Page 18 of With this Ring (Mastered #7)

When they were back inside his cabin, her phone buzzed. Grateful for the distraction, she grabbed it and answered.

“Hey,” Ashley said, her voice bright but tinged with concern. “Just wanted to check in. You seemed…distracted yesterday.”

Sasha tightened her grip on the phone. “Everything’s great,” she said, forcing herself not to look at Gregorio. He was near, barely winded from their run, and he was studying her with absolute focus. “Thanks for checking.”

“You sure?” Ashley pressed. “It’s not like you not to let anyone know where you are, Sash.”

She paced to the window, more to distance herself from Gregorio than anything else. “I’ll be back in Denver in a couple of hours.”

“And I bet you’re not even trying to have fun.”

Fun? Sasha couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder at Gregorio.

Her dark, dangerous protector was wicked and intense, and toe-curlingly demanding. But fun? She wasn’t sure that word applied. “I’ll see you tomorrow after I meet with Mrs. Santos.”

“In that case, I’ll get back to Jonah.”

After ending the call, Sasha set the phone down. “That was my office manager.”

“She seems overly concerned.”

Does she? Or was he grasping at straws? Seeing something that didn’t exist? “Can we get going?”

“You have time for breakfast first.”

It wasn’t a question, and she blew out a frustrated breath. “We can grab something on the way.”

Rather than argue, he pulled eggs from the refrigerator. The man was an unmovable force of nature.

Knowing that she didn’t have a prayer of winning, she settled for starting a second pot of coffee while bacon sizzled in a pan.

Then, wanting to put space between them, she headed to the bedroom to gather her belongings and repack her duffel bag.

A few minutes later, he joined her, carrying a fresh cup of coffee. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

“Thanks.”

She remained behind for a few more minutes before joining him.

He’d set two plates and silverware next to each other on the island, and she slid onto a barstool.

As always, his movements were economical. Was there anything he couldn’t do? “You’re competent in the kitchen.”

“Necessity.”

While they were eating, his phone chimed with a notification.

Excusing himself, he headed up to the loft.

While he was gone, she finished her breakfast and washed the pans.

“That was Inamorata,” he said when he came back down the stairs.

Hawkeye’s right-hand person, the woman who was the heartbeat of the organization. Sasha had immense respect for her brains and talent.

“A team will be at your office for the security install today at noon.”

“But…” She scowled. “They’re scheduled for tomorrow.”

“I changed it.” His words were flat, as if he had every right to do that. “And another crew will be at your house this afternoon at three.”

“At…? What?” My house? He was taking over her life. “Gregorio—”

“If we’re going to be there when they arrive, we need to head out.”

She held up her hand. “Look… Stop.”

As if annoyed, Gregorio quirked an eyebrow.

“I don’t need you handling all the details of my life.” Running roughshod over me.

He moved in closer, strides wide, each step echoing dangerously off the wood floors. “Too goddamn bad, Petal. When you came to me, you sealed your fate. I’m going to protect you.”

With her arms folded, she forced out a shaky breath.

“Go ahead and argue with me.” He regarded her steadily. “Tell me that moving up the day of the install is a bad thing.”

As he knew, she couldn’t.

“Or that knowing your house is secure is a bad idea. Tell me, Sasha.”

“Look—” She raked back a wayward lock of hair. “You could have asked me.”

“You were sleeping.”

Always so calm, unruffled, even though he’d been making decisions about her life. Did anything ever get to him?

“Deal with it.” He moved in closer and clamped his hands on her shoulders. “Or fucking try saying thank you before I turn you over my lap and spank your ungrateful ass.”

Mouth open, she blinked. “You made that same threat last night. You know you wouldn’t actually do it.”

“Go ahead and try me.” He dug his fingers in deeper.

Oh hell no. He was focused on her, his eyes seeming to dare her to push him just one step further.

After being in the Den’s dungeon last night, she realized her former brother-in-law was a full-on Dominant. No doubt he was experienced and knew all the things to do that would make her cry and beg for mercy.

“Okay. Fine.” Still, she couldn’t bring herself to say thank you.

“You’re right. Extra security is a good idea.

