Page 74 of Under His Guard

“Okay, can you increase the rounds again? Get as many photos and descriptions written down for them as possible. I know they’ll change out the people coming, so just do your best. Any movement toward the elevator or doors and you lock everything down. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. Of course.”

“Good. I need to go. Send all your reports to Cameron Davies. He’s on my emergency contact list. And copy me on them.”

“Of course.”

With that, I hang up, and by this point, I’ve wandered from the kitchen, around the living room, and then back down the hall toward my bedroom.

Clara is right on my heels, hurrying up to me as soon as the phone is gone from my ear.

“What’s happening? Talk to me.”

She’s not asking sweetly or stumbling to get the words out, fear clinging to her. No, right now, Clara is in full crisis control mode.

I have to hand it to her. It’s damn attractive to see how well she’s working to handle this.

“I’m stepping up security.” I pause, meeting her eyes and really not wanting to talk about this. “Fuck, Clara. I don’t want to pile on. We were just talking about your niece, and now…”

She steps up to me, taking my hands.

“No, it’s fine. Look—” Clara sighs, long and slow “—it’s better to just know. Waiting around for the other shoe to drop is worse. Just be straight with me.”

I mirror her sigh, squeezing her fingers. Fuck, this sucks.

“They’ve found us. The Cobras know you’re here. There’s no one else it could be.”

Shaking my head, that gnawing anger I’ve been trying to push down starts to bubble to the surface.

“I’ve never had this issue before, so it just has to be them. Dammit!”

Clara reels back slightly as I shout, and I slump into myself.

“I’m sorry, it’s just?—”

“I know.”

With a mournful smile, like Clara is already preparing herself for the worst, she slides her arms around me, laying her head on my chest.

“But this is what security and the police are here for, right? You gave Cameron the information, and we reported the updates to the authorities. We’ll tell them about this. It’s all we can do.”

It’s not fucking good enough. I can’t have another person in my life hurt or worse because my shit is putting them in danger.

I won’t fucking allow it.

“Clara.” I pull her back to look down at her. “You need to…fuck, you need to be on guard, okay? Tell hospital security or something. Maybe take a leave of absence?”

She gapes at me, her lips parting as she furrows her brow.

“I’m not leaving my patients. I’m not running away scared. Never again.”

Her voice is so low, a fury I’ve never heard in it, and as much as I want to just force her to stay here with me where I can protect her, this tone stops me.

“Again? Clara, talk to me. Why is putting yourself in harm’s way worth it? I get being a doctor and all, but there’s something else, isn’t there?”

Clara exhales hard, her eyes roaming the hallway as she closes her eyes and hangs her head.

“My parents—” she hesitates, fisting her hands “—my parents died when Regina and I were young. We were left in the care of my aunt and uncle.”

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