She was trembling, but he offered no comfort. For now, he had to keep his mind crystal clear, to focus on the steps that had to be taken. His plan relied on a level-head; emotion had no place here, least of all sympathy.
“Come,” he said, gruffly. “You need to take a look in your room before we go.”
She looked around for her crutches. They were across the lounge. He retrieved them, handing them to Mila without looking at her for more than a brief glance, because to look was to want to touch, especially now, when he knew his touch and kisses could wipe that awful horror from her eyes.
“What’s in my room?” She whispered.
“Nothing. I need you to tell me if anything’s changed in there, if anything’s missing.”
She nodded, so brave, but oh so fragile too.
“Where are we going?” She asked a moment later, the words hollow, tinged with strain.
“Somewhere secret. Somewhere safe.”
* * *
Leonidas pulledhimself out of the situation mentally, setting aside the way he and Mila had been kissing half an hour earlier. Instead, he focused on action. Action he could do.
Settling Mila in the kitchen with a cup of tea, wrapped in a blanket, he pulled out his satellite phone, thanking God he’d remembered to bring it given Benji’s dampening tower, and dialed his friend’s number. He stepped outside as the ringtone sounded, so he could speak in privacy, while still keeping his eyes on Mila.
“Mate, how are you?”
Leonidas watched as Mila sipped her tea, the action graceful, even as her finger shook. “I’m at your place in Croatia,” he cut to the chase.
“You are? That’s funny, because my cousin was planning—,”
“Mila’s here too.”
Silence, while Benji digested that. “I see.” Another stretch of silence. “Please tell me you’re not calling to tell me something’s happened between the two of you, because you know how much I care about you, but hell—,”
“No,” Leonidas demurred, guilt exploding in his belly. “That’s not why I’m calling.” He neatly sidestepped an admission of guilt. “What do you know of Mila’s stalker?”
“Stalker?” Benji repeated, and Leo could practically hear his best friend’s frown. “I know there was some overzealous fan a few months ago. Why?”
So she hadn’t been honest with Benji, just as Leonidas suspected. He took a moment to bring his friend up to speed, relaying what Mila had told him in concise bullet points, without taking his eyes off Mila inside. His senses were honed; he heard and saw everything.
Benji let out a low whistle. “Why the hell didn’t she tell me?”
“I can only presume she didn’t want to worry you.”
“Damn it, I’m her only family. Her only friend. Who else can she turn to?”
“Me,” Leonidas said simply. “I’ll help her.”
“You don’t need this right now. You’ve got enough going on.”
“I’m offering. I’m here. I’ll get Grieg on the case,” he said, referring to his head of security. “And I’ll keep her safe in the meantime.”
“Leo, you don’t have to—,”
“Don’t I?” He leaned against the doorjamb. “Have you forgotten what I owe you?”
“You owe me nothing,” Benji dismissed. “I was only being a friend to you.”
“Then let me do the same. Let me help Mila. I promise you with my life, I will keep her safe.”
Benji was quiet, and Leonidas knew him so well, he could perfectly picture the analytical look on Benji’s face. “I don’t know why she didn’t tell me.”