” But that didn’t mean he had to go to Denver with her.

“I need to get back to my car.” She set her chin stubbornly.

“Or I’ll call for a ride.” With that, she wiggled from his grasp, recognizing she would never have gotten away if he didn’t allow it.

While he tucked a weapon into his waistband and pulled on a buttery soft leather jacket that devastated her, she rechecked her duffel bag, moving her gun into her purse. Feeling more in control, she headed to the front door.

The drive from the Den to the lodge in Winter Park didn’t take as long as it had last night, and the morning sun danced with the long, thin clouds, casting long shadows on the road.

Her car sat exactly where she’d left it. A couple were loading luggage into their vehicle while juggling to-go cups of coffee. Two men were lifting mountain bikes onto a rack in the front of a nearby shuttle bus, while a family with small children boarded the vehicle.

Everything was normal, a typical day in an off-season tourist town.

Tension eased from her shoulders.

Instead of dropping her off, he parked his SUV under the canopy directly in front of the revolving glass doors.

When the valet approached, Gregorio shook his head sharply.

“I appreciate you letting me bounce things off you. If there are any new developments, I’ll reach out to you.” She flashed him a half-smile as she reached for the door handle. “Thanks for everything. I’ve got it from here.”

Unsurprisingly, he didn’t respond. Instead he exited the vehicle.

“Gregorio…” She started to protest, then she clamped her mouth shut. Why waste the energy? Once she’d packed up her belongings, she’d be on her way.

As soon as they entered her room, unease crept up her spine.

She gave the room a quick glance, then she froze when she saw her luggage. A shirt wasn’t rolled exactly the way she’d left it, with the logo up.

“What is it?”

She grabbed her gun. “Someone was in here.”

He didn’t ask how she knew, he simply gave a tight nod. Then he nudged aside the blinds to glance outside before checking beneath the bed, the wardrobe, and the bathroom, each movement fluid, precise, reminiscent of the predator she sometimes glimpsed beneath his controlled exterior.

Finally returning to her, he slid his gun back into place. “Clear.”

“There’s no way I could have been followed yesterday.”

Gregorio inclined his head toward the door. “Let’s check your car.”

“I’ve been doing that more than once a day.”

“Good.”

“Even with an RF scanner.” She shrugged. “I haven’t found anything.”

Outside, he grabbed a bag from his SUV. From it, he pulled out a sleek black case. Inside was a compact device she didn’t recognize.

“New toy?” she asked, arching a brow.

“Military-grade spectrum sniffer. Picks up low-emission transmitters—stuff you don’t find just anywhere.”

He powered it on with a soft beep and began a deliberate sweep of her vehicle, pausing near the rear quarter panel.

The handheld vibrated.

“Got it,” he muttered. A moment later, he pulled a tiny device—no larger than a postage stamp—from beneath the weatherstripping near the taillight.

Sasha’s stomach dropped. “That’s not consumer tech.”

“No,” he agreed, examining the tracker. “Whoever planted this knew what they were doing. Passive until pinged. Encrypted. Tiny emission footprint. You wouldn’t have caught it unless you stripped the whole car.”

Mouth set in a grim line, he crossed the parking lot and pressed the tracker onto the metal frame just under the luggage compartment. The bus rumbled to life and pulled away.

“That’ll throw them off for a time,” Gregorio said. “Leave your things here. We’ll go to Denver in my car.”

Her frustration mounted.

“This is bigger than you, Little Petal.”

As much as she hated to admit it, he was absolutely right.

Taking charge, he pressed his palm to her spine and led her back inside. “We’re staying a few extra days,” he told the clerk.

She blinked. Even though she wasn’t paying ski-season rates, the hotel was expensive.

Once an extension was arranged, he told the woman he wanted to see the head of security.

With a frown, the woman reached for her phone and summoned the man.

When he arrived, Gregorio took him aside, and pressed money into his palm.

A few moments later the guard glanced over his shoulder at her. Then with an understanding nod, he headed back behind the front desk.

“Let’s roll,” Gregorio told her.

As they exited the parking lot, making the right turn that would lead them back to Denver, her gun dug into her back.

One unspoken question lingered… How far was her stalker willing to go?