Page 69 of The Hacker
“Quarterback, right?”
“Yeah, the buck stopped with me.” He winked. “‘Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever.’”
“Thank you, Shane Falco.” She’d loved that movie once, but she associated football games with drunken attackers now.
“You knowThe Replacements?” He seemed astonished.
“I have brothers.” She stifled a sigh of relief and walked even faster as they reached the corner of her block.
“They play football?”
“Only for fun. Not high-level like you.” She pulled her keys out of the pocket she’d tucked them into before she left the bar. “Here we are. Thanks for the escort. Good night.” She practically jogged to the front door.
“Let me just take a quick look inside the foyer,” he said, coming up behind her. “It’ll make me feel better to know you’re safe.”
“It’s fine. I can see it through the window. It’s all clear.” Her hand was shaking, so she had a hard time fitting the key into the lock. He was crowding her back, which was beginning to trigger her panic response. She could use that since he’d brought up her past. “Could you give me some space? You’re triggering me.”
“Oh, sorry!” To her surprise, he backed off. “Didn’t mean to freak you out.”
She managed to get the door unlocked and opened it just wide enough so that she could slip through. When it was closed behind her, she lifted a hand to wave through the glass.
Chad waved back with a smile before he turned and left. She sat down hard on the bottom step and fought back the blackness that threatened to overwhelm her vision.
Breathe in-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. Hold it. Breathe out. Repeat.
Her heartbeat slowed and the blackness receded. She sat a moment longer, hating her weakness. Tully was right to keep her away from the action. She would be a liability.
She needed to text Leland a warning, just in case her minders hadn’t.
Be careful you don’t get spotted. Chad insisted on walking me home. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t gallantry. He said some slightly creepy things. He may still be lurking around the building. I’m headed to my apartment now.
It wasn’t coherent but she sent it anyway. No time to edit. She waited a few seconds to see if Leland would respond. When he didn’t, she grabbed the handrail to pull herself to her feet. Her knees were still a little wobbly, so she held on as she trudged up the stairs.
Once she had relocked the dead bolt and reset her alarm, she went to the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of Smirnoff vodka that she kept for special occasions with friends. She poured a generous splash into a juice glass and swallowed it down in one gulp. The burn of the alcohol steadied her.
The next time she saw Chad, she was going to knee him in the balls for making her feel like that scared young girl again.
She recapped the bottle and put it back in the cabinet. Because she wasn’t that girl any more. Being afraid around Chad was logical, not weak. He was some kind of criminal who sold guns to even worse criminals. Sheshouldbe wary around him.
When a text pinged into her secure phone, she didn’t even start.
Chapter 16
I’m outside your door.
Dawn practically danced to her entryway. However, she still checked the video camera to make sure no one was holding Leland at gunpoint. Instead she saw him laden down with a couple of silver metal briefcases.
Disengaging all her security measures, she opened the door and let him take two steps in before closing the door behind him. “God, am I glad to see you!” Ignoring his burdens, she wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and poured all her fear and relief into a kiss.
He gave as good as he got, even though he couldn’t put his arms around her. By the time they came up for air, her insides had gone liquid with wanting and she could feel his erection pressing against her belly.
He put the briefcases on the floor and drew her into his arms, his blue eyes blazing down at her. “That was one hell of a greeting, darlin’. I’m tempted to go out and come back in the door again.” His voice had gone all southern so it warmed her even more.
She leaned back in the circle of his arms, all her fear vanishing like smoke in his presence. “I’m glad you decided Tully was wrong. I feel so much better having you here. It’s been a little nerve-racking today.”
His arms tightened around her and a shadow darkened the heat in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have to go through this alone.” His mouth went grim. “You shouldn’t have to go through it at all.”
“Don’t start blaming yourself.” She laid her palm against his cheek. “You keep forgetting that I started this whole thing about the Wi-Fi. I’ve been fully involved since the beginning.”
