Page 3 of Guarded By Them

I tried not to gawp as the door swung open, revealing a stack of bundled bills. Together with the money, there were also a couple of cases, which I assumed held more handguns, and some burner cellphones. He scooped them into a hold all, and then zipped it up and swung it over his shoulder.

Okay, maybe these boys weren’t as innocent as I’d previously thought.

No, they definitely weren’t innocent. Caring, sexy, attentive, loving... yes. But they’d also killed for me, and I could tell from Ryan’s reaction that it hadn’t been the first time either.

“Have we got everything?” Kodee asked.

“What about clothes?” I thought to all the outfits Dillon had bought me. “Shouldn’t we pack something to change into? Our toothbrushes, even?”

“Just take the basics. We can buy more things.”

I lifted my hand and touched the Celtic quaternary knot at my throat, reassuring myself the pendent was there. The necklace had been a birthday present from the guys, and it was definitely one thing that wasn’t replaceable—not in my mind, anyway.

The jewelry was the first present I’d ever received where it hadn’t been given to me because something—namely, my body—had been expected in return.

Chapter Two

Kodee

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I DIDN’T THINK I’D ever been on such high alert, every cell in my body primed for attack. My ears strained to pick up on any unexpected sounds, the hairs on my body standing on end, as though they could detect the cool rush of air caused by movement.

With what we needed shoved into bags, we left the apartment.

Ryan led the way. His military training kicked in the moment we’d learned of Rue’s abduction, and I couldn’t help but admire him. Even with a missing limb, he still somehow managed to move more swiftly and quietly than the rest of us. He seemed to instinctively know where to place his body to prevent himself from being exposed to any possible gunfire, and he waved each of us into position behind him to ensure our safety as well.

A piece of my heart broke for him. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be to be so natural at something and yet find yourself unable to do it any longer. It wasn’t only about the physical injury with Ryan. As he’d proven from his night terrors, being at war had harmed him far deeper than that.

Ryan kept going, past the elevator, toward the stairs.

“Isn’t the elevator going to be quicker?” I called to him.

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “If we go in there, we’ll be like fish in a barrel when the doors open.”

He had a point.

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