Page 30 of Salacious Devotion

JT sees me first and gasps.

Brant palms the wall, looking like he might faint.

“Jesus…” JT mutters.

Dane pulls me in front of him and wraps his arms around me from behind. He did this a lot when we were together. I liked it then, and I still like it now. “She didn’t die.”

Brant licks his lips. “I see that. But how?”

“I was the sole survivor that day. The FBI told everyone I was dead. I’ve been in witness protection,” I inform them.

JT’s eyes are wide. He glances at Dane. “You knew?”

Dane shakes his head. “No. I found out last night when she walked into the club.”

“Holy fuck,” Brant mumbles.

Dane nods. “That about sums it up. And you both have to keep this completely secret. No one else at work will be aware of Paige’s existence for now.”

“Of course,” they both say in unison.

Dane continues, “I need the two of you to take on the assignment of keeping Paige safe for the next two weeks. She has to return to her apartment and her job. She’ll give notice at work, pack like she’s moving, wrap up her fake existence. I don’t want to take a single chance while she’s extricating herself from her life.”

They don’t even flinch as they both nod. They both stare at me as though they’re looking at a ghost.

“She won’t go anywhere but home and work. I’ll get you those addresses. Stagger your schedules however you want. I’ll take some shifts, too. In a few hours, she will walk out of here and take an Uber to her apartment. Follow her home and find a discreet place to watch her apartment. Same goes for her work. You brought me some surveillance cameras, right?” Dane nods toward the bag JT is holding.

JT hands it to Dane. “Yes.”

Dane takes it. “Paige will mount them in the living room and the bedroom of her apartment. We’ll all be able to monitor her except when she’s in the bathroom. If anything looks suspicious, contact me immediately.”

“Understood,” JT says. “She’ll be safe.”

“Is there a particular threat we should be looking for? I assume the bank robber is at large?” Brant asks.

Dane responds, “Exactly. He doesn’t know there was a survivor, so in theory, he has no idea Paige exists. Her new name is Shannon.” Dane looks down at me. “I didn’t even ask your last name.”

“Jones.”

Dane chuckles. “Shocker.” He returns his attention to JT and Brant. “There shouldn’t be any threat. All of this is precautionary. When the two weeks are over, I’ll move her into my penthouse and guard her myself.”

Brant nods. “Done.”

“Thank you.” Dane walks them to the door.

JT turns toward me. “Fuck, it’s so good to see you, Paige.”

Brant rubs his eyes. “I still can’t believe it. I’m in shock, and nothing shocks me.”

I give them a wan smile.

As soon as they’re gone, Dane is back, wrapping me in his arms.

He kisses me. “You okay?”

“Not even close.” I’ve been shaking since we showered and dressed. I’d rather get back into bed and never leave this apartment.

Dane picks me up.

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