ey

car and turned back to

ked. "

" His voice was calm, b

. "Why? Where

nches away. He was so tall I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. Up close, I cou

el at your throat. You were pushed down a flight of stairs. And now you were as

y of his summary. "How do

ability to yourself right now. You are exhausted, you are injured, and you ar

don't need a babysit

. "You are one bad decision away from getting yo

k a nerve. My eyes stung. I l

My mother will just... she won't understand. She

again, his voice was softer, though no less c

at him, star

o worry about who is going to attack you next." He held out his

ur hours. The assassin, the fall, the way he had wrapped his body around mine to protect me from th

now who wasn't trying to control me or u

out and to

led me to the SUV, opening the back door for me. I

s he settled into the seat. The driver, Cody "Ripper" Stone, didn

ng the lights of Coronado Creek slide past. The car was warm and

ng?" I asked agai

e," Knig

pped open.

me. "It has a security system, and my m

ropriate," I said, though I

blue eyes were unreadable in the dim light of the car.

ldn't come. I was too tired. Too broken. I ju

" I wh

turned back

ivate building. Stone parked in a reserved spot ne

or, his hand resting lightl

all glass and steel, with a stunning view of the Coronado Creek skyline. But it was also sparse, almost sterile.

said, gesturin

to the kitchen, moving one-handed, and came back a minu

the plate on the coffe

t. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I pic

atching me eat. He didn't say anything, but his p

of water. The food and the warmth were making me even sleepier. I

murmured. "Fo

thank me," he sai

t opening my eyes. "Why did you

him shift in his chair, a soft

aid finally. "I pr

him, confused. "I'm not yo

re under the club's protection. You are

with meaning. I felt a shiver run down my

erstand you,

guest room is down the hall, second door on the left. There are clot

at the door. "Lock the door. And don't leave this apartm

the door clickin

door. My mind was racing, but my body was shutting down.

soft and the sheets were clean. I changed into a pair of oversized t-shirt and

ght about the assassin, about Warren, about my mo

are m

to sleep, I couldn't deny the tiny spark of warmth that had