Page 85 of Don't Game Me
Christ, let her be okay.
He knocked on Heath’s office door. “Becca. You in there?”
He panted to catch his breath.
The door opened. In the few seconds before she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face into his chest, he saw no obvious injuries. His alarm ramped down.
“You’re here.” A sob ripped out of her. “I’m sorry about everything. Thank you for answering your phone.”
He wrapped his arms around her and fought the urge to look over every inch of her skin to prove she was all right. After a bit, he lost the fight and pulled her away. Long strands of her brown hair hung loose around her face where they had broken free of her ponytail. He brushed it off her face and snagged a few tears from her red puffy eyes. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m a bit dinged up from earlier, but I’m fine. I’m sorry to worry you. I didn’t know what to do. I still don’t know if I was being paranoid or what.”
“You did the right thing to call me.”You’re everything to me.
“Quan called in a favor, and since they were moving her later today, it had to happen. I just got scared.” Her eyes glassed up.
“You’re not in a state to be interviewing the person who attacked us. Even without the drug on board, I wouldn’t recommend you face her. That was bad judgment on his part.” His gaze met Heath, who sat at his desk, observing. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
“Glad I could help.” Heath waved. “Take care of your girl.”
His girl.
She strolled out of the office ahead of him. “I’m fine. I’m glad you’re here.”
Her words wrapped around Jake’s heart and made his chest hurt. In front of the elevator, he wrapped her in his arms again. He leaned his forehead against hers. “If he’d hurt you…if anyone hurt you…”
He swallowed, unable to voice the scenarios his mind created during the drive here. And, unable to tell her how terrified he’d been of finding her seriously hurt.
Her hands fisted in his shirt, dragging him closer. She leaned into him, and it felt so right. All the complicated feelings between them faded in the shadow of what had happened.
She released a hiccupping sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I thought if I faced her, I could get the truth.”
“Always fierce.” He rubbed her back and just held her.
“I should’ve stayed in the hospital. But, like an idiot, I charged off to face Lisi. I didn’t know what to do. I fell apart. There was so much going on. And that drug, which I don’t understand. Why would she inject both of us if she thought she killed me with the gun and was trying to frame you? Then she died right in front of me in the interrogation room.”
As relief crested and the horror of what could’ve been receded, he blinked against accumulated moisture in his eyes. His brain was a muddled mess of dizzy and emotional. All he could formulate to reply was, “It’s odd.”
She hugged him tighter.
“Come home with me.” He needed her close for the rest of the night.
“I shouldn’t,” she answered. “We’re so messed up.”
He pulled back, but not away. “I want you to come back to my place. It’s not safe for you to stay with your parents or Noah. Emma’s place doesn’t have a good security system.”This is about me needing to know you’re somewhere safe tonight and tomorrow.
She stared up at him. “I can crash with Noah or my parents.”
“I forgot. Noah’s waiting downstairs. Hope he didn’t get a parking ticket.” He texted Noah they were on their way. “Come with me for tonight.” He released a shaky breath.I thought I’d lost you today.The words wouldn’t come out to vocalize it out loud.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was going on this morning. It didn’t feel like it’d be life or death until it was.”
“It never does until it’s too late,” he mumbled.
The elevator dinged its arrival. She caught his arm before he stepped inside the car. “That didn’t feel like it was about this morning. That sounded like… Did something happen to you or someone else before this?” She pulled his head away from her to meet her gaze.
The elevator doors shut without them inside. Her wide-eyed worry for him tempted him to release this demon. No. It had to remain in the locked vault of memories. “It’s nothing.”
