Page 20 of Wicked Duty
“No.” I bristle. “Darren, Veronika, and Maya think I’m just here for protection duty. They don’t know about the wallet.” I hesitate. “And Lucy may not either.”
“And it needs to stay that way.” Shane’s reply is sharp. Cold.
I’m not thrilled with the secrecy, but I keep my thoughts to myself as our call ends.
It’s not my job to question Shane.
I reenter the apartment just as Lucy emerges from her room dressed in a pair of fitted yoga pants and a tight t-shirt.
I stare. Immediately. Like the asshole she thinks I am.
But I can’t help myself.
With her face clean of makeup, she looks younger and even more beautiful. Before I can stop myself, my gaze roams over the rest of her striking curves.
Damn.
I head for the door. “I’ll be right back.”
“Bummer.”
Does she have a quip for everything? I can think of a few better uses for that smart mouth.
After snapping a few pictures of her “gift,” I pick up the box and jog down the steps from the eighth floor. The cool darkness of the emergency stairwell helps me clear my head. Jesus, this assignment already feels out of hand.
Outside, I dispose of the rat and rose in the trash and cross the street to my motorcycle, which contains storage for my duffle bag.
The sight dampens my already sour mood. When I first accepted this detail, I promised Veronika that I’d be prepared if things went south. I packed some clothes just in case, hoping I wouldn’t need to use them.
Watching Lucy during the day has proven difficult enough. Now she requires twenty-four-hour monitoring. Darren posted guys outside her apartment so I could take a break and sleep at my own place, but the fucking rat in the box got past them, so I guess I’m up. Maya has already pre-approved full-time surveillance, so at least I won’t receive any pushback from her.
However, Lucy’s smartass comments may push me to the very edges of my patience. If I’m being honest, though, a small part of me has started to enjoy her snark. A few times, I’ve even said things just to get a rise out of her.
How much worse can protecting her twenty-four seven really be?
Despite the fact that she’s probably up there wishing I’d get hit by a bus, I hike the bag over my shoulder and hurry back to Lucy’s apartment.
When I’m standing in her living area again, she points a purple-painted fingernail at my duffel bag. “What’s in there?”
“Clothes. Among other things.” At her frown, I lift a brow. “Did your sister not tell you? I’m your new roommate.”
I smother a smile as Lucy’s expression morphs into one of utter horror. “Like hell you are,” she screeches.
So shedidn’tknow about that possibility. That’s fun.
She fishes her phone from her pocket and dials with angry, shaking fingers. “What the hell is he talking about, saying he’s my new roommate?”
I can’t hear who’s on the other end or what they say, but the fury on Lucy’s face is easy to interpret. She hangs up without saying goodbye and scowls at me.
“This is your doing, isn’t it?” Acid drips from her lips.
“We mutually felt?—”
“There is nowe!”
“Maya, Darren, and I think it’s safest if I stay with you for the time being.” Following my brief phone call with Maya outside Lucy’s front door and the update I shared with Darren, they both agreed full-time security was the best course of action. That’s what Maya meant when she told Lucy she wanted me to serve in full capacity. “Because of the missing witness and the special delivery, not courtesy of FTD or Amazon.”
“And no one planned to inform me?” She shoves her phone back into her pocket before crossing her arms over her chest.
