Her blue eyes bounced around, and her brow descended as confusion filled her expression. “Where am I?”
I opened my mouth, but the explanation got stuck in my throat. Oh shit. I had to say something.
“Somewhere safe,” I told her, hoping—but not expecting—her to leave it at that. I held out my hand, palm up, and she immediately put hers on top. That was something, at least. If I was lucky, her trust would extend enough not to flip her shit when she realized that I’d practically stolen her away.
“But this isn’t an urgent care.”
“No, baby. It’s not,” I chuckled and slipped an arm around her waist to lift her to the ground. “Let’s get inside, and then I’ll explain everything.” She nodded, and I held tight to her hand as I led her toward the door that likely opened to the house.
We walked into a mudroom with white walls, a bright, colorful rug on the floor, and cherry wood-paneled wallpaper with a matching shelf on top with various outdoor activities for kids, like a bucket of chalk and a basketball. Shaker pegs under the shelf were for hanging coats and whatever else, and a white bench seat spanned the whole thing. I had a feeling Merrick’s wife had handled the decor while he dealt with the safety aspects.
The small room opened up into a much larger space that had a pool table, ping pong table, and other games for kids in a range of ages. The big room was also white with bright rugs and colored art on the walls. The front door had state-of-the-art locks and a security monitor mounted beside it.
We headed over to the staircase across the room, and I let go of Sage’s hand to let her walk up ahead of me. “Some of my friends are here,” I informed her quietly. “So don't be frightened if you get up there and see someone.”
“Okay.” She glanced back at me, and her gaze had become wary. I didn’t like seeing it, but I understood where the sentiment was coming from.
“Upstairs, baby. Then I’ll explain.”
Her eyes narrowed in warning, as if to say, “You better.” I almost smiled at how cute she was when trying to be fierce.
She turned back around and climbed the last few steps. At the top, we entered an open-concept great room with the kitchen, great room, and dining room all flowing from one space to another. Huntley and Kade sat at the table, deep in discussion with a man who I assumed was Merrick. He was muscular, with dark hair and eyes—and the dangerous air of someone you didn’t want as an enemy. They went quiet and looked up when we walked in.
Huntley lifted his chin, then canted his head toward the man I didn’t know. “This is Merrick.”
I nodded. “Thank you for letting us use this place.”
“Hooyah,” he muttered in return.
“I’m going to get Sage settled, then I’ll fill everyone in,” I told them.
They were smart enough to pick up on the fact that they shouldn’t say anything in front of her.
“Two bedrooms down that hall, the one at the end is the master,” Merrick grunted.
I placed my hand at the small of Sage’s back and guided her to the last bedroom. Once we walked inside, I shut the door.
“Sit,” I instructed, then remembered she wasn’t one of my sailors. “Please.”
Sage padded over to a small area that had a loveseat and an overstuffed chair on either side of a little table.
She dropped into the chair, and I took a seat on the couch. “Are you going to explain why you stole me from my life now?”
I bit back a chuckle at her indignant tone. She sounded put out but not angry, which boded well for this conversation. “I don’t know if you truly understand the amount of danger your roommate’s brother has put you in,” I started. “I’d like to say I don’t want to scare you, but the truth is, you should be scared.”
Sage scooted back as far as she could and pulled her feet up onto the chair, then wrapped her arms around her bent knees. “Phoebe’s brother couldn’t care less about me, so why would they come after me if it won’t make a difference to him?”
“Because you matter to Phoebe. Because you know his face. Because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, which put you on this guy’s radar. Take your pick, baby. These drug lords are ruthless and have no qualms about taking out anyone they perceive to be the smallest threat.”
“So you brought me here to protect me?”
“Yes. Until we can track down the brother and the dealer, and take action, I need you somewhere safe.”
She cocked her head to the side and studied me for a moment, her expression bewildered. “You don’t even know me.”
“Do you trust me?” I queried, almost sure that I was right in my assumption.
Sage glanced away, and her brow furrowed, then she met my gaze again and mumbled, “Yes, but I don’t know why since we’re practically strangers.”
“And I don’t know why I feel the overwhelming need to keep you safe,” I admitted. Although, on the drive, I’d come to the realization that it was because she was mine. But she wasn’t ready for me to go there yet. It was too damn soon, unfortunately.
I was also fighting the desire to lay her out on the bed, strip her bare, and explore every inch of her sexy body. I didn’t say that aloud either, but it was nearly impossible not to sweep my heated eyes over her.
Her lips curved up at the corners, and she relaxed a bit more.
“This place is off the grid and has no connection to you or me.” I canted my head and conceded, “Maybe I should have discussed it with you first, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. When you fell asleep…” I shrugged. “I figured we could fight about it once we were here. I was confident I could convince you that this is what’s best for you.”
I’d gone through many scenarios on how to achieve that goal. Most of them involved orgasms. Yet another thing I left unsaid.
5
SAGE
Whoa. I had been stolen by a Master Chief…but his intentions were pure. Or maybe not exactly pure since those sexy eyes of his were full of heat, but they were definitely good.
“Okay, go ahead and convince me.”
He leaned against the back of the couch with a smile, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “As a Command Master Chief, I am uniquely positioned to keep you safe.”
“Is it really a unique position?” I tilted my head to the side. “My dad retired at the equivalent of your rank, after all.”
“Did you want to give him a call, have him pick you up and take over?”
His brow furrowed as he made the suggestion, and my fingers itched to smooth his forehead. Pressing my hands together in my lap, I shook my head with a sigh. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he asked, somehow managing to look relieved and angry at the same time.
“Don’t get me wrong, my dad is a great guy and an amazing father,” I rushed to explain. “But he’s also a fantastic husband, and he’s currently in the middle of making one of my mom’s lifelong dreams come true.”
Arrow leaned toward me, resting his forearms on his thighs. “If your dad is anything like me, the only excuse he’s likely to accept for you not reading him in on this situation is that he took your mom to outer space.”