Page 31 of Elliot

She stopped and looked back at Ross. “I was serious, Mr. Stapleton. I would like to help whoever was injured during the shooting if they need it.”

“Ma’am, we checked. There was one injury that would require hospitalization. We’re working on discerning why the individual was at the location because he wasn’t staff, nor did he have an invitation.”

Maya frowned and then shook her head. “He was probably someone’s plus one.” She turned to Elliot. “Like you were tonight.”

“We’ll work that angle, too. Thank you, and good night. I hope the next time we meet, it will be on a better occasion.” Ross smiled at her.

Maya smiled tiredly. “I do, too.”

Elliot escorted her through the maze of offices that were surprisingly still busy that late at night. When they were in the elevator, she leaned against his arm. “I’m sorry. I’m so tired.”

He put his arm around her and held her gently. He didn’t want her to be sorry for leaning on him. And that was a problem, but he didn’t give a flying fuck … hell, he had absolutely no fucks left to give. The elevator door opened, and they made their way to the limo waiting for them. The driver was out and opened the back door for them. He helped her in, and instead of getting into the front of the car, he got into the back. He tapped his comms device twice, muting his side of the device. Con had been silent, so he was either busy or had shut down for the night.

Maya leaned against his shoulder. He lifted his arm, and she leaned against his chest. Then he dropped his arm over her shoulder. She hummed something and relaxed against him. He watched traffic as she slept against him. The protective beast that lived inside him beat his chest when Elliot let his guard down. That feeling … God, it had been so long since he’d let himself feel good. He drew a deep breath. Maya was abeautiful woman with a beautiful spirit, too. He’d watched her work, watched her with the political and entertainment elite tonight, and watched her with the wait staff. She was kind to everyone. Her work ethic was incredible, and she had standards that she applied evenly to her workers and herself. If it wasn’t Chandler sending the dead rats, who could it be? Instinctively, he tightened his arm around Maya. She sighed and then fell back into a deep sleep.

Elliot was missing a connection. There was something that connected everything together. What was it? What was he missing?

CHAPTER 11

Maya jerked awake when the car stopped. She pushed up, realizing she’d been sleeping on Elliot. She raked her hand through her hair. “I’m sorry.”

He looked at her. “I’m not. Do you need a minute?”

She blinked and patted down her hair. “No. Do I?” She looked at him.

His eyes raked over her, and she felt that gaze as heat flooded her body. He rasped, “No, you don’t.”

Elliot waited for the driver to open the door before he exited and reached back for her hand. She took his and walked to the door with her hand still in his. That he didn’t release her hand was strange and wonderful at the same time.

“Elliot, Ms. Callahan.” The older of the two security guards stood up behind the desk.

“Everything quiet, Dan?” Elliot asked as they walked across the lobby.

“As a church on a Friday night. Have a good night.”

“You, too,” Maya said as Elliot put her into the elevator and slid the card she’d given him into the slot that would take them to the penthouse.

He released her hand when the elevator door opened. “Would you like a drink?” she asked him and walked over to the bar cart in the corner of the room. She didn’t drink often, other than a glass of champagne at events, but damn, she needed one. She opened a new bottle, breaking the seals on the liquor. She noticed Elliot watched her open the bottle and he gave a small nod of approval before he said, “No, thank you.” Elliot took off his jacket. His tie still hung around his neck. She poured her drink and turned around to watch him roll up his sleeves. Those strong forearms and muscled shoulders were dangerously delicious. After taking a sip of the brandy, she coughed as the liquid burned down her throat. Elliot glanced up at her. His concern was immediate. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and tried to clear her throat. “Fine.” She put the small, globed glass down. “I forgot how strong it was.” But the warming sensation traveled through her body. She picked it up and swirled the liquid, watching the little streams run down the inside of the glass.

“Are you hungry?” Elliot asked as he headed to the kitchen.

She walked after him and watched as he pulled day-old takeout from the fridge. “I could eat.”

“I noticed you didn’t get a vegetarian dinner.” He looked up from his task of liberating all the food from the fridge. “Why?”

“I ate the veggies and the bread. I don’t like to be a bother, and the servers have so much to do.” She sat down at the table while he warmed the containers in the microwave.

“So, tell me why Jessica would be at the office tonight.”

She cocked her head to the side. “I have no idea. She’s told me she has trouble sleeping sometimes and works when she can’t sleep, but there isn’t anything that can’t wait until tomorrow. You know she can’t be the one doing this. She’s a good person.”

“Good people do bad things all the time.” Elliot put a container of white rice and sautéed veggies in front of her. She went over to the silverware drawer and retrieved the utensils they’d need before sitting down and forking a bite of veggies into her mouth.

“Well, that’s true, but I just can’t see it.”

He sat down and fixed himself a plate. “What did you think of Chandler’s interview?”

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