Page 18 of The Spy

“Perhaps I should sleep nearby.” He swallowed. His eyes darkened. And with difficulty, he added, “I know this sounds—I know this looks—Anna, I just want to keep you safe and if that means taking over as an additional bodyguard and sleeping in the next room then that’s what I’m gonna do, not matter how much I want, no matter how appealing… he stopped and ran a hand through his hair.

She stopped his hand and brought it down to cradle in her own. “I want nothing more than you by my side forever, bodyguard or no.” And it was true. She hoped he could manage it. The more she turned to him, the more she relied on him, the greater her world would shatter if he couldn’t handle all that was required to be at her side.

Chapter 12

Lucan found her quarters on his own, dragging the blanket off his bed and a pillow as he went.

She laughed when he entered and poked a pencil in her hair to hold it in place. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to sleep in here. Just thought I’d stake my claim before the meeting started.”

“Just like that? On the floor?”

“Well, yes, unless you have room in with you?” He wiggled his eyebrows until she laughed.

“I’ll have someone make up a bed for you in here.” She held her hand out to him. “Thank you, Lucan. I feel safer knowing you are here.”

“I know you could take care of yourself. But everyone needs to sleep so I will be near as a backup for the other bodyguards they are adding to your detail.”

She opened her mouth in surprise and Lucan wanted to kiss it, her full lips inviting him closer. But he stayed where he was, cradling her hand in his own.

“How many more do I have?”

“Let’s go to the meeting and find out, shall we?”

She stood, kept her hand in his, gathered her papers and folder, and they walked out of her room together. “This feels nice.”

“Tightening security to keep you safe from old enemies?”

“No, walking down the hall in my home with you at my side.” She smirked. “Tightening security and old enemies feels all too familiar.”

“I’m glad I can be here for this.” He hated that they had a reason to worry, but he was happy to fill in exactly in the best way he could be utilized so soon after his arrival. “We’ll keep you safe, Anna.”

“I have no doubt of that. And we’ll have my hired security team to help us.”

Lucan looked up and the conference room was full, phones going, surveillance computers up and running, people doing their jobs. And he felt right at home. “Now this I could get behind. Well done Anna!”

“Well, you know I did learn a thing or two from the expert.” She nudged him and then they entered the room.

Everyone stood.

She nodded. “Thank you, be seated. Can I have an update?” Her tone changed, and Lucan leaned back against the wall enjoying a true queen at work. She continued, “Barlow, what have we got on these guys?”

Barlow explained where the intruders had been, what they had bought and even what color shoes they wore.

Lucan listened while everyone briefed and updated each other. Then Anna said, “These men are some of the worst people I have the misfortune of knowing. They are ruthless, kill for pennies, and have no problem taking a few children out of the country with them. Whether or not they know who I am, they are a great risk to Spain and our citizens.”

“Can we not arrest them?” Lucan thought the solution simple.

“On what charges?” Barlow again reminded him that in Spain they have to follow due process. “Well, on suspicion at least, bring them in for questioning, detain them, make their life difficult.”

“We will, but first, we want to see what they’re up to.”

Lucan thought that was fair. They had a chance to bring down any of the men’s associates who might be in the country as well, but he rarely risked those kinds of situations. He just moved quickly to remove the threat, and soon, potential threats avoided Torren altogether.

As the big screen scrolled through images of their time spent in Spain, Lucan called out, “Stop.” He held up his finger. “Bring back that image, the one right before this one.” It was a close up of one of the men from the side, and Lucan knew he’d seen him before. “How do you know these men?”

“They were in Cairo, part of a drug and trafficking bust we did several years ago.”

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