Page 45 of Wine & Whiskey
7
Chapter Seven
Juan has Shae.
The three-wordtext that made his head almost fucking explode circles around and around in his mind. How could he have been so fucking stupid? Letting that bastard get to her, put his hands on her, threaten her. And not a god damn fucking he could do about it but wait.
Twenty minutes of torture after he and Max learned why Jacks remained at her house, yet the limo continued to move. Located and trailed by Max’s men, the car meandered slowly yet steadily toward the hotel. Under strict orders, his team had been poised to attack only if necessary, unwilling to jeopardize her safety, no matter how much he wants Juan dead.
“Please don’t worry. I really am fine.”
Shae's soft voice pulls him out of his thoughts. He takes a deep breath, yet fails to rein in his fury, more angry with himself than Juan. Her smile pierces his pounding heart, the sentiment small and sad, a slight tremble to her lips. She lies to protect him. Trying to prove she’s okay. Attempting to ease his guilt. Which will never happen.
The vise grip on his hand the only other clue to her anxiety as they wait for Max to get the car. Her delicate fingers squeeze his, her glittery fingernails rubbing against his knuckles, which ache to find Juan and eliminate him permanently. But that has to wait. He caresses her cheek, a bit of color brightening her pale skin from his touch. He won’t let her out of his sight until he gets her to the house. Her home now too, even though she doesn’t know it yet. It’s the only way he can keep her safe.
With a slight tug on his jacket, she meets his gaze, guilt clouding her expression. “I’m sorry tonight was ruined. I know how much the Foundation means to you.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry.” He drops his head and blows out a long breath, her shaking hand so small pressed against his chest. “For everything you’ve gone through being with me.”
“Then don’t make things worse. Please let it go with Juan.”
An impossible request in a world ruled by domination. Ignoring Juan’s attempt to intimidate him ensures a death sentence for both of them. Yet, telling her the truth guarantees the demise of their relationship. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She searches his face before looking away, shaking her head in defeat. “I know. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
A knock bangs from the hallway, and he aims his gun at the door, unable to take chances, refusing to assume anything. Guilt burns through his stomach at her sharp gasp as he curls her against his body. Another cruel exposure to his brutal world he can’t avoid. At the sight of Max in the entryway, he loosens his grip and kisses her forehead before shoving the Glock into the back of his waistband.
She bites her lip, shivering as he presses his lips against her ear, “I’m sorry. I had to be sure.”
The men walk down the hallway with her sandwiched between them. Max glances at him before returning his gaze to scan the corridor. “The car’s on the top floor of the parking garage. No one else is up there. Once you head out, we’ll sweep the limo for any surprises Juan may have tried to leave behind and then bring it back to the house.”
Nick nods. “We’ll pick up a few things at her place tonight and go back tomorrow for the rest. Let Spencer know. He can help.”
At the car, Shae reaches for Max before she climbs in. “Thank you for everything. You take good care of us.”
Even in his turmoil, Nick smiles at Max’s widening eyes before he returns her embrace. No one in his line of work ever receives hugs. Even more disturbing, no woman he’s dated would have ever offered one.
Only Shae.
The sweet angel he’s somehow lucky enough to have found. His gut tightens. And will probably lose.
As they drive, she fingers the tiny rhinestones lining the side of her skirt. “Juan knows where I live, and now I can’t go home.”
He shakes his head, loathe to admit the truth, dreading her realization of the danger she faces unless she allows him to protect her. “He was trying to prove he can get to me through you. I won’t let it happen again.”
She turns toward the window, preventing him from reading her expression. “I don’t know what to do.”
The flatness of her voice makes his stomach clench. She’s shutting down on him. “Move in with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
Her humorless laugh drifts toward him, wasting him with her doubt. “If we were regular people, we’d never do this. We’d still be dating, going to the movies, and eating frozen yogurt.”
So many times he’s dreamed of not being in this world. What it would be like to fix cars or build houses. Working hard and trying to make ends meet, but his life his own. No bodyguards or gated homes or looking over his shoulder. “We can’t change who we are. Even if we had normal lives, I would still love you and want to be with you.”
“What happens after we start living together? I don’t want to spend our lives hiding from Juan.”
Only until he’s dead. “It won’t be like that, I promise.” They drive in silence, her gaze never leaving the window. His phone buzzes in the cradle, and he glances at the screen before pushing the button on the steering wheel. “This is Nick.”
“Hi Nick. It’s Bridget. I wanted to catch you before the banquet and try one more time to talk you into letting me recognize you for the completion of the new safe houses and underwriting of the crisis hotline. Tonight is our opportunity to celebrate the Foundation’s successes, and I want to include these achievements.”
