet. “Do you really think Jamie …”
“I hope not, but we can’t get into this right now.”
Harley’s phone starts ringing in his pocket, and he flinches. When he pulls it out, his thumb hovers over the green button. “It’s Jamie probably wondering why we’re not answering the door.”
“Leave it. I’ll go get her when I know you’re secure. You’re my first priority.”
“What if Webber is out there? You can’t leave her out there on her own.”
“Harley,” I say, my voice stern. “I need you to promise me something. No matter what you hear, do not come out of that room, okay? Not if you hear gunshots, not if—”
“I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t. Let’s get you safe.”
He glances around the uncluttered and very basic room, probably expecting something like the rest of the house, but this is Trav’s space, and Trav is a necessities-only type of guy. No frills. Just what he needs to survive. I think it’s the Ranger in him.
“And I’m supposed to stay in here for how long?” Harley asks.
I move toward the closet. “Until the threat is neutralized.”
“N-neutralized?”
“Taken care of? Umm, arrested?” Let’s go with that.
I pull down a bulletproof vest and some supplies I might need and then go to Trav’s lockbox of weapons he keeps in here.
Harley watches me suit up with this wide-eyed panicked look on his face.
I walk over to the desk in the corner of Trav’s room that has computer screens on top. I know they’re connected to the house security system, but I don’t want Harley watching if everything goes south, so I’m not going to let him in on that particular nugget of information. Instead, I open the drawer and pull out some stationery. I know the way to my man’s heart. “To pass the time.”
He takes the pens and paper but stares at them like they’re foreign objects. “I won’t be able to write right now.”
“Whenever you’re worried about me, write. Whenever you’re thinking of even peeking out that door, write. Promise me.”
Harley nods. “I promise.”
I hug him and hold him close.
The Kevlar is thick between us, and I think it only serves to freak him out more.
He tucks his head under my chin. “It’s hard for me not to order you to stay in here with me and pretend we’re not even here.”
“Kind of defeats the purpose of hiring a bodyguard.”
“I know.” He sighs.
“Would you ask the same of Iris?”
“No.”
I kiss the top of his head. “Look on the bright side. After tonight, this will all be over.”
“Until the next bad guy …”
“No. I think Webber is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of psycho. But even if he’s not, I’ll still be here. I’ll protect you for as long as you want.” I bring my lips down on his mouth and kiss him softly. “Forever, if you’ll have me.”
His eyes flutter, and then he’s staring at me with love and awe in those shiny dark blue orbs. “Forever?”
“Forever.”
Walking away from him and leaving him in that room is harder and more daunting than what I have to do now. No matter how secure the door is.
I crack my neck and stretch out my back, getting into focus mode.
With my gun cocked, I make my move toward the main foyer.
I have to compartmentalize and forget that Harley is in this building. I have to forget that he’s in danger and look at his assistant like any other perp.
In any other job, I’d have no qualms about taking out the target and being done with it. They’re a threat, end of story. But this isn’t the world we usually work in. This is Harley’s world.
I have to get my head in the right mindset. Interrogate first. Act later.
The knocking is more insistent now, but just before I open it, I take out my phone and check the security cameras. I’ve been watching them every night since we got here after Harley’s gone to sleep just to be sure. It’s why I’ve been climbing into bed later than usual. I haven’t wanted him to worry.
Jamie’s the only one out front, and she’s frustrated by the look of it.