Page 36 of Salvation

I nod in perfect understanding. “Amen, sweetie. Sometimes beasts can be extremely gentle.”

She looks at me. “That they can.” She smiles. “Goodnight, Hope. You have a good time tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She nods at the lobby area. “Davey is still out there. Don’t be too hard on him. He’s actually very sweet.”

Something in her voice has me looking up, but she’s already turned and walked down the hall heading to the shelter.

No way, Maia can’t be interested in Davey? He’s got to be twice her age. Yeah, he’s attractive enough I guess if you like that kind of thing. He’s heavily tattooed and lean without being too big. I’ve never really looked at him to appreciate him like that.

He works for Gabrial. He carries a gun. Yeah, he’s a driver, but I don’t doubt he can be dangerous. He wouldn’t work for Gabrial otherwise. And Gabrial wouldn’t have left him here with me if he wasn’t capable of protecting me no matter what comes up.

No, Maia cannot possibly be interested in him. I must have imagined that bit of appreciation in her voice.

Speaking of Davey, I need to let him know I have plans with Luke tonight.

If I’m with Luke, there is no reason for him to stick around me. Luke can protect me. I don’t need Luke and Davey.

Popping my head out, I call down the hall, “Davey? Are you up there?”

His gruff voice carries down the hall as he answers me, “Yes, Ma’am. I’m in the lobby. Do you need something? Anything I can get you?”

Chuckling, I walk down the hall. As I reach the lobby, I grin. Davey is kicked back on one of the sofas. His shoes are off, though they are neatly together in front of him on the floor. His jacket is unbuttoned, and his arm is behind his head. He appears to be reading on his phone.

He sits up hurriedly as he sees me, smoothing his suit jacket as he does so. “I’m sorry. Did you need something, Miss Hope?”

How do they wear full suits in the dead ass height of summer? They have to be so uncomfortable.

Grinning at him, I sit on the edge of the sofa. “Nope. I’m good. I was just going to tell you that Luke will be here at seven to pick me up. We’re going to hang out tonight, so there’s no need for you to stick around, too.” His eyes widen as I talk. “Do you have somewhere to go? Luke can handle the bodyguard duty, so that should leave you with free time. Since Gabrial assigned you to me and I’ll be with Luke, that means you get time off.”

He tries to argue. “No, I don’t think Mr. DeLucca…”

I cut him off. “Blah blah blah. You can stay here with me until Luke gets here and then you can go do whatever you want. Go to a strip club, play BINGO, visit your momma, take your girlfriend to dinner. I really don’t care, but I’m telling you that you get the night off, okay?”

He chuckles. “I don’t really do the strip club thing. Other than driving Mr. DeLucca when someone requests a meeting there, it’s not my scene. BINGO? I’m thirty-one, not sixty. My momma is on a Caribbean cruise. And, I don’t have a girlfriend.

“But I can find something to do. You have my number, so once you return home, or are going to be alone, just call, or text, me and I’ll head to your house. My orders are to prevent you from being alone. If you’re with Detective Sanchez, you won’t be alone, but you need to call me before he drops you off, okay?

“Swear or I’ll have to follow you all night.”

He’s thirty-one. He’s younger than I thought.

Gabrial has meetings at strip clubs? Gross.

No girlfriend. Interesting.

And as long as I swear I’ll call him when Luke brings me home, he won’t follow us tonight. Though Luke will probably stay the night.

SOLD!

Nodding, I chuckle. “You have yourself a deal. I’ll call you before I’m left all alone and vulnerable. I probably won’t be though. If I don’t call, I’m not alone.” Holding up my pinkie, I smirk, “Pinkie swear.”

Looking at me with his brows raised, he laughs. “Okay, then.”

Pointing at him, I say, “Hold out your pinkie, too.” He gives me an incredulous look, so taking his hand, I bend his fingers except for his pinkie and link mine with it. “It only works if you swear on your pinkies, otherwise, I just look like a moron. Come on, man. You’re not that much older than I am.

“You’ve never pinkie sweared?!”

He shakes his head and chuckles. “I cannot say that I have.”

Grinning at him, I hop up from the couch. “Guess I popped your cherry then.”

He coughs and his eyes glisten as he tries to hold in his amusement. “Ahhh.”

I laugh as I stand. “It’s okay. No worries. I’m safe.”

Before he can even formulate a response, I’m heading back to my office to finish up for the day. As I enter, I see the time on my phone… 6:47PM.

Luke should be here any second. He’s always punctual.

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