“Sure you don’t want some scratchies? Youcould hit the lotto.”
“I’m not that lucky.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t play.”
“No thanks,” she muttered and tapped herfingers as he ran her card.
Aiden prowled closer until she could feelhim against her shoulder. The clerk glanced nervously at him beforesmiling at her and handing her card back. “You’re all set. I’ll seeyou tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” Maggie replied with asmile and then cringed when she wondered if shewouldseehim tomorrow.
Back on the city street, Maggie studied theincreasing number of people moving about. “Anyone of them could bean enemy,” she murmured.
Aiden clasped her elbow and drew her closer.“Yes.”
“What have I gotten into?”
“I have a car at your apartment.” He’dpacked a bag and placed it in the trunk in the hope he would beable to get her to agree to leave her place. “I think we should gosomewhere that the Savages won’t be able to locate you.”
“Where?”
That was the question. He’d prefer not totake her to where Ronan and the others resided. She’d handled allof this well, but he didn’t think she’d appreciate being placed inthe middle of so many vampires. He didn’t want to take her to hisfamily in Maine, that could be more overwhelming for her, and hewasn’t stable enough to trust himself around his family.
“A hotel, for now,” he finally said. “Untilwe can take down the Savages who attacked last night and make surethere aren’t more of them involved.”
“Are they going to hunt me for the rest ofmy life?”
“I’ll kill them all first,” he replied, andMaggie knew he wasn’t just saying that; he meant it.
“I don’t have the money for a hotel.”
“I’ll pay for it.” He held his hand up toforestall the argument he saw her gearing up to make. “You have tobe kept safe, and you can pay me back later.” He’d never take hermoney, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t agree to let him payotherwise.
“Iwillpay you back,” she said. “Howmuch time will we have to spend at the hotel?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
Maggie opened her mouth to tell him toforget it; she couldn’t risk losing her job. Then, she lookedaround at the growing swell of people, and a shiver crept down herspine. She had her pride, could take care of herself, and shedidn’t want to lose everything she had, but she would have a lotless if she died.
“I will do everything I can to eliminatethis threat to you soon,” Aiden vowed.
Maggie tore her eyes away from a passing manwho was staring at her a little too attentively. Perhaps his stareonly meant he was a creep, but it might mean he was tracking her toreport to his bosses where she was. If she stayed in her apartment,this constant paranoia would drive her crazy.
“There are things I need from my apartmentif I’m going to leave it,” she murmured.
Aiden hid his relief over her acquiescenceas he led her across the street to her building. They climbedswiftly up to her apartment, and he waited while she packed clothesand toiletries into a large duffel bag. She rushed around, wateringall the plants and murmuring promises of returning for them. Hedidn’t miss that she placed the picture of A.J. into the duffel bagwith tender care.
She stuck both coffees he’d bought her inthe microwave and hit a button. Her foot tapped as she waited forthe microwave to beep. She removed both cups and stuck one in thetray while she set the other on the counter.
“I have to call out of work,” she said asshe opened a drawer and removed a pair of scissors. With care, shecut away the packaging encasing her phone. “But I have no idea whatto say to them or what they know.”
“You don’t have to speak with them at all,”Aiden said.
“And why not?” Maggie demanded as she yankedat the plastic and cursed loudly when it still didn’t open.
Aiden took the packaging from her and toreit open.
“Show off,” she muttered as he handed herthe phone and he smiled.
