“It’s to keep me safe.”
“What?”
“So, I don’t want you to worry?—”
“Too late!I’m worrying like mad!I’m about to jump on a plane and hunt you down because I am so worried about you!”
She fully believed that Sloane was about to take those very actions.“I believe the individual who took me—who took Atlas and I both—I think he broke into my rental house.He stole my laptop, Sloane.”
“It’s password protected,” Sloane’s instant response.
“You know he’ll eventually get past any password protection.He also took my physical files.”There was no getting around this.“He has the data on our potential subjects.”
“Shit.”
Yes.
“But so what?”Sloane demanded in the next breath.“Most of that intel is public information.And the stuff that isn’t, what is he going to do with it?”
“I don’t know.”She turned from the window and stared back at the bed.“That’s what worries me.”
“Let me tell you what worriesme.The guy took you.Then he—what?Broke into your house?That’s not good on a thousand levels.Lily, he’s got you in his sights.He’s coming for you.You need an army around you, you need—oh, the engagement.”Her breath heaved out.“Got it.I’m following along now.Atlas Bennett is giving you an army, isn’t he?”
Yes, he was.“I’m pretty sure half a dozen guards are patrolling the grounds as we speak.”
“He’s telling the world you’re under his protection.That’s what the engagement is about.”
Right.“Not like it was going to be about him taking one look at me and falling helplessly in love.”
“Lily Gallo, you stop that right now!If the man has any sense, he absolutely would look at you and instantly fall in love!You’re an amazing person, and, uh, hello—yousavedhis ass!He needs to be grateful to you.He needs to be thanking you.Preferably on his hands and knees in full grovel form.He needs to be?—”
A soft knock on her closed door.
“Worshipping the very ground upon which you walk,” Sloane finished tightly.
“Don’t really think he’s going to be doing that anytime soon,” Lily told her.
The door opened.A few inches at first.Enough for Atlas to peek inside.“Thought I heard your voice.”One dark eyebrow rose.“You’re on the phone.Got it.”
Not like I was in here talking to myself.She wasn’t that far gone.Yet.
He started to back away.
“Atlas!”Lily called.
“Is he with you right now?”Sloane demanded.
He opened the door fully.He was dressed all in black, even black boots.And she could feel a tension clinging to his body.
Atlas was planning something.
“Yes,” Lily said into the phone.
“Is that good…or bad?”Sloane wanted to know.
“Yes,” Lily said again.
“Ohmygosh.I’m coming to you.I am getting on a plane, and I am coming to you.”
