Page 46 of Seal My Fate

My panic must show, because Saint places a reassuring hand on my arm. “She’s just going to go stay at Sebastian and Avery’s place.”

“What? Why?” I demand.

“I’ve got a target on my back,” Wren speaks up. “I’m not spending another night under the same roof as you, Tessa. I won’t put you in danger like that again.”

“Tough. That’s not your choice to make,” I say angrily, moving to block her.

“Hey.” Saint plants himself in front of me. He takes me by the shoulders, looking down at me reassuringly. “This is to protect Wren. To protect the both of you."

“It’s safe here,” I insist.

“But Seb’s place is safer. It’s a fortress,” Saint explains. “Bullet-proof windows, gated driveway, 24/7 guards. He’s used to people gunning for him. It’s built to keep the bad guys out.”

“It’s OK, Tessie.” Wren nods. “It’s smarter this way, splitting up. They won’t know where to find me.”

“And even if they do, they have a fat chance of getting past Seb’s high-tech system,” Saint agrees. “It’s just for the night. We’ll all meet back tomorrow.”

I exhale. It doesn’t look like I’ve got a choice here, so even though I hate the idea of being parted from Wren, I slowly nod.

Soon, the door sounds. It’s a burly security guard, sent to collect Wren. “See?” she jokes, giving me a hug. “No offense to your guy, but I want someone like this standing between me and a bullet.”

I muster a smile. “Text every hour.”

“I will… If I’m not luxuriating,” Wren jokes. “Apparently, this Sebastian guy is even richer than Saint. You know how to pick your friends,” she adds with a wink, before heading to the SUV waiting outside.

As they leave, I catch a glimpse of the guard’s shoulder holster. He’s armed.

Good.

“I know you don’t want to be away from her again,” Saint says, as they drive away. “But we have to play it smart now. Ashford is scared, and scared animals are the most dangerous. They’re capable of anything.”

There it is again:Ashford.

“Do you think your father is planning all of this?” I can’t help but ask.

Saint’s expression tightens. “I don’t know. But either way, they won’t be for long. We need to finish this soon, before they have a chance to regroup, or come after you again.”

Inside, I track Wren’s journey on my phone app, before she FaceTimes to show she’s arrived safely at Sebastian’s home. “Seb and Avery out of town, but they havestaff,” Wren whispers, from what looks like a palatial modern bedroom suite. “Some guy asked me how I like my steak cooked, and my coffee in the morning. And another woman whisked all my bags away to launder and press my clothes.”

“You hear that?” I call to Saint, wandering upstairs. “You’re going to have to up your game.”

I enter the bedroom and stop. He’s changing clothes, into a crisp button-down shirt and designer tailored suit. The kind of clothing he wears to the office.

The kind of outfit he’d choose if he was going to snoop around Ashford Pharma without raising suspicion.

“Sleep tight,” I tell Wren quickly. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“Love you!”

I hang up, and watch Saint button his shirt. “Going out?” I ask slowly.

He looks over. “I told you, we’re running out of time. I need to go to Ashford tonight and download the data, before they decide to cover their tracks.”

“OK then.” I nod—and move to the closet, too. I flip through the racks of brand-new outfits, before picking a red plunging dress, and strappy heels. “Do you think this will work?”

Saint pauses, frowning. “Work for what?”

“Our break-in. Because I’m coming too.”

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