Page 6 of Unexpected Heroine
The boss starts in, his eyes bouncing around the faces of my rescuers. “I didn’t want to be. I was having a fantastic fucking evening until I checked to ensure all was well at my company. Only to find that the armory had multiple badge swipes. That seemed odd, considering none of our cases were above a yellow threat level. So I poked around to see what could possibly warrant full tactical gear for this many people.” He pauses to pace around the room, getting in each of their faces. “And boy, oh boy, was I surprised to see what was being broadcast here to this room.”
What was being broadcast? Something tells me I’m not going to find out.
James shuffles me behind him when the boss dude gets close. Not hiding me entirely. But enough to make it clear that he’s protecting me.
I love this man.
For all the grief he gives himself about how shitty he is with reading social cues and emotions, he’s doing fantastic with me tonight. Giving me exactly what I need to feel secure in this baffling and traumatic situation.
I’ll always take care of you, Lettie. He’s said it so many times, and I’ve never doubted it.
As the boss studies how James has positioned us, his face relaxes a little. “Get the girl out of here, T.” His tone is much softer now. “Put her in a spare office and get your ass back. I don’t want to scare her. She’s obviously had it rough.”
Not liking the sudden attention on me, I grip James’s arm tighter, moving a step closer so there’s only an inch separating us.
Wait. Why is everyone calling him T?
When James doesn’t remove me as ordered, his boss points his chin at the door and hardens his features. “Go.”
“All due respect, Boss, but she stays with me.” James wobbles his head slightly, almost as if he’s fighting something internally. “Sorry. But I’m not doing this tonight. I only came back to drop off our gear and get my laptop. I won’t upset her any worse than she already is.” He glances down at me, compassion bathing his features. “I’m taking her home.”
Bending by one of the desks, he grabs his laptop and tosses it into a bag with a few other things. Then he’s back at my side, leading me toward the door.
He stops beside Mia, hovering close to her. “Can you make sure everything gets handled before you leave? Lead a debrief?”
Mia replies, “Yes. Go on.” Then her eyes fall to mine. “Take care, sweetie.”
“Thank you,” I eke out, my voice shaky and hoarse.
A pathetic attempt to express my gratitude, but it’ll have to do for now.
Mia’s boyfriend claps James on his shoulder. “We got it, T.”
There it is again. What in hell’s bells is that all about?
James tugs me toward the door. “Come on, sugar.”
When we’re about three steps out the door, the boss’s deep voice bellows, “Tomer, what the hell do—” His words are cut off.
I glance over my shoulder but can’t see who stopped him or why he...
Hold up. Wait a fancy fucking minute.
Sure, I’m foggy-minded as hell, but something strange is happening.
The tension from the scene back there and the resulting confusion must lurch me out of my sleep-like haze.
Without thinking it through, I pelt him with questions. “Why do they keep calling you T? Was that your boss? Why is he mad that you saved me? And how did you save me? What’s happening?”
I stop ranting to suck in a huge swell of oxygen, then immediately regret it because of the rib pain it brings. Air hisses through my teeth.
Without answering my questions, James picks me up to save me from chasing him in my injured state. My thighs wrap around his waist, and I squeeze him tightly despite every throbbing muscle and bone in my body.
Then he’s moving again, barreling us through the building like he’s late for church on Easter Sunday and afraid he won’t be able to find a parking spot.
Or then again . . . perhaps he’s running from something.
When he gets me in the elevator, he finally meets my impatient stare. A hurricane brews behind his turquoise eyes. “I just need to get you home. I promise I’ll talk to you about my job later. And my boss. None of it matters tonight. The only thing I care about is that you’re safe. Please, just let me take care of you, okay?”