Page 76 of Hidden Raphael
She gulped. If the situation was reversed and it was Erica upstairs in the bed, she'd be no different. She thrust her chest back out. "I'm going with you."
He reached over and tried to massage her arms. "Absolutely not."
"We discussed this." She held her hands still at her sides and refused to let him upset her. Her temperature increased. "You need backup."
She turned to stop his touch. He stiffened. "You don't know how to defend yourself."
"I have the Taser." She stepped in front of him so he couldn't walk away, and she met his gaze. Her muscles tensed and she vowed to stay in front of him until he gave in. "You're not going without me."
He lowered his head. "Kimberly, I can't risk losing you too."
"Likewise." She crossed her arms and stood her ground. Then, with precise movements, she stepped into his body and leaned up. "We go together or not at all."
He stepped out of her reach. His shoulders tightened as he narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
There was no way she'd let him leave. Not now. She couldn't. She squared her shoulders. "I caused this. I let them out of the dungeon, so I'm fixing it."
"I should have told you about them." He uncrossed his arms, and they flew to his side as he shook his head. "Stay here with my sister."
If anything happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. She ran her own life and she could help him. She kept her chin high. "She'll get worse if you're not here. If we go together, then she knows you're not alone."
He stood like an unmoving mountain. "Kimberly…"
The CIA, his secret mission, his "can’t talk about anything," and his need to avoid conversations all came together in her mind. She shook her head, but then lowered her tone. "Raphael, are you a spy? Is that why you stranded yourself here?"
He froze. "I can't say."
"You don't have to." She rubbed her arms. Somehow she'd stumbled onto the truth. "How long until you're free?"
He blinked. It was a sign that he'd move. Then he shook his head. "I haven’t been free in a long time."
No, he'd not lead her backward in time. She planted her feet wide apart. "Free of why you keep secrets in this house, not your past mistakes."
"I'm not in the military,” he said. “There is no discharge date."
She studied his strong, muscular frame. "Were you telling the truth about the ships and April and reopening the hotel?"
"Yeah." He took a step forward, and she took a step backward to stay in front of him. She needed to understand him. She needed to understand if her heart could take another chance. "Kimberly, I have to go get my sister's medicine."
She hoped she exuded calm and confidence as she stepped aside. "We've had this discussion. I'm coming."
He crossed his arms again. "Stay."
She reached out and brushed his shoulders. He let down his hands. She grabbed her jacket and headed to the door with her Taser. "You are determined. I give you that. I'm going. If you don't take me, I'll follow you."
He froze. "I should lock you in your room."
"You won't." She held still, and did her best not to tremble in her shoes. "I can act as lookout and a second pair of eyes. Plus I’m fast. Besides, there are two of them and they know what you're capable of. Don't walk into danger alone."
He shook his head and threw a hat at her for her to wear. "Fine, but you have to run the second I tell you. I can't let you get hurt out there."
She tugged it on her head tight. "I'll do everything you say."
"See that you do."
Of course. Once she set her sights on a goal, nothing stopped her. She licked her lips, and he guided her in a different direction. "Won't I need a another jacket?"
"You're not wearing bright pink anything." He shook his head. "I have an extra coat in black."
