Page 60
Story: The Hero She Deserves
He grinned. “Yeah.”
“And I thought former soldiers only wore camo gear, and had so many guns there was nowhere to put them, and spent their weekends prepping for the apocalypse.”
That got her a bigger, more natural smile. “Touché.”
She liked that smile. After what he’d shared with her, he deserved some happiness. She was touched that he’d shared some of his past. Her heart had broken for him, and his lost friend.
“I do work out more, and watch my food more when I’m prepping for a big role,” she told him. “Otherwise, I just try to stay active and eat pretty healthy. Thankfully, I also have a fast metabolism.”
“I’m glad you don’t eat just salad.” He ate some of his own wrap, then he paused for a moment. “Vander sent through everything his tech guy, Ace, assembled on Michael Reuben.”
Reality felt like a big drop of sludge hitting the back of her neck. “All right.”
“And Leilani is organizing some secure laptops and VPNs for us. But before we do more research, we need to move.”
“Move?”
“I told you that Archer’s place and my place aren’t safe.”
Her stomach twisted. “Your life’s been so disrupted?—”
“Enough with that.” He grabbed her hand. “I’m glad I’m here keeping you safe.”
She was, too.
“We’ll have to leave our phones behind, in case the men hunting you have the capabilities to trace them and listen to your calls.”
Oh, God. She swallowed. Suddenly, breakfast was just a bad taste in her mouth.
“I have a burner phone we can use,” he continued.
Suddenly, Hollis’s cellphone rang, making her jolt. “It’s Tavion.”
“Tell him he won’t be able to get in touch with you for a bit.”
She nodded and answered the call. “Hi, Tave.”
“Fuck, Hollis, are you all right?” He sounded frantic.
“Yes, I?—”
“It’s all over the Internet,” Tave said. “A shooting at a restaurant on Maui. There was a picture of you in the middle of the shot-up restaurant. Were you injured?”
“I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”
“Lane said he’d take care of you, but this isnotwhat I had in mind.”
“He saved my life, Tave. Again. The shooter was after me. Someone’s put a hit out on me.”
The line went silent. “What the fuck?” His voice vibrated with rage. “I’m going to find Reuben and rip his balls off.”
“Tavion, I’m okay. Look, Sawyer said I need to ditch my phone. He’s going to take me somewhere safe.”
Her agent cursed. “I hate the idea of having no contact, but if it keeps you safe… Hols, I did some digging on Lane. He has the skills to keep you breathing.”
“I know.” She met Sawyer’s gaze. “And I trust him.”
“All right, Red. You take care of yourself, and as soon as you can, you call me.”
“And I thought former soldiers only wore camo gear, and had so many guns there was nowhere to put them, and spent their weekends prepping for the apocalypse.”
That got her a bigger, more natural smile. “Touché.”
She liked that smile. After what he’d shared with her, he deserved some happiness. She was touched that he’d shared some of his past. Her heart had broken for him, and his lost friend.
“I do work out more, and watch my food more when I’m prepping for a big role,” she told him. “Otherwise, I just try to stay active and eat pretty healthy. Thankfully, I also have a fast metabolism.”
“I’m glad you don’t eat just salad.” He ate some of his own wrap, then he paused for a moment. “Vander sent through everything his tech guy, Ace, assembled on Michael Reuben.”
Reality felt like a big drop of sludge hitting the back of her neck. “All right.”
“And Leilani is organizing some secure laptops and VPNs for us. But before we do more research, we need to move.”
“Move?”
“I told you that Archer’s place and my place aren’t safe.”
Her stomach twisted. “Your life’s been so disrupted?—”
“Enough with that.” He grabbed her hand. “I’m glad I’m here keeping you safe.”
She was, too.
“We’ll have to leave our phones behind, in case the men hunting you have the capabilities to trace them and listen to your calls.”
Oh, God. She swallowed. Suddenly, breakfast was just a bad taste in her mouth.
“I have a burner phone we can use,” he continued.
Suddenly, Hollis’s cellphone rang, making her jolt. “It’s Tavion.”
“Tell him he won’t be able to get in touch with you for a bit.”
She nodded and answered the call. “Hi, Tave.”
“Fuck, Hollis, are you all right?” He sounded frantic.
“Yes, I?—”
“It’s all over the Internet,” Tave said. “A shooting at a restaurant on Maui. There was a picture of you in the middle of the shot-up restaurant. Were you injured?”
“I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”
“Lane said he’d take care of you, but this isnotwhat I had in mind.”
“He saved my life, Tave. Again. The shooter was after me. Someone’s put a hit out on me.”
The line went silent. “What the fuck?” His voice vibrated with rage. “I’m going to find Reuben and rip his balls off.”
“Tavion, I’m okay. Look, Sawyer said I need to ditch my phone. He’s going to take me somewhere safe.”
Her agent cursed. “I hate the idea of having no contact, but if it keeps you safe… Hols, I did some digging on Lane. He has the skills to keep you breathing.”
“I know.” She met Sawyer’s gaze. “And I trust him.”
“All right, Red. You take care of yourself, and as soon as you can, you call me.”
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