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Free at last.
Cleo settled back against the leather seat of a large SUV. Even though her hospital stay had only lasted a matter of hours, for her it felt like days. And now Jax was playing the dutiful hero and riding to her rescue. She had no idea where he got this sweet ride, but she appreciated its spaciousness more than she could say.
“Thank you. But you really didn’t have to go to such lengths. I could have called a taxi to take me back to my place.”
“I don’t think so. Remember I’m the one who promised the doctor I’d take care of you.”
At the next traffic light, he turned left instead of right.
“You went the wrong way. Wait. How do you know where I live?”
“I don’t.”
“It’s the other direction. I live at 331 Villa Drive, apartment C3. You can just turn left up here and loop around.” When he kept going straight, she sat up a little straighter. “Where exactly are you taking me?”
“Do you always ask so many questions?”
She glared at him. “I demand to be taken back to my apartment.”
“Not today. We’re going someplace where you can rest and not worry about any unwanted guests.”
“But I can’t.” She didn’t like the sound of this. “I have a job...er, at least I hope I still have a job.”
“Of course you do. You were injured on Glamour grounds while performing your duties. Therefore you’re entitled to workers’ compensation. Not even Mr. Burns would be foolish enough to let you go and face a lawsuit.”
The medication they’d given her at the hospital was making her head woozy. “The doctor said it wouldn’t be long until I could get around.”
“And until then you need to rest as much as possible. Now just relax. I’ve got everything under control.”
“How am I supposed to do that when you won’t even tell me where we’re going?”
“We aren’t going far. Just north of the city. And I promise you’ll like the accommodations.”
He was trying to sound upbeat, but she knew he was worried. “You think that guy is going to come back, don’t you?”
“He won’t bother you where we’re going.”
She wanted to believe him, but she didn’t even know what he was mixed up in. The adrenaline that had been driving her drained away, leaving her feeling wiped out. She was with Jax. Nothing would happen now because the one thing she did know was that she still trusted him. She instinctively knew that he’d protect her.
She leaned her head back, fighting to keep her eyes open. The image of her kitty came to mind. She’d called her neighbor Robyn McCreedy to check in on him. Still, it wasn’t the same as being there, especially since he’d just been neutered.
“I can’t stay here long. I have to get home.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you home soon.” Jax glanced over at her. “You can sleep. I’ll let you know when we’re there.”
She really shouldn’t trust him so easily, but her eyelids felt so very heavy. If she could just close her eyes for a minute, she’d be all right...
“Cleo, wake up. We’re here.”
Her eyes snapped open, not recognizing her surroundings. The bandage around her forehead was getting itchy so she rubbed at it, wanting to take it off. But the doctor had warned her to leave it on until the stitches on the back of her head had a chance to heal.
She gazed up at a large gate that was automatically opening for them. “Where are we?”
“Someplace safe.”
Jax maneuvered the vehicle between the gates and down a road lined with jaw-dropping mansions. It was dark out, making it difficult to see the details of each impressive estate until they pulled into the driveway of a humongous home. She’d only ever seen something this extraordinary in glossy magazines.
