Page 34 of Stone (Claimed and Protected #3)

I glanced at where Dani was being congratulated, hissing under my breath. “I need to take her back to the house. It’s safer there. Will you get some guys and see if you can hunt the person down? Even finding out who the hell he is will be helpful.”

“Yeah, I can do that. Just get her out of here.”

Nodding, I immediately pushed my way through the crowd that had gathered around Dani. When I grabbed her arm, she seemed surprised.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re leaving.” No one tried to stop us as I pulled her away.

“What now? I just won the contest. Did you see me?”

“Dani,” I growled. “There was someone watching us. Watching you. I need to get you back to the house.”

“Okay.”

To her credit, she didn’t argue with me. I kept her shielded as we walked quickly back to the Jeep. Situations like this were the single reason I hated having an open-air vehicle.

“I need you to lie down in the back,” I told her.

“Why?”

“That’s the only way to protect you until we get back to the house.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“You should be scared, Dani. Now, please. Just do as I say.”

She nodded, her entire body shaking. I helped her inside, closing the door and immediately turning in a full circle. The fucker was likely long gone by now. But again, it was a small fucking island. I’d hunt the bastard down by this time tomorrow. There were only so many places to hide.

As soon as I jumped in, I started and revved the engine. Thankfully, I knew a back way from Akoni’s house to mine. While the terrain was rough and dark, it would allow better coverage.

She said nothing as I drove, but I sensed her fear and was grateful she was taking this seriously. I drove at excessive speeds, constantly checking the rearview mirror for any signs of life.

By the time I pulled up in front of the house, I was wired for sound.

Not until we were behind locked doors with the security system set would I be able to take a deep breath.

With our arrival, the exterior lights came on, highlighting the entire front of the house and several yards into the surrounding woods.

Jumping out, I debated grabbing my weapon but didn’t. I’d already managed to freak her out again.

“Come on. Let’s get you out of there.” I took her hand, pulling her from the back and almost instantly, she tugged her fingers free.

Dani backed away slowly before turning and heading toward the door.

Once inside, she watched my movements as I engaged the locks and turned on the system. I hadn’t taken any chances before we’d left, closing and locking all windows and doors, which I hadn’t done since I’d moved in.

She took off her shoes, placing them in the entrance foyer and immediately heading for the kitchen.

I was prepared for her to blast me again.

That was fine. I thought about what Kekoa had suggested and immediately headed to the room I’d turned into an office.

After sitting down, I opened the lid on the laptop, hitting the space bar then tilting my head back.

Closing my eyes, I rubbed my forehead, the ache more pronounced than before.

There were no sounds, but I knew the moment she’d walked into the room. I didn’t dare open my eyes, fearful of seeing hers. A slight sound caught my attention, but not enough to make me change my mind.

Finally I felt her hands on my shoulders.

“You’re very tense,” she said in her sultry tone, shocking me that there was no anger or even indignation in her tone.

“Yeah, I guess I am. I’m sorry about dragging you away from the party. I know you were having a good time.”

“I enjoyed myself, but I’m not here to have a good time. You’re keeping me safe.” She squeezed my shoulders and I moaned from tension and anger.

“That feels good.”

“I heard you have an opportunity,” I blurted out.

As her hands froze, I realized I shouldn’t have said a damn thing. “Kekoa told you.”

“Not much. He just said you had an opportunity.”

“A gallery tour. Kind of a big deal since the man who owns the galleries in Europe is an expert and highly influential.” She started rubbing again, but I sensed she was stiffer than before.

“How long is the tour?” Every muscle tensed as I waited for her to answer.

“I don’t know the details. I’m assuming a few weeks.”

“It’s important to you.”

“To be honest with you, Stone, I don’t know what’s truly important any longer.”

This time when I closed my eyes, I could see her face the night I’d opened the letter of acceptance into the fancy school in London. “This is what you’ve worked for your whole life since the day you headed to London.”

She exhaled but said nothing. This would be the right time to tell her I didn’t want her to leave, yet I couldn’t. Because of my enjoyment of living alone or because I didn’t want to drag her away from her life as her father had tried to do? Maybe a little of both.

Her fingers worked magic and for the next few minutes, she massaged my shoulders and upper arms, using her fingers to knead the tight muscles in my neck. “You need to learn to relax.”

“Around you?” I asked. “Not possible.”

Every time she chuckled, the sound sizzled in my eardrums, more like the soft purr of a kitten than a laugh. It was another electrifying moment that I wished would never end.

“Did you get a good glimpse of who was stalking us?”

“No, and stalking you. He was a guy in dark clothing. He may or may not have been carrying a weapon.”

“Like you. My protector. My hero.”

A strangled groan left my throat. “I’m not a hero, Dani. I never was one and I’ll never be. But I’ll take protector any day.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on the hero part. You know what I was thinking?”

Unable to resist her, I took her hand from my shoulder, pressing kisses across her knuckles. “What?”

“That I know Matis’ name and not just from the news.”

As soon as she offered the statement, I lifted my head and opened my eyes. Kekoa’s suggestion came to mind. “Any idea from where?”

“No, and that’s just it. It’s bugged me since realizing he was the kidnapper.” She moved around so I could see her, even sitting on the edge of the desk.

She’d prepared and brought in drinks. The woman never ceased to amaze me. “Kekoa suggested that I was going about my discovery process the wrong way.”

“Okay, then what are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking this has nothing to do with his politics, but something in his past.”

She shrank back and cocked her head. “Okay. But why? And how?”

“Are you ready to play investigator?”

Her grin brought complete arousal to my system. “You bet I am. Nancy Drew at your service.”

“Don’t go off halfcocked. You’re not getting a weapon.”

At least we could laugh when all I wanted to do was to burn down the world to keep her protected.