Page 35 of Burn

“Security,” she said with a sigh so profoundly exhausted it tugged at me. “I get it.”

“You don’t have to like it,” I told her. While there wasn’t much else we could do right now, it was important that she understood we weren’t making any decisions lightly.

“Thank you for that,” she retorted. “I wasn’t sure if I was allowed or not.” The bite underscoring those words did make me smile. It was better when she snapped back. I liked the fiercer side of her.

“If you’d like, I’ll make you a list of all the correct etiquette so you know how to behave around us.” I had my tongue firmly in cheek, but I kept my expression sober.

“You think you’re funny,” she challenged, nose wrinkled.

“Not really, no. I’m being perfectly serious. Especially if you didn’t realize that you were free to like or dislike whatever decisions we make.”

“What if I don’t want to go along with any of your decisions?” The gauntlet landed with a bang between us. Much better.

“Perfectly reasonable response. You don’t know us. You don’t know you can trust us, though you are learning. You trust us on some levels, but not all of them. While you don’t have to like it, you will be safer with us than without. As evidenced by the assault at your place.”

I didn’t want to keep drilling down on that last piece, but it was better she understood.

“That doesn’t really answer my question, though. What if I just want to part ways? You drop me off at a police station, let me file a report and go home? I’m sure the FBI will help me.” She didn’tsoundthat certain though.

“Until we’ve completed a threat assessment that assures us you are not likely to be taken prisoner again, I’m afraid that letting you go is not in the cards right now.”

“So, you guys are just my latest captors.”

“In a manner of speaking, I suppose we are. I don’t see you as a prisoner, however. You are a client, we take protection seriously. The question you have to ask yourself is how hard do you want to make all of this?”

“In other words, I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t?” More fire glazed those words, the burn sizzling where it grazed against me.

“I wouldn’t put it that way, but I suppose if you want to frame it negatively, then yes, Firecracker, I suppose you are.”

She scowled at me. “You’re annoyingly blunt.”

“But you like it,” I countered. “Or you wouldn’t keep trying to engage me.”

Her mouth opened then closed twice without a single sound escaping. The muted shriek of outrage entertained me, but I didn’t grin until she looked away to stare out of the car again.

The silence filling the vehicle lay heavily with all the things she wasn’t saying. Still, I had to appreciate the effort to think her arguments through and not just making them blindly. She was every bit as intelligent as Lunchbox claimed.

He and Alphabet were already compromised where she was concerned, however. Bones noticed it as well. It was why he gave me the task of handling her transport. I didn’t mind using her as bait, and I could keep my head while talking to her.

Lunchbox about turned himself inside out to make sure she ate the night before. He even went so far as to try and get her to confess her favorite foods. It had been moderately entertaining, particularly when she gave him so little to work with.

Still…

I glanced over at her. Her shoulders were rigid and her face turned to the window, resolute in how she ignored me.

I could definitely see the appeal.

An hour later, I considered broaching a detente to see if she wanted a bathroom break. Then I caught the SUV closing the distance between us. It had been there on and off the last thirty minutes, but I’d taken an exit like I was going for gas. It followed me and while I didn’t turn in, it had.

Now here it was, having caught us up again.

I guess we had our answer.

They could trackher.

“Grace,” I said, then put a hand on her leg. “We need to talk…”

Chapter

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