I shake my head. “I’ll be okay.”
He watches me for long seconds before finally relenting with a nod. “You’ll call me if you need me.” It’s not a question, it’s a demand, and one I’m likely to follow.
I learned early on in our interactions that arguing with him is futile and should be saved for when it really matters.
I nod my agreement and do one final sweep of the kitchen to make sure I have everything.
He might be right. I did make enough to feed an army, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. The rhythmic nature of cooking allowed my racing mind to rest for the first time in days.
Sleep has evaded me ever since Bishop called to tell me Camilla and Crew were missing, and my own thoughts are a dangerous place to be in times of high anxiety.
Keeping busy is the only way I’ve been able to stop myself from spiraling.
Before I have a chance to gather the bags resting on the counter, Ryker steps forward and takes all but a small cooler bag, giving me the illusion of helping.
He leads the way to the garage where my car is parked. Among the luxury sports cars John De Marco used to collect is the Audi he called a bonus last Christmas, even though as each year passes, I’ve had less to do around the house.
I wouldn’t say I was close to the man, but he was beyond kind to me over the years, keeping me safe from the people who would have killed me if they ever got their hands on me.
And even when Camilla was old enough to take care of herself and no longer needed a nanny, he restructured my position.
As far as I know, the Lombardis are no longer looking for me, but I’ve never wanted to test that theory, and thankfully, I’ve never had to.
I pop the trunk, and Ryker places the bags down carefully.
The small bag I brought out nestles in beside them, and I check to make sure they’re unlikely to fall over during the drive.
The address Bishop gave me had my brows tugging together in confusion, but I didn’t question him on it. He has enough to deal with right now.
Ryker closes the trunk as soon as I’m out of the way and levels me with a concerned stare. Why does it feel like he cansee through my carefully constructed walls to the brokenness beneath?
“You sure you don’t need me to come with you? When was the last time you slept?”
“I’ll be okay,” I reply, carefully skirting around the question. Because the truth is—it’s been days since I was able to close my eyes.
I don’t need to imagine what Camilla is going through right now, because I’ve lived it, and I wouldn’t wish that upon my worst enemy, let alone the girl I helped to raise, who I’ve loved since the moment her big gray eyes looked up at me with so much sadness it called to the broken parts of me.
In some ways we raised each other, and we put one another back together again after losses that almost destroyed us.
He looks like he’s about to argue, his deep amber eyes assessing me in a way that has me tugging my sleeves down around my hands to hide my fidgeting.
“Text me when you’re there and then again when you’re leaving.”
I sigh, but the genuine concern in his voice has my chest aching. It’s been a long time since a member of the opposite sex has cared about me as anything other than an employee, and the lonely part of my soul longs for that kind of connection.
But I’m fooling myself if I think a man like Ryker cares about me as anything other than an assignment, and I refuse to be that same naive girl I was when I arrived here all those years ago.
I know the price of letting a man close, and it’s not one I’m prepared to pay ever again.
CHAPTER TWO
CHLOE
NOW
Staring up at the plain apartment building, I check the address for the third time since I parked.
I know this is a safe house, but I just kind of assumed the Syndicate of the Legion would have mansions spotted around the city considering their vast wealth.
