I looked up at him imploringly. “Babe. These guys aren’t going to stop. Not until they get what they want. If they think I have this thing, they’ll keep searching for me. Or, if they think I gave it to the feds, my guess is that they’d want revenge, right?”
He knew I was right. They both did. I could see it in their faces.
“So,” I continued, “what if I give it back to them? I could wear a wire or something.”
“No,” Sid barked.
“Declan. Help me out here,” I pleaded, knowing he was the only person who could offer some reason in this situation.
“She has a point, guys,” he responded after a brief hesitation. “I hate to admit it, but she does.”
Travis stood stoically as Sid prowled the room. “Let’s meet tomorrow at 0900,” he ordered, before turning eyes on me. “Sam, you’re with Sid at all times and whenever possible another member of the team. You don’t do anything alone unless it’s deemed 110 percent secure, you got me?”
“Okay,” I agreed readily. “Whatever you need,” I added. The room and phone fell silent as I looked at Travis and Sid. “What?” I demanded.
Travis shook his head. “Just wasn’t sure it would be that easy, but I’ll take it.”
“Jesus, Trav, I’m not that much of a pain in the ass,” I huffed, then pointed a finger at Sid when he looked like he was about to speak. His eyes turned warm and he pulled my back into his front, his muscular arms wrapping around me.
“You are a pain in the ass sometimes, baby. But you’re my pain in the ass,” he murmured in my ear.
Well, that was sort-of sweet, even if it entailed me being a pain in the ass.
“I’ll let you guys finish up,” I said, pushing gently against Sid to let me go. “This pain in the ass is tired,” I added dryly, trying to hide the sadness and fear that suddenly suffocated me.
Declan laughed over the phone as I waved good night, dinner long forgotten and went into my room with Trixie.
My emotions were in upheaval as I tried to digest the danger I was in.
I watched an episode ofSex and the Cityon my iPad, my eyes blurry with exhaustion as I desperately tried to distract myself. I fell asleep before it was even over, content to drift where my subconscious would take over, to the place where dreams were made.
CHAPTER 9
Iwoke up with a start a few hours later. At first, I wasn’t sure what had woken me, until I heard it again.
Sid was shouting in his sleep, his voice hoarse with agony.
Nightmare.
I quickly got over the fact that he’d slept with me, too worried about him to care. During his service in the Corps, he’d done two tours in the Middle East. He didn’t talk about his time there other than to say he’d seen a lot of “fucked-up shit.” I knew it haunted him.
It had been a while since he’d had a bad one. I wondered if our conversation earlier had something to do with the reemergence.
He was writhing on the bed, his back bowed as he let out another hoarse shout.
“Sid,” I called softly. I never dared to touch him when he was like this. “Sid,” I tried again, louder this time.
He sat up with a start, looking around the dark room in confusion.
“It’s okay, you’re okay,” I murmured quietly.
He hung his head in dismay. “Shit.” His chest was shiny with sweat as he fought to catch his breath.
I reached over to grasp his forearm, needing to touch him. It killed me to see him like this.
We sat in silence for several minutes as he collected himself. “Sorry,” he muttered finally, raking a hand through his hair.
In the years we’d been friends, I’d comforted him through several of his nightmares but I’d always kept my distance. Now, it dawned on me I could finally comfort him the way I’d yearned to all those times before. I scooted closer, pulling him into my arms. He was so much bigger than me, but I still managed to get my arms around his shoulders, his head pressed to my chest. His arms went around my waist and together we just breathed.
