Page 70 of Fatal Betrayal

"Yes, you did," he said tightly.

"There's plaster in your hair, Cooper. And you have a cut on your forehead."

"Superficial, I'm sure. But you don't look any prettier than me, which is a first."

"No, not a first. You grew into your looks way before me. I was an awkward fourteen-year-old. You were already becoming the hot guy in our class."

"But you didn't notice."

"I was trying hard not to." She paused. "Did you kiss me when I was unconscious?"

"Yes. To wake you up—like Sleeping Beauty."

"I thought I was dreaming," she said in bemusement.

"I wasn't trying to take advantage. I was really…scared."

Their gazes clung together, and then she said, "Thanks for waking me up. I shouldn't have brought you home with me. You could have been killed."

"You couldn't have seen this coming. It was a bomb, Andi. Who would do this? Why would they do this?"

"To get rid of me."

"Or both of us."

"I think you were just going to be collateral damage."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time," he muttered, drawing a frown to her face. He immediately regretted his statement. He hadn't meant to give her a dig, not now, not after almost dying. Before he could say anything, firemen were coming through the side yard, and they got to their feet.

For the next half hour, they were attended to by medics and answered questions from the police and from Flynn and several other agents. After getting first aid and bandages for their thankfully superficial cuts, they both refused further treatment. He wasn't sure that was the best idea, but he was sticking close to Andi, and she was adamant that she wasn't going to waste time in an ER.

As the FBI took control of the scene, Flynn and an agent Andi called Savannah urged them into an SUV and drove them to another house that was apparently considered a safe house.

The two-story home was in a wooded area called Rustic Canyon in the hilly Palisades area just north of Santa Monica. It was a standalone home with shrubbery and tall fences on either side providing privacy from nearby homes. There were cameras all over the property and advanced locks on the doors, as well as a security system that was better than anything he'd ever seen. Unlike Andi's townhouse, it was also fully furnished.

They sat down together in the living room, and for the first time in an hour, he took a full breath. They were alive and safe and while there were a million more questions now, that was really all that mattered.

Savannah handed them each a bottle of cold water. He opened his and took a long, thirsty drink, while Andi did the same. Savannah and Flynn sat down on the chairs facing them.

"My furniture," Andi said suddenly. "It never came, did it?"

"There was a furniture truck that arrived," Savannah said. "I sent them away."

"Well, at least my furniture wasn't blown up," Andi said, making a weak joke that he didn't find at all funny.

"Do you think you were followed home?" Flynn asked.

"I never saw a tail, but maybe I wasn't looking closely enough. Because I don't know how else anyone would know where I live. Although, the furniture company had my address, and it is weird that they weren't supposed to deliver until tomorrow, but suddenly they were coming today, which is why I went home. I have no idea, though, how anyone could have contacted them or known that I had a delivery coming. It's not like I've been talking about it with anyone."

"They could have hacked your phone, your email," Flynn said.

Andi frowned. "That's true."

"It appears that the device was activated remotely once you were in the house," Savannah said. "But the good news is they weren't able to plant it inside your home where it would have done more damage."

"That's the good news?" Cooper cut in. "Andi was almost killed. She was knocked out. I thought she was dead."

At his words, all three of them looked at him with varying emotions in their eyes. Flynn appeared sympathetic, Savannah was curious, and Andi flushed like she was guilty of allowing herself to almost be blown up.

---