Page 81 of Nowhere to Hide

He came around the SUV, stuffed the gun in the back of his jeans, tugging his T-shirt over it. He hustled me past the dumpsters and into the hospital.

“Won’t we get in trouble?”

“I already scouted this out last time you were here.” He grabbed my hand. “Try to walk through the pain if you can. I don’t want anyone to think we don’t belong.”

I lengthened my stride a little and the burn kept me focused. We hustled down a hallway and out to another part of the hospital. He pushed open a heavy door and suddenly we were at the elevators. A nurse gave us a weird look and Locke pulled me into his arms for a hug.

My whole system went haywire, as his hand slid down my back in a soothing caress. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

I shuddered. I knew it was for show, but right then I hoped it was true.

When the nurse kept on moving, he tapped the button on the elevator to go up.

“I hope you know where we’re going.”

“I called before we left. The doc said she’d take the staples out in the outpatient surgical floor.”

Someone followed us on the elevator and Locke pushed me behind him, his fingers still wound around mine. Was this how he protected people in his job?

Was there really danger around every corner?

I leaned on him a little to give my leg a break. It was more walking than I’d done in weeks.

“You okay?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Just a little sore.”

I didn’t have time to think about it as we arrived at our floor. He walked slower now that we were officially in the right area. He glanced at the cameras in each corner of the hallway, his armstill proprietary on my hip as he supported me down the hall to the desk.

“Priscilla Barlow for her two o’clock.”

The woman behind the desk smiled. “I just need some information.”

I nodded and came forward to answer questions.

Locke stood directly behind me like the sentry he was. My system was on overdrive. From barely noticing me to now fully in my space, I didn’t know how to feel. And the awareness of him as well as the fact that someone could be watching me left me shaky.

“We’ll call you in a few minutes.” The receptionist nodded toward the waiting room. “Shouldn’t be too long.”

I could tell Locke was ready to bark out an order and took his hand. “Thank you.”

He practically growled.

“Can’t make them take me any faster.” I eased down on the couch and collapsed back on the cushion.

His jaw did that muscle twitch thing, and I grabbed his hand. “I’m fine. Just have been a lump for two weeks, remember.”

“Yeah. Sorry I had to push you.”

“It’s fine.”

He sat down on the edge of the couch, his knee bouncing as he looked around.

“So is your boss as intense as Leo?” I reached over and covered his knee until he stopped.

He sighed, propping his elbows on his knees. “Kind of. Dominic is more tactical. Leo is more focused on the business side of the company.”

“And Nyx?”