Page 86 of Concealed

I do, but he needs to get back to the station and deal with Wang Yong, who will hopefully think I’m dead and do whatever the team wants sans lawyer.

A man can dream.

“I’m good,” I say. “Call me tomorrow.”

I jog over to the cruiser and flash my badge so they aren’t alarmed by someone who likely looks like an armed vagrant at this point – I mean, I was actually shot tonight – running up to them. I’m in street clothes since we were undercover, and I don’t want them to get the wrong idea about my intentions.

“What’s up, guys?” I ask.

“The woman who lives here felt like she was being watched,” the driver tells me, as chills immediately run down my spine.

“We got a call from a cop in LA. Gabe Weston. So, we’ve been driving by every so often and checking the place over,” the passenger adds.

Rebecca thinks Matt is in Sunnyville and she didn’t call me.

For fuck’s sake.

If there’s one extremely valid reason for interrupting me at work, it’s because she’s scared and needs help. It’s quite literally my job to lay my life on the line to protect strangers, but first and foremost, I’m going to protect my own.

And she’s mine now.

“Thanks, guys,” I say. “I’m back home for a few days now, but would be grateful if you’d continue keeping a lookout.”

“Righto,” the driver tells me. “We’ll let the next shift know, too.”

“Appreciate it.”

Rebecca wasn’t kidding about waiting for me. As soon as my key enters the lock, she runs full speed toward me. The second after I close and lock the door, she’s in my arms.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her fingertips gently exploring my chest as though to make sure I’m still in one piece.

I process Gabe sitting on the couch, and I nod at him before turning my attention back to my girl. “I’m good.” I push her out to arms’ length so I can look into her eyes. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I guess your colleagues told you that I’m crazy.”

“You’re not crazy. You were scared, and you didn’t call me.”

She shrugs and tries to look away, but I tilt her chin with my thumb. “You were working,” she says.

Work is not more important than her.

Nothing is.

And apparently, I need to get that message across.

“I thought that I saw Matt when I was out for a run, and then I thought I heard someone trying to get inside the house. And then a circuit blew and the power went out, which scared the shit out of us.”

“I wasn’t scared,” Gabe calls, and I laugh.

Hooking my arm around her waist, I bring her with me as I go through my disarming routine. I lock my weapon in the gun safe before turning to face her again.

“Let’s get one thing straight, okay? If something is scaring you enough to call Gabe, you need to callme. I don’t care if I’m working or meeting with the queen. What good is protecting strangers if I can’t even protect you?”

Tears fill her eyes, and when she cups my jaw, I nestle into the tender contact. “I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll call you first. Now tell me what happened!”

Gabe joins us and lightly smacks my back. “It’s good to see you, man, despite the circumstances. Leave it to you to get your stupid ass shot on my first visit here.”

I chuckle when Rebecca gasps at his comment. “The bullet hit my shoulder,” I tell them, adding for Rebecca’s benefit, “When you’re wearing a vest, taking a bullet just feels like you’ve been smashed with a hammer. A big hammer. Really hard. Luckily, it didn’t break any bones, and all I’ve got to show for my trouble is a bruise.”

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