Page 91 of Dangerous Rhythm

“Sorry I woke you up.” Curtis approached her.

“That’s alright. You know I’m a light sleeper.”

“Where are we?” He looked out, trying to pinpoint a landmark.

“Harlem. My apartment.”

“Oh.” Curtis looked around the clean, modern room. There weren’t many knickknacks to show it was her bedroom. In fact, it felt like a hotel room. “Did you just move in?”

“A year ago, after I made junior partnership.” Lina noted Curtis’ unspoken observation. “I traveled a month at a time. I’mbarely here. In fact, I was home for one weekend before we flew to Paris.”

“So you don’t have any attachment to the place, then?”

Lina shrugged. “Why?”

“Maybe you’ll move in with me when this is all over.”

Her gaze flew to him.

“Don’t answer that. Think about it,” Curtis quickly added. He knew he was rushing her, but he didn’t want her to retreat to her cocoon again once they got their lives back.

Lina looped her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. The gesture warmed his heart. Aside from cuddling after sex, she limited physical affection. It felt good when she relaxed with him.

“Let’s make sure you’re safe before we think about all that, okay?” she said.

“I want to resolve this, Lina. No matter what it takes.” He brushed his lips against her hair. “I need you to support me, even if I have to risk myself.”

She shook her head. “There’s gotta be another way.”

“If there isn’t, can I count on you to back me up?”

Lina straightened and looked at him, new turmoil in her eyes. “I will always back you up, but asking me to put your life in danger? That’s too much. I won’t survive it if anything happens to you.”

Curtis was taken aback by her show of emotions. In his one-mindedness, Curtis hadn’t thought through what he was asking her.

“Nothing will happen to me,” he promised.

“You can’t know that.”

“I know, because we won’t go into anything unprepared.” Curtis pulled her back into his arms. “I’m not marching into the Stilettos’ den without a game plan. I might have a couple of years ago. I was that reckless, thinking I was invincible. I havesomething more to live for now. Something new I want to see grow.

“If it comes down to me confronting the Stilettos, you don’t have to be a part of that, if you don’t want to,” he added. “Marcus or—”

“You think I will let you go meet the Stilettos without me? Think again,” Lina warned. “I tried pawning you off to Raul. You had your chance to get rid of me. Now, you’re stuck with me, buddy.”

Curtis chuckled. “There’s nobody I’d trust more to have my back, Lina. But I also don’t want you to risk yourself for me.”

“That’s not debatable.”

He pulled her chin up so he could kiss her. “Then we’re at an impasse.”

“No. It just means we have each other’s back. I will always keep you safe from any threat, Curtis.”

Curtis half-grinned at that. “I feel that should be my line. But coming from you, I think it’s hot.”

She finally laughed at something silly but a hundred percent true.

“Well, if you insist on taking risks, let’s head down to the basement gym and put in some training time,” Lina suggested. “We’re not falling back to sleep anyhow. You could use some drilling and maybe a bit of tumbling practice.”

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