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I understand but wish he would just stay here and let me take care of him a bit. Getting up, I nab him a blanket and pillow from the linen closet and help him set up the couch into a makeshift bed.
“Here you go . . . hope you don’t mind the pink fuzziness.”
TJ’s sleepy but still waves his hands in mock protest. “Allie, stop. I’ve slept sitting upright, on the ground in the freezing cold and the sweltering heat, and with a light shining in my eyes. A cushy couch with a pillow and a blanket is already a luxury I appreciate.”
I pat his arm, nodding. “Okay, holler if you need anything. We’ll do breakfast in the morning, ’kay?”
He grunts as he rolls onto his side, and I choose to take that as agreement. Before I even make it down the hallway, I can hear his even breathing. Guess he really can fall asleep anywhere, anytime.
Lucky him, because I don’t think I’ll sleep at all tonight.
Heading back to my bedroom, I pick up my phone. I want to call Dominick, needing to hear his voice, but I’m not sure if this is something we should do on the phone. I can’t imagine how terrified he must’ve been. He’s not a man with friends, family, and definitely not one with lovers he cares about. I suspect he’s let me in closer than anyone in a long time.
I hit speed dial, waiting for Logan to pick up instead.
“Yes?” His voice is stone-cold.
“Um, hey, Logan. I am so sorry for any problem I might’ve caused. Did you or the guys get in trouble?”
Logan chuckles darkly, and I can hear him shift around, probably sitting in his car or something. “Trouble? No, although Gavin feels like crap right now, even though he did exactly what he was supposed to do.” His words are double-edged, hitting home the point that I didn’t hold up my end of the deal. “Allie, gonna be honest. You scared us shitless.”
That’s Logan, always straight to the point. “I know. And I’ll fix it, I promise. But I need you to do something for me tonight.”
His scoff is pretty obvious, even through my phone. “You’re asking me for a favor, at midnight, after giving up my night off to chase you all over town? You got some big brass ones, Allie.”
I startle, realization dawning. “How did you track me down? You didn’t follow me from the studio, and Dom said something about smoothies. How’d he know that?”
I can’t see him, but I can almost hear the shrug in his words. “You need to discuss that with him. Some of it’s just that I’ve got skills. So, what did you want?”
He’s back to all-business, his voice crisp and distant, not the sometimes slightly friendlier guy he’s been with me lately. I guess I deserve it after what I’ve put him through.
“Can you watch him for me, Logan? When he left, he was cold, and I know it sounds crazy, but he’s not that man with me. Ever. And I’m scared for him tonight. Can you just make sure he’s okay?”
He sighs, the sound staticky in the phone. “He’s fine. He’s tucked in for the night. Safe and sound. I promise.”
His words reassure me and give me the tiniest sliver of hope that I might actually sleep.
Chapter 14
Dominick
Settling into the rich leather chair behind my home office desk, I pick up the file folder that Logan hand-delivered an hour ago. I twist my head first one way, then the other, the pops satisfying as the crackles ripple down my spine, relaxing me.
Before opening the file, I look at the picture. It’s strange, how the eyes are so similar, and there’s a hint of shared lineage in the jawline that I can see now. His deep brown eyes stare back at me from the matte paper, full of neutral apathy. No smile, no anger, just one of roughly a million soldiers, but this one is different, special. Not because of anything he’s done but because of who he is.
Specialist Tyler David Bancroft, Junior. Also known as TJ . . . Tyler Junior.
I reach over and pick up my tumbler of scotch, sipping at it as I study TJ’s file. He’s probably the apple of his daddy’s eye, I’d wager. More importantly, he’s the brother of my Allie.
Last night did not go well. I was too angry, too hurt. As real as possible threats are, paranoia had let ugly possibilities brew in my mind. Though I think her brother might be the type to find some degree of respect in my actions, judging by the way he instantly protected her. He wasn’t quite as ruthless as he should have been. He did make a mistake . . . but he was willing to pull a gun on a stranger.
