Page 71 of Protecting Kelli
This was the part he didn’t really want to tell her…but he wouldn’t keep secrets from this woman. “Change of plans. We’re going to stay at Smiley’s apartment for a while.”
She frowned up at him. “Why?”
“We don’t know who broke in. But Williams hasn’t been found yet.”
“And he knows where we both live,” Kelli finished for him.
Flash should’ve known he wouldn’t have to explain. His woman was smart. “Exactly.”
She sighed. “All right. But I hate feeling as if we’re kicking Smiley out of his apartment.”
“We aren’t. He’s more than happy to stay at my place. In fact, hehopesWilliams is behind this and dares to come to my apartment.”
“I don’t want him getting hurt,” Kelli said softly.
“No way in hell is anyone getting the drop on Smiley. He’s been a mean son-of-a-bitch lately, ever since Bree Haynes disappeared like a puff of smoke again.”
“That’s the woman he found in Vegas, right?”
“Right. And she’s the one who saved Ellory and Yana from the man who’d sold them for their organs.”
Kelli frowned. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
Lord, Flash adored this woman. She was in the middle of her own shitshow, and yet she was still thinking about others. “No. Bree’s clearly in some kind of trouble, but she also knows a thing or two about staying under the radar. We’re all hoping she musters up the courage to talk to one of us at some point.”
Kelli swayed in his arms, and Flash was officially done talking. He put an arm around her shoulders and physically turned her toward the door. They’d already gotten the okay to leave from the detectives, who had both their contact info and would get in touch when they had any information about the break-in or if they had more questions.
Flash waved at his teammates, and they all gave him chin-lifts in return. Kevlar had promised he’d talk to their commander and let him know what was going on, and why Flash wouldn’t be at work that day. The others were going to be helping the women get Kelli’s belongings straightened out. There would probably be lots of food being delivered to Smiley’s apartment by that afternoon, if he had to guess.
Flash had never been as grateful for a group of friends as he was for his, right about now.
Dude approached when they reached Flash’s SUV. Kelli turned to him and, as if she’d known the man for years, gave him a long, heartfelt hug. “Thank you for coming when Flash called.”
“You need anything?Youcall. If Flash and his team aredeployed, my friends and I are always available. No matter what. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Kelli sassed lightly, smiling up at him. But what she saw in his face made her amusement fade.
“Never gets old,” Dude said with a small chuckle, before turning her back toward Flash and giving her a gentle push into his arms. “Take care of her,” he ordered, before spinning around and heading across the lot to his own car.
“He’s…intense,” Kelli muttered.
“You have no idea,” Flash said. Everyone knew about Dude’s sexual preferences. How he liked to be completely in charge in the bedroom. Sometimes his dominance leaked out in other aspects of his life…and it was obvious that, while Kelli didn’t fully understand the vibes he was putting out, she was still affected by them.
“Come on. I need to get you to a bed.”
Kelli smiled up at him. “I like the sound of that.”
Flash shook his head. He hadn’t meant that the way it sounded, but now that he thought about it, the idea of holding her in his arms as they both slept was extremely appealing.
As he drove them toward Smiley’s apartment, Flash’s mind turned to the question of who had broken into Kelli’s apartment. Why? What did they want? Would they come back?
Was it Williams?
He had too many questions and not enough answers. But whoever it was had failed…because Kelli had held her composure. And if he tried again, he’d find Kelli was no longer alone. Flash vowed to stay by her side until the perp was found.
And if itwasWilliams? The asshole who’d kidnapped them and buried them alive?
He was a dead man.No onemessed with what was his.
