I could do nothing but stare. Had I woken up in an alternate dimension where criminals were issued sentries for protection rather than orange jumpsuits and public defenders?
“Do you believe that?” I asked. Initially, I hadn’t understood why it mattered to me what Heath believed. But it did. So much. I wasn’t a criminal, and I needed him to know that.
He replied immediately. “Probably more than you do right now.”
“Are you sure?” I squeaked.
He grinned again. “I was sure of that within the first week of getting to know you.”
I tried to laugh, but it came out as a cry. “Does your boss know you’re making these promises?”
“He will. We’re taking Walter down. And guess what? You’re going to help us.”
My eyes flashed wide as bile rolled in my stomach. “I…I—” I stammered.
“And I’m going to be there to help you. The whole way. Every step. Every day. Whatever you need. I’m there.”
My heart soared as his blanket of warmth wrapped around me even tighter.
I still wasn’t positive I could completely trust him, but I knew with my whole heart I was going to try.
“Yeah?” he prompted, his blue eyes holding me captive.
“Yeah,” I agreed breathily.
He smiled. “Okay. Now. What do you need right now?”
A new life where you walked into my diner before Walt.
“Can I have a hug?” I asked, using my shoulder to wipe my tears away.
“You can have whatever you want from me, Clare. But you’re gonna have to come take it.” He bent at the waist, over the bed, offering me his upper body without really offering me a hug.
But it was more than anyone had given me in as long as I could remember, so without hesitation, I took it.
Rising to my knees, with Tessa held to my chest, I hooked an arm around his neck and shoved my face against his throat. His arms instantly folded around us both as he squeezed me, Tessa tucked between us.
“I’m scared,” I whispered, not sure what else to say.
“I’ve got you.” He nuzzled his jaw against the side of my face. “I swear on my life I’ve got you.”
After I insisted she try to get some rest, Clare insisted I move my chair next to her bed. I didn’t argue. Sleep wasn’t going to find me that night, but having them within my arms’ reach would do wonders for my ability to relax.
It was well past three when her breathing finally evened out while she clung to my forearm.
I’d blown off nearly a dozen calls and texts—and even more than that if I included those from Roman. As much as it killed me to leave her alone for even a few minutes, I needed to get caught up on what the hell was going on with Walter as well as figure out what the hell was going to happen when Clare and Tessa were released. They needed to be taken into protective custody, and I needed to make it clear that I was going with them.
She stirred only the slightest bit when I inched my arm out from under her hand. Very quietly, I snuck out of the room, my phone already poised at my ear. It was rendered useless when I found eight men waiting in the hall, all of them coming alert with the click of the door.
“Light,” my lieutenant, Mark Tomlinson, called, stepping toward me.
My fellow agent and close friend, Shane McIntyre, was right behind him.
“Heath,” Roman said, scrambling up from the tile floor next to the door. A huge guy with dark hair I’d never seen before loomed beside him.
“Agent Light,” Rorke called, two of his uniformed henchmen closing in from the right.
“You.” I pointed my finger at Rorke. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“Light,” Tomlinson warned. “They’re local.”
I kept my gaze glued on the overweight detective as I shot back at my boss, “They sure as hell are. They’re also the reason Atwood is in the ground. I don’t want them anywhere near her.”
“We had nothing to do with one of your boys getting dead,” a uniform started. “Maybe you—”
He was quickly—and wisely—silenced by Rorke.
“Marco, enough!” Rorke jacked his pants up and straightened his tie. “We were just hoping to question Clare and offer whatever protection we could until Noir is taken into custody.”
I must have missed the memo that Hell had frozen over.
“Unless you’ve showed up here today with irrefutable proof that your mole is in custody, you can fuck off.”
Tomlinson started cussing under his breath. But I had nothing to gain by being respectful to Rorke or any of the APD. Yet, with Clare and Tessa on the other side of the door, I had everything to lose.
I stood my ground, my body swelling as I swung my gaze through the men surrounding me. “No one gets near her without my permission,” I declared. “And, in case I haven’t been clear enough, Rorke, your boys will never get that. I highly suggest you find the fucking door and utilize it. We’ve got it from here.” I turned my attention back to Tomlinson.
He was young for his position in the Administration, but he’d more than earned every single one of his promotions. The man was well respected—especially by me. And, as far as I knew, the feeling was mutual.