Page 22 of Merciless Protector

“He’s staying until the group leaves.” She meant the catering team he’d infiltrated. “By the way, we found a place for you to stay. I’m taking you there now. We’ll drop off your stuff and things for her later.”

She didn’t give me any details, just handed me a key card. Again, she was being just as cautious as I was.

I said nothing else and closed my eyes. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night. We arrived at a building in downtown a while later. It wasn’t a hotel, so I assumed Griff had rented an apartment.

Gently, I rested my hand on Tayla’s shoulder and shook her slightly. Her eyes opened wide with alarm for a second. It made me hate Ruin more. No telling what happened to her when he had her in his clutches.

I quickly released her and held my hands up. If anyone understood her trauma, it was me.

“We’re here. Can you walk?” I asked. She lifted one bare foot. Apparently, she’d lost a shoe in my urgency for us to leave so we wouldn’t be followed. I nodded. “I’ll carry you then.”

After I exited the vehicle with a nod to Kelsey, I scooped Tayla into my arms once again. Without adrenaline coursing through me, I noticed for the first time how incredibly light she was. Her eyes drooped, and I wondered again what Ruin had given her.

The doorman cleared the way for us, and there was suspicion in his eyes. I couldn’t blame him with all the stories out there about abducted women. I only hoped he wouldn’t call the cops. I made my way to the elevator with purpose, as if I’d been there a thousand times when it was my first. Kelsey had written the floor and suite number on a Post-it stuck to the key card. I used the card to access the elevator and waited. When it arrived, an older couple exited.

“Is she okay?” the older man asked. “Does she need help?” the woman added.

Tayla opened her eyes and gave them a sleepy smile. “It’s our honeymoon,” she said.

I grinned for more than one reason. First, because she’d clued in on how we must look and had been aware enough to make the statement. The second reason was that even though I hardly knew this woman, the idea we were honeymooners pleased me. It wasn’t as if I loved her. I didn’t know her. Even so, a grin remained on my face.

The card opened the door to the suite. Upon entering, I had to turn left and straight ahead were floor-to-ceiling views of Chicago’s cityscape. It was impressive. The city was lit up enough that I didn’t have to turn on lights. The hallway ended with the kitchen to the right and a grand living room in terms of size in front of it. I turned between the kitchen island and the living room to go down another hall. I headed for the open door at the end, which I assumed was a bedroom. I was right.

The bedroom, like the rest of the condo, was designed with dark wood and gray tones with modern touches. The bed seemed to float off the ground against the wall to the left. I set Sleeping Beauty there. She didn’t protest and hadn’t opened her eyes since the brief conversation with the older couple by the elevator.

She curled into a ball, and I went back to the living room to grab a throw. When I returned, I covered her with it. Then I sank into a chair in the corner of the room opposite the bed and door. Since I didn’t know what she might be on, I would be vigilant in watching over her.

I pulled out my phone to see if I’d gotten any messages from Griff. There were none. To pass the time, I searched the news sites and caught up with what I missed over the last few months.

At some point, I let my eyes fall shut but kept alert, or so I thought, until I felt someone trying to take the phone from my hand. I opened my lids to find Tayla hovering over me.

“Want something?” I asked and held up the phone.

“I need to call my mom.”

“You can’t,” I snapped and immediately regretted it when she stepped back and flashed a hateful gaze my way. “If you call your mom, she won’t be worried.”

“Exactly,” she snapped and crossed her arms over her chest.

“And then Ruin will know you’re free.” She let out a noise of frustration. “When he had you before, did he ever mention your parents? Like knowing they were sad or worried and or still looking for you.” I’d hit the nail on the head because her expression changed. “If you let your mother know, again, you’ll be putting them in danger. He will do something to them or take your sister to draw you out. His ego won’t let your freedom lie.”

She tossed her hands in the air. “What am I supposed to do? Hide out with you here forever? I have a job. And if you didn’t know it, I work for the FBI.”

“And they kept you safe?” It was a dig and hit the mark.

“No. The op didn’t go as planned—” She stopped and looked at me with suspicion. “How did you know I was on an op?”

“You just confirmed it.” Which was true of sorts. My handler had given me intel, but I didn’t know for sure until now. “But what does that matter? They let you get caught. I’m the one that freed you. If you want to take your chances with them, go ahead.”

I wouldn’t hold her captive, no matter what it cost me.

“What is your plan? How do I even know who you’re working for?”

We were at a standoff, so I tossed back something for her to consider. “Your brother trusted me. By the way, what did you tell him after?”

She exhaled and said, “I didn’t have to tell him anything. He knew how I’d been found. He asked me to confirm what man I’d been with. I tried to keep it from him but eventually told him it was you.”

I nodded. “How did he react?”

---