Maybe protective custody wasn’t such a bad idea …
But then I pictured Parker, injured or dead because of me, and I knew I couldn’t. I’d go crazy with worry over him, piled onto the worry I was already dealing with for Ryker.
Sasha stood. “I’ll be in touch,” he said. “Stay aware. Stay alive. Call me if you change your mind.”
“We’ll do our best,” Parker replied, standing as well. We watched as Sasha slipped out the back the same way he’d come.
“Well,” he said once Sasha had gone. “It looks like I’m going to be living here for a while.”
I looked up at him in surprise. “What?”
“It’s not like I can just leave you here alone,” he said. “You’re a sitting duck.”
McClane took umbrage to that, making a noise and glaring up at Parker as though he’d understood what had been said.
“McClane can protect me,” I said, scratching him behind the ears. His eyes rolled back in his head in doggy bliss.
“One bullet can take down a dog, though he might give you a few seconds’ lead time to get away,” Parker said grimly.
“Rather than waiting for him to make a move, why don’t we draw him out?” I asked. It was much preferable to think of taking action rather than waiting for something to happen.
“It’s dangerous,” Parker said.
“It’s going to be dangerous no matter what,” I countered with a shrug.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he stared at me, and he said nothing.
“What?” I asked after a moment, self-conscious. Had I sounded ridiculous or something? I thought it was a solid plan. But he just shook his head.
“I haven’t ever seen this side of you,” he said. “I like it.”
“You mean my foolhardy, crazy, self-destructive side?” I asked dryly.
That got a laugh. “I wasn’t going to call it that,” he said. “More like courageous, daring, and taking the initiative in a badass kind of way.”
Pleasure curled in my belly at the compliment and our gazes caught. A beat passed and my smile faded.
Then McClane sneezed all over me.
“Aw, yuck! McClane!” I shoved his head and snotty nose off me and jumped up to go wash my hands. Dogs were gross and he didn’t look the least bit sorry.
“Let’s get some sleep,” Parker said, glancing at his watch. “We’ll think of something in the morning.”
I was exhausted, so that sounded like a good plan to me.
Parker stretched out on the sofa while I took Ryker’s bed. McClane hopped up and made himself at home, stretching out diagonally and crowding me until I had to shove his butt over. As tired as I was, I couldn’t sleep, but it wasn’t just worry for myself that kept me awake. I wondered where Ryker was, and if he was safe. I finally fell asleep in the small hours of the morning.
*
“No, you’re not coming with me.”
I narrowed my eyes at Parker and crossed my arms over my chest. We’d been arguing for several minutes now because he was going to his apartment to change and pick up some things and I didn’t want him to go alone.
“Viktor knows where I live,” he said, grabbing his keys, wallet, and cell phone. “I’m not leading you straight to him.”
“So you’re just gonna walk right in then?” I asked in exasperation.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “And if Viktor is there, then this thing will be over before it even gets started.” As if to emphasize his point, he racked the slide on his gun and pushed it into the band of his slacks at the small of his back.
“Stay here,” he ordered me. “Don’t go anywhere. Don’t answer the door. Don’t even look out the windows.” He looked down at McClane, standing at my side and tail wagging like mad. “McClane, watch.”
I had doubts as to McClane’s ability to understand, much less obey, such a command. But the dog sat immediately next to me, his ears perked and his eyes on Parker’s.
“I’ll be back,” Parker said, heading for the door.
“What about work?” I called after him.
“I told them we’re taking a few vacation days,” he said.
“Wait … together?” I asked, appalled. “People are going to think—”
“Gotta go. Lock this behind me.” And he was out the door.
Shit.
I shut the door and locked it, feeling more unnerved than I wanted to admit at being left by myself. I glanced down at McClane, which was a mistake because his tongue lolled in a doggy smile and his tail started thumping.
“I’m not scratching your belly,” I said. “You need to be alert. Not in a doggy coma.”
He tried the puppy dog eyes on me, but I was immune.