Page 12 of Night Watch
He nodded. “Since you have an iPhone, I’ll just back it up to the cloud, and we can download everything to a new device.”
“I’m not losing this.” She took off the cover. “I also left my backpack at the lab and need to pick it up.”
“I don’t want you going over there right now. Give me the keys, and I’ll have one of my brothers get it.”
She thought to argue, but why? Anyone could pick up the backpack, and if it made Erik feel better, then she would let him have his way. She handed her phone to him, working hard not to touch him.
He cupped it tightly. “I’ll get to work on exporting the data while you pack.”
“Pack?”
He planted his feet in a stubborn stance she recognized. “I’ve had a chance to think it over, and I won’t let you stay here. It’s too dangerous. You can stay at my condo. Much safer.”
She flashed her gaze up to his. “Not going to happen. I’ve started carrying since I met you, and I’ll be fine here.”
“Carrying?” He eyed her. “What prompted that?”
“My job. I see the bad things that can happen.” She had to fight off a shudder to keep from raising his concerns even more and maybe from letting her worry ramp back up too.
He kept his focus pinned to her. “You didn’t have your gun tonight.”
“It was here in my purse.” She held up her hands. “I know. I know. Fat lot of good it did me down here. But when I went upstairs, I didn’t think… I didn’t plan to fall asleep. I know better now, and I’ll be extra sure I have my gun with me at all times.”
“I still don’t like you being on your own here. I checked things out when I went to help Sierra. No security cameras. Zero. So even more of a reason not to stay here. And if you’re worried you’ll have to put up with me at my condo, don’t be. I’ll bunk with one of my brothers, and you can have my place all to yourself.”
She shook her head more vehemently than needed, and she didn’t like that either. She was over him, right? She shouldn’t let seeing him again impact her so much. She swallowed to level her emotions. “I can’t put you out of your place. Not on top of the protection and investigative services you’re providing.”
He took in a long breath, and she waited for it to whoosh out, but he let the air out in slow frustration. “What do you think protection services are?”
“I don’t…well… I didn’t really think about it.”
“Then let me tell you. One of us will be with you twenty-four/seven until this guy is caught. Except at the condo. Security for our building is top-notch, so you should be fine on your own there.”
“But I—we can’t.” She gestured between them and lowered her voice so Sierra couldn’t hear. “Can’t be together that much.”
“Why not?”
“Our history. It’s bound to be uncomfortable.”
Another breath, this one held before blowing out in hurricane force. “A little discomfort is worth it to make sure you’re safe.”
“But I—”
“As far as putting me out,” he said, “don’t think that way. You’ll actually be doing us a favor. We won’t need as many guys on your detail while you’re at Veritas.”
“At Veritas?” Trying to figure out what the lab had to do with this, she blinked a few times. “I don’t understand.”
“Right, you wouldn’t know. Veritas has two six-story towers. Sierra wrangled us a good deal on office space in the lab tower, and the other tower holds condos where we all live.”
“All of the Byrds?” She gaped at him. Not because of the living quarters, but because it was actually sinking in that using their agency meant she would be seeing his brothers again too.
“Not my mom and dad. Our family is close, but that would just be weird.” He grinned.
Despite her unease, she felt the corners of her mouth crooking up. No. She wouldn’t get drawn in by his presence. She’d never been able to stay mad at him. Never. One look at those honey brown eyes, which could one minute bore to the center of her very being and the next minute dance with delight, and her anger evaporated.
“I’ll go pack a bag while I wait for the backup diver.” She strode toward the staircase.
“Put on booties so you don’t disturb any evidence as you head up,” Sierra called out but didn’t look up from the doorway.
