Page 84 of Nowhere to Hide

That’s your paranoia. You need them. They can help.

I did not need Milligan in my head right now.

I was the only one who could keep her safe. And that meant getting gone.

The door opened and Cilla came out, her face a little pale.

The doctor smiled at her. “Take care, Priscilla. I’m available if you have any issues.”

“Thanks, doctor.”

She nodded to me and disappeared down the hallway.

“Let’s get you back to the boat.”

Cilla frowned. “I thought we were going to your job.”

I shook my head. “You’re wiped.”

“I’m not.”

I just stared at her.

“Don’t give me that eyebrow.”

“Give you what?”

She reached up and tapped my arched brow. “Mr. Kendrick sounded very intent on seeing us. I think we should.”

“I’d prefer to have you away from Boston.”

She stepped forward. “I know. And I appreciate that you want me safe, but I want answers too. I can’t hide forever.”

“Why not?” I wanted to cup her face, to pull her into me, but I did neither. The minute I started touching her I knew it was going to be hard to stop. She didn’t need my brand of crazy.

“You really want me on your boat forever? Just traveling around with me in your business all the time?”

“We’ve been doing okay.”

“You ignoring me all day? Sure if that constitutes okay in your book.”

I tipped my head back. “I just mean we’re fine the way we are.”

“Eventually I’m not going to sleep fourteen hours a day, Locke.”

“It doesn’t need to be today.”

“Is it really that bad?” She touched my arm. “To see your friends?”

“Leave it, Cilla.”

She sighed. “Fine. But if you don’t take me, I’ll just get there on my own. I want to know who is doing this. I don’t want to be afraid every day.”

I stepped into her, crowding her until she backed into the wall. “You go nowhere without me.”The blood roared in my head. “You understand me?”

“No, I don’t understand you.” She pushed me back a step. “You act like I’m putting you out for weeks and now you are all up in my business like you give a shit?”

I braced a hand on the wall over her and lowered my voice. “I control my boat. Out here, I can’t control shit. So I need you to listen to my directions and that means I have to be in your space. Closely.”