In His Keeping (Slow Burn #2)

But when he jumped a step so he was no longer behind her but on the same step, keeping pace with her, he reached over, jerking her head around even as they climbed, and stared hard at her features with eyes full of concern.

The only thing working in her favor was the strict need for silence and she could tell it was killing Beau to have to remain quiet and not reprimand her for not schooling her thoughts more. But it was hard when her mind was a veritable beehive of activity. Terror—not only confined to her parents—occupied and consumed her every thought. Particularly when they were sneaking up to her apartment, not knowing if they’d be ambushed at any time. Or what awaited them in her apartment.

Finally they reached her floor and not a moment too soon because Ari was ready to wilt. She was grateful that Dane directed them all to flatten themselves against the wall on the same side as the door and she was granted a short reprieve to catch her breath and try to block the pain.

Dane and Eliza took point, Eliza carefully sliding the keycard into the slot to open her door while Dane stood directly to the right of the door. He would be the first in, Zack directly on his heels and Eliza on his. It was a coordinated entrance with each of them clearing separate areas so there was no possibility of being caught off guard.

When and only when Dane gave the all-clear would Beau come in with Ari. Since the lovies were, fortunately, in her living room on a shelf containing photos and other memorabilia, it meant not having to chance going beyond that room. It would be a quick in and out and then they’d haul ass down the stairs as fast as possible.

Eliza was directly in the middle, in the sight path of Beau, but not Ari, since he had her securely behind him, one arm behind him, wrapped around her slight body, anchoring her to his. His other hand held a wicked-looking handgun and it was up and his entire body was rigid against her, a sign he was at full attention.

When she felt him begin to move forward, still holding her securely to his body, she assumed they’d been giving the all-clear. He stopped inside the door only long enough to put Ari in front of him instead of behind him since there was no longer a chance of danger coming from in front of them, but behind was still a possibility.

“Go get the stuffed animals,” Beau whispered. “Be quick. We’re remaining at attention and you’ll be covered so don’t worry about looking around you. Just get the items and then we’re getting the hell out of here.”

She all but ran across the room to where the large shelving unit was anchored to the wall, and she snatched the two lovies from their places of honor and held them close to her chest, knowing that as silly as it sounded, these two beloved stuffed animals could very well be the key to finding her mother and father.





TWENTY-FIVE

“I don’t like this,” Zack muttered as they drove back to Beau’s home.

Dane was driving, as before, but Eliza was riding shotgun, and Ari was in the middle row seat, Beau and Zack on either side of her.

Maybe it was because from the beginning, Zack had been there. And he’d been kind to her when her welcome by others hadn’t been the warmest of introductions. But she felt completely safe and secure with Zack on one side and Beau on the other, although she was more on Beau’s side instead of the true “middle,” because she was leaned into him, his arm wrapped solidly around her, and her head rested comfortably on his shoulder.

When retrieving the lovies had been met with no obstacles, no barriers, no danger, she’d been elated. As soon as they were back in the vehicle driving away, she’d wanted to do an honest-to-God fist pump. Hope, excitement, a sense of victory . . . faith. Complete and utter faith in these men—and Ramie, especially Ramie—that they would find her parents and bring them home.

She wanted them to meet Beau. As rigid and hard to please as her father was, she knew Beau would pass muster with him. When he looked at Beau, he’d see a kindred spirit and more important—to her father—he would see a man who would protect Ari with his life, protect her every bit as fiercely as he had.

But Zack’s words quickly jolted her back to the grim reality of her situation.

“What’s bothering you?” Dane asked, not sounding at all skeptical. His question was calm and it reflected his trust in Zack’s instincts.

“It was too easy,” Zack said grimly. “I don’t buy for a minute that they didn’t have every possible place Ari could run to or return to under close surveillance. And yet we were in and out in a matter of minutes and it was so smooth that it immediately made my what-the-fuck alarm start going off and I got a knot in my gut I only get when I know something’s all wrong.”