Page 99 of Protecting Peyton

Just then, Zane draped his arm behind me. Was our connection fated to grow like his teammates and their women? Zane’s support, physically and emotionally, made all the difference. It was incredible how much things had changed since this morning.

Closing my eyes, I sighed. Maybe it was looking death in the face today that had heightened my senses. Okay, so it was only a quick glance through a pane of glass at the monster, but it had still scared me shitless. And the fact remained that I’d become very attuned to the brush of Zane’s leg against mine in his office and now his arm around me. How was it that such small touches carried an oversized promise of caring?

As the rest of the group joined us, I leaned into Zane’s warmth, noticing that Winston chose a spot next to Constance.

She glanced his way, but didn’t say anything.

Lucas’s commanding voice pulled me back to the present. “The Boston homicide unit is going to send somebody out with the full case file to help us locate this guy.”

Winston whistled. “That’s a big deal. Local cops don’t normally share like that.”

Duke nodded.

Winston held up a finger. “One more thing. I checked, and the Bureau has not gotten involved in the case.”

Jordy stopped tapping on his keyboard long enough to ask, “Isn’t that odd, given that it’s a serial killer?”

“If it doesn’t cross state lines, involve a federal official, or constitute a federal crime, they only get involved if requested by the locals,” Winston answered.

I wondered why they wouldn’t want the FBI’s help.

Jordy answered for me. “Egotistical jerks.”

Lucas glared at him. “Wewilltreat them nicely. They have a lot of data we may need to catch this guy.”

I slid my hand onto Zane’s thigh and whispered in his ear, “Does Jordy always get in trouble with Lucas?”

He pulled my hand away and breathed into my hair. “I’m too new to know.” The feel of his breath on me sent a shiver down my spine. A lungful of his woodsy scent didn’t help either. And while concentrating on the Zane effect, I missed what Terry said.

“Good idea.” Lucas pointed back at Jordy again. “There’s a challenge for you.”

“I missed that. What challenge?” I whispered to Zane, allowing myself to look dumb.

“Finding out who took your backpack.”

“Can he do that?” I’d given up hope.

“If anybody can, it’s our guy.”

I nodded, feeling renewed hope that I could get my money back, and leaned into Zane again.

“Tired?” he asked.

It had been an exhausting day, more emotionally than anything else. “Yes and no. For once, I’m looking forward instead of back, and it feels pretty damned awesome.” And the way my body and mind were reacting to this man, I’d push through any amount of tiredness.

He rubbed my back again—definitely his thing and something I appreciated more every time.

“This isn’t the most secure location,” Lucas said. “So for tonight, one outside and two inside, counting Zane.”

Constance claimed inside guard duty before any of the guys could speak up, and Duke got assigned to the street.

“Isn’t this overkill?” I asked. “There’s only one of him.”

But Serena and Grace’s expressions said it all. I was nuts to complain about too many guards when a psycho was after me.

Lucas handled it gently. “He has already hired local muscle, so he might not be alone.”

I nodded and looked down, feeling small.