Page 35 of Saving Meri

"Close enough that we need to move you. I’ve got a team headed to you. We’re not far. I didn’t want too much space between us. DeLuca isn’t just sending his henchmen this time. He’s sending professionals. They’ve got people watching Cerberus and, most likely, your place."

Meri’s stomach dropped as Bear swung his legs off the bed, pulling her up with him, his protective grip never loosening. "How long?"

"Not long. Maybe tomorrow…most likely the next," said Fitz.

“Take the old tunnel to the brewery. There’s an emergency code at the elevator that will bring you directly to the loft. I’ll have to let you in from the foyer.”

Bear cursed under his breath before ending the call, his hand already reaching for his jeans. Meri watched him, her pulse spiking as the afterglow of their moment shattered around them.

The enemy was closing in…

9

BEAR

Bear moved fast. He had barely ended the call with Fitz before he was on his feet, pulling Meri up with him. She swayed slightly on the edge of the bed, still dazed from what had happened between them moments ago, but he didn’t have time to ease her back into reality. Reality was about to kick their goddamn door down.

“They’re coming,” he said, already grabbing his jeans and pulling them on. “Get dressed, little one.”

Meri blinked at him, shaking off the fog of afterglow as she sat up. “Now?”

“Now.” His tone left no room for argument.

Meri slid off the bed, reaching for the first piece of clothing she could grab—his shirt. It swallowed her up, hanging just past her thighs, but she didn’t hesitate as she grabbed a pair of leggings from the floor and pulled them on.

Bear was already moving through the loft, checking every lock, every entry point. He had built his loft for security, but that didn’t mean he was taking any chances. Fitz was approaching and would use the tunnels under the old brewery to access the building, but getting Meri out safely was only half the battle.

DeLuca had made his move.

Now Bear was going to end him.

Meri followed him into the living space, still barefoot, her hair a mess of tangled waves from where he’d fisted it earlier. He wanted nothing more than to throw her back into bed, to keep her locked up where no one could touch her, but that wasn’t an option.

“I need you to listen,” he said, pulling a small, black handgun from the safe embedded in the wall. He checked the chamber, then handed it to her. Bear watched her as she took the gun without hesitation.

“I’m ready,” she said. Her voice was firm, controlled, but her pulse was hammering at her throat. Not with fear, but with adrenaline. She was ready. He just needed to make sure she didn’t do something reckless.

“Stay close to me,” he ordered. “You don’t run ahead, you don’t play hero. You don’t try to exact revenge. You do exactly what I tell you.”

Her eyes flashed with something defiant, but she nodded. “Got it.”

Bear cupped the back of her neck, fingers pressing just enough to make her focus on him. “Say it.”

She swallowed. “I do what you say.”

“Good girl.” He brushed his lips over her forehead before releasing her. “Shoes. Now.”

She moved without argument this time, grabbing her boots from the corner as Bear double-checked the security system—ensuring the cameras and motion detectors were functioning properly, and locking down every entry point tighter than a vault. No one was getting in without his say-so.

The doors slid open, revealing Fitz and Archer stepping into the foyer, both armed, both carrying the kind of energy that meant trouble was already at their backs. Bear unlocked thedoors leading in from the foyer, relocking them the minute they were inside.

As he turned to face them, before he could say a word, Archer swung.

The punch landed hard, right across the bridge of Bear’s nose. He barely grunted, rocking back a step as the impact reverberated through his skull. Blood rushed, but he didn’t move to retaliate.

Meri gasped. “Archer…”

Fitz chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “You should have seen that coming.”

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