“It’s designed to give the random passerby the illusion of a privacy-seeking family,” Jonah explains with grave seriousness as he steers into the driveway leading into the garage, which turns out to be an entrance to an underground parking structure. A fingerprint scan pad sits at the entrance, and Jonah presses his thumb to it before continuing his explanation. “When in fact, it’s fortified with cement, so no one will be able to breach it with a vehicle.”
“Very useful,” I agree with a severe nod of my own, and Sawyer can’t hold back a snort.
Jonah frowns and looks at him, then at me, the creases in his forehead deepening when I just shrug as if I have no idea what’s so funny.
Jonah pauses for a second, then rolls his eyes. “You have thirty minutes, Commander,” he says to Sawyer in a factual tone, very obviously annoyed at us, which just entertains Sawyer and I further, “then we’re going to HQ for a debrief.”
“Wait.” The amusement disappears faster than I can blink. “I’m not coming?”
“No, you’re staying in the safe house until determined otherwise,” Jonah replies in that dry tone. My pulse is racing too fast for comfort, and Sawyer turns to look at me, eyes full of worry.
“Can’t you have the debrief here?” I ask him in that small voice that I hate hearing myself speak in, panic settling deep in my gut at the thought of separating from Sawyer, and he turns his gaze to Jonah.
“Joe, I’m not leaving Maddie like this.”
“She’s in a safe house, under protection.” Jonah pulls into the parking space closest to the door leading into the house and turns to look at me. “I’m not leaving you alone, Maddie. Some of our best guys are here. I promise you that this is as safe as you’ll get.”
“Okay.” I nod, though I’m still freaking out at the thought of Sawyer not being in the next room.
“Come on, we’re both tired and wired from the past couple of days.” Sawyer slides out of his seat and opens the back door, freeing me from my human sandwich confinement. “You’ll feel better after a hot shower and some sleep.”
“I’ll feel better when you’re back from HQ,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest and fighting back the tears.
Sawyer slowly steers me into the safe house, Jonah close by while Elijah stays back and orders the two soldiers that sat with me to sweep the perimeter.
“Oh wow.” The entrance leads straight into an open kitchen and entertainment room with sleek white marble complemented by black furnishing and finishes, a large breakfast bar, and every appliance and accommodation imaginable. “You guys pull out all the stops with your safe houses, do you?”
“Maximum security with maximum comfort.” Elijah saunters in with his over-serious posture and kind smile. He’s an enigma, this one. A former Ranger captain, his gruff exterior is intimidating, to say the least, with his body-builder muscles flexing under his shirt and that shaggy beard matching the disheveled waves of thick brown hair on his head. But his chestnut brown eyes are soft and kind, more than any of his brothers. “Peak Securities bought the land a few years ago and molded it into a safe and inviting space for extreme needs.”
“Huh. Well, I can’t wait to check out the bedroom.” I stretch and yawn. “For real, though, where’s my bedroom?”
“Down the hall to the right,” Elijah directs me while walking over to Sawyer and Jonah, who are whispering heatedly near the patio doors. “There’s an extra room, and each bedroom has its own shower, amenities included.”
I leave the boys to their scheming, too tired and stressed to try and join in on a conversation that is obviously about me if judging by the glances turned my way every few seconds.
The blissfully hot shower washes away some of the rigidness in my muscles. Twenty minutes later and I’m in a fluffy mint-green sweatshirt and a pair of yoga pants, feeling almost human again and contemplating my next move when there’s a knock.
“Hey, look who’s all pampered and in her beloved princess pastels again,” Sawyer teases when I open the door, a warm smile decorating his handsome face. His hair is slightly tousled and still wet from his own shower, that night-sky gaze warm and smiling as he stretches out a hand to caress my neck with his knuckles.
I grab him by his tight blue shirt and pull him to me, pressing the door closed with our colliding bodies as our mouths meet.
His arms secure around me, pulling me close with a shuddery exhale. “Just say the word, Maddie, and I’ll tell Jonah I’m staying put.”
I want to tell him just that, with every fiber of my being, but, “Won’t he fire you?”
“Probably. Especially when he realizes I’ve slept with you.” A cloud shrouds us all of a sudden. “This is real, right?” Sawyer asks in a tone so timid it’s hard to believe it’s coming from the big muscular man producing it. “This isn’t you suffering from a Prince Charming effect, is it?”
“You?” I cock an eyebrow. “Prince Charming?”
Sawyer laughs and shakes his head. “Fine,rescuer syndrome. I just need to know I didn’t use you. That you being scared for your life and me being the one keeping you safe wasn’t what made you want me.”
“This is real, Sawyer. The connection was real a year ago, and it’s real now.” I stand on my tiptoes, and our lips meet again. Soft and tender and slow. The need to tell him that I love him swells in my chest again, but I tamp it down, wanting to respect Sawyer’s request. Wanting to make sure that when I say it, he has no doubt I mean it.
“Are you sure it’s okay that I go?” He smooths some hair behind my ear, and I nod. “Okay. Try to get some rest.”
“Promise to come back,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest.
“Always, Maddie. I will always come back for you.” He tilts my chin up, his gaze full of tender emotion. “Who else is going to slay all your dragons?”