Page 51 of Rescuing Erin

“Not here I’m not.”

“Why is that?” Zane continued to press.

“Because they’re listening.”

“How in the fuck is that possible?”

“Do you have a cell phone in the room?”

“You know damn well we do. We’re talking to Tex on one.”

“That’s how.”

Every man in the room went silent. It wasn’t that we bought into government conspiracy theories, but we all knew how easy it was to use a cellular device as a listening device. Albeit illegal, we’d done it a time or two ourselves. The NSA and CIA weren’t the only ones with the capability. However, they weren’t supposed to abuse the capability without a warrant.

“Well, there you have it.” Zane shook his head in disgust. “Wheels up in thirty, and we’ll continue this conversation when the fuckwits at the NSA can’t eavesdrop. Just to add since you’re listening, I’m coming for you, all of you. Your boy Warren paid for his lesson with his life. No one crosses my team and lives to tell about it. Tex, we’ll be in touch when we can.”

“Copy that. Good luck.”

Zane angrily stabbed the disconnect button on his phone and left it on the roller table.

“I’ll see you all tomorrow,” I told Zane. When he narrowed his eyes in confusion, I continued, “Erin has a concussion and is scheduled for an MRI in the morning.”

“I’ll be fine, Colin. You need to go with them.”

“Not a chance.”

Was she crazy? There was no way I was leaving her in California with a severe head injury.

“But—”

“No buts, sunshine. I told you I’m not leaving your side and I’m not.”

“I’m sure Gerard would stay with me,” she continued.

I sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle her, and my eyes zeroed in on the cut on her face. Thank God, she was okay. I would’ve taken a thousand beatings if it meant she remained untouched. She had to be the craziest, senseless, bravest, toughest woman I’d ever met. I was still in utter shock her ill-advised plan to rescue me worked. It was the riskiest attack I’d ever witnessed and that was saying something.

“I see you’re still not understanding me. In the span of twenty-four hours, we went from lazing around a cabin to a full-blown military-style attack. An assault team took you, drugged you, tied me up, and you nearly killed a man. When all that sinks in, I’m going to be here. When someone needs to wake you up through the night because you have a concussion, it’ll be me. When you go for your MRI, I’ll be there with you. Nothing is more important. Nothing is going to change so drastically in the next day. Everything will wait.”

“But what if it does, Colin? What if something else happens? My dad signed those—”

“Sunshine, that was for show. And if something else happens, then someone else will handle it. Because I will be . . . right . . . here.”

“He’s right, Erin. I wasn’t thinking when I suggested we leave now. If it were Ivy in a hospital bed, nothing would make me leave her. A nuke could take out the eastern seaboard, and I’d still stay with her. We’ll leave tomorrow after your MRI, providing your doctor clears you to fly.”

“Don’t cry, sunshine. Everything is going to be fine.” I wiped away a tear as it slid down her cheek and reveled in how warm and soft her skin was. We’d gotten lucky.

“I feel like I’m holding everyone up.”

“You’re not.” Tom’s booming voice carried over the quiet conversation Zane was having with the rest of the team. “May I have a moment alone with my daughter?”

I looked back at Erin and waited for her to give me a sign she was okay with me leaving the room. If she wasn’t, I’d have no problem going toe-to-toe with Tom. He may be the president but right then, in that room, he was simply her father. And if my woman wanted me, I wasn’t leaving.

When she smiled and gave me a nod, I leaned down to kiss her forehead, careful not to irritate the gash.

“I’ll be right outside,” I told her.

I stood but before I could get more than a few steps, Tom’s hand landed on my shoulder, halting me.