Page 40 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

Sam ends up being my little spoon, and I lie pressed against his back, my arm around his waist. I kiss the back of his head, his neck, and shoulder. He falls asleep pretty quickly, worn out, I’m sure.

Sleep doesn’t come so easily for me. Jake and I fly out of Chicago tomorrow, heading down South. I don’t know what to expect. I haven’t been home since I left as a teenager.

But as much as I’m dreading this trip, I’m committed to doing it for Sam’s sake. I can’t be what he needs until I put the trauma of my past behind me.

With my lips pressed to the back of his head, I make a vow. “I’m going to make this right for you, baby. You just gotta trust me.”

* * *

Early the next morning, I slip quietly out of bed, not wanting to wake Sam, dress in the bathroom, and head up to the penthouse. Jake will be arriving at the penthouse soon, and I want us to get going. When we’re on the road, I’ll call Sam and let him know I’m going to be away for a few days.

At nine, I hear the elevator opening its doors in the foyer. I figure it’s Jake.

“Cooper?”

But that’s not Jake’s voice. It’s Sam’s.

Shit! “In the kitchen.” I quickly make up a breakfast plate for Sam and set it on the counter. “Eat. You’ve lost weight and muscle tone. You need both to get your strength back.”

“Yes, sir!” He salutes me as he picks up his fork.

I walk around to his side of the counter and cup the back of his head to pull him in close for a long kiss. “Don’t get smart with me.”

Sam digs hungrily into his food, which makes me happy. He asks about how Miguel is doing as Beth’s temporary bodyguard. I can tell he’s a bit jealous of Miguel for filling in. He asks me how Beth’s doing with her pregnancy.

I step between Sam’s legs and cup his face.

He instantly relaxes, closing his eyes and leaning into my touch.

I can’t resist kissing him. Then I slide my lips down the side of his throat and suck on the tender skin at his pulse point, just enough to leave a tiny mark—something for him to remember me by while I’m gone.

When Sam moans, I reach down and palm his growing erection through his jeans. My touch turns his soft moan into a louder groan of frustration.

“You could have gotten fucked last night if you hadn’t been such a pain in the ass. We’ve got a lot to make up for, haven’t we?”

When the elevator chimes, announcing another arrival, we both turn to see Jake walk through the foyer doors. He definitely looks the part of a bodyguard—black jeans, black T-shirt, black leather jacket which undoubtedly conceals a chest holster and a 9mm.

I was hoping we’d get out of here before Sam noticed.

“Hey, Sam,” Jake says, sounding surprised to see him. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” Sam says. “It’s good to be back.”

Then Jake directs his attention to me. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah,” I say. “I just need to grab my bags.”

“Go?” Sam stares at me. “Where are you going?”

Damn it. After giving him a hard time about leaving me , now I’m about to do the same thing to him—albeit for a very different reason. I squeeze Sam’s shoulder. “Relax, kid. I’ve got some business out of town. I won’t be gone long.”

Sam grabs my wrist. “Where are you going?” He sounds almost frantic.

I glance over at Jake. “Maybe you should wait for me downstairs.”

“Sure thing,” Jake says easily. And then he turns and heads back the way he came.

Once I have Sam’s attention, I say, “I have business to take care of out of town, and Jake’s coming along for the ride. It’s no big deal.”

Sam’s not stupid. Of course he realizes Jake isn’t coming with me for grins and giggles. In McIntyre Security circles, Jake is known affectionately as The Enforcer . He’s muscle. An extra gun. The guy who’s only too happy to do the dirty work. And Sam knows it.

“That’s bullshit!” Sam says. “Jake’s protection . Where in the hell are you going that you need protection?”

I cup his face and gaze into his eyes, hoping to reassure him. “Calm down, darlin’. You’re blowing this all out of proportion.”

Of course he doesn’t believe me.

Sam grabs my wrists. “Cooper, tell me what the hell’s going on.”

“I promised you I’d make everything right, didn’t I? Well, that’s what I’m doing. But first, I’ve got to take care of some business. When I get back, I’ll be able to give you what you want.”

Sam looks even more confused than ever. He shakes his head. “I’m coming with you.”

“Not a chance. You stay here in Chicago and work on regaining your strength. I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.

” I give him a quick parting kiss, and then I walk away before I do something stupid, like agree to let him come with me.

Where we’re going, I’m about to stir up a hornet’s nest. It’s not safe.

As I’m heading down the hall to my suite, I hear the chime of the elevator doors closing as Sam leaves. He’s probably pissed—or hurt—but I tell myself it’s for the best.

After collecting my bags, I head down to the parking garage, where Jake is waiting for me. Sure enough, I spot him standing next to his Tahoe. Then I spot Sam seated in the back seat. Oh, hell no!

I stalk toward the rear passenger door, but Jake blocks me.

“Let him come, Cooper,” he says, his voice low and tight.

“No. It’s not safe.”

“He’ll be fine. He’ll be with us. You think I’d let anything happen to him? Look, he’s not going to back down. Stop fighting him on this, or we’ll be here all day. The plane’s ready now. We need to go.”

I grit my teeth. “Fine.” I deposit my duffle bag into the back of the Tahoe and open the rear passenger door. “Move over,” I tell Sam. He slides over, and I climb in beside him. I could sit up front with Jake, but this is where I need to be—next to Sam.

“Can you at least tell me where we’re going?” Sam asks.

“To O’Hare,” Jake says as he pulls out of the garage and heads toward the highway.

“We’re flying? To where?”

I glare at him, still not happy with the idea he’s tagging along with us. It’s not safe where we’re going. “Don’t ask questions.”

And then I reach for his hand.

Jake meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “You have to tell him everything, Cooper. For his own safety.”

Jake’s right, of course. Sam shouldn’t be coming with me. There’s too much risk involved, too much unknown. He needs to know what he’s walking into.

I’ve got the whole flight down to Sweetwater to tell him the sordid tale of my youth. To tell him about the first boy I loved, and how prejudice and bigotry got Cody killed. And tell him about my plan to get justice for Cody and put my painful past to rest once and for all.