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“I can do that,” Cody said.
Chang scribbled her email address on a piece of paper, then handed it to Cody. “Thank you.” Then she turned to Jack. “I’m going to get Aaron in here and talk to him. Figure out what’s going on and decide how to proceed. I’ll give you a call after I talk to him.”
“Okay,” Jack said, swiping his hands down his denim-clad thighs, as if his hands were sweating. “Thanks, Dr. Chang.”
“I’ll talk to you later today,” she said with a reassuring smile.
Jack pushed away from the desk and studied her for a long moment. Nodded. “I appreciate it.”
The three of them walked out of his advisor’s office. None of them spoke until they were back in Cody’s rental car and heading toward Jack’s apartment.”
Cody said, “Impressive woman, Jack.”
“Yeah.” He smiled, looking smitten. “She’s studied our…” He bit his lip. Glanced at Sierra, horrified. “We have a lot of similarities in our areas of interest.”
Sierra nodded. “Always a good thing when you’re working closely together.” She hoped she sounded bland and reassuring instead of how she actually felt -- shocked and terrified.
She knew what Jack had almost blurted out, and she needed to talk to him. He’d started to say that Charlotte Chang had studied their parents’ work. He might be infatuated with the woman, and after seeing her today, Sierra was pretty sure she was interested, too. But Jack needed to keep his mouth shut about their parents.
Cody met her gaze in the rearview mirror, and she knew he’d caught Jack’s near slip. She returned his gaze impassively. No way was she going to share any more secrets about her family.
* * *
Four hours later, Sierra’s brother was deep into his computer work. Cody suspected Jack had no idea he and Sierra were in the apartment, and that was fine with him. He’d emailed Mel to get an update about Alex and the Bratva situation.
He stared at her answer for a long time, equal parts pleased and horror-struck.
Sierra saw him studying his phone and edged closer from the other side of the couch. “You get some news about Alex and her situation?”
Cody stared at her, amazed she’d picked that up just from a glance at his face. Like their brains were synced and on the same wavelength.
He swallowed. “Yeah, more information. Alex is fine, other than a broken arm. Treadmill accident. Gideon, her bodyguard from Blackhawk Security, is fine, too. Jerry Trotter is in FBI custody, and he’s tentatively going into the Witness Protection Program. Two Bratva guys cut off his finger, but apparently it was successfully reattached. Trotter’s agreed to testify against his contacts at the FBI and in the Bratva. If he holds up his end of the bargain, he’ll disappear.”
“Come on, Cody.” Sierra narrowed her eyes at him. “I know there’s more. I can tell by your expression.”
“You trying to read me, Sierra?” he tried to joke.
“Oh, yeah.” She resisted rolling her eyes. “You’re an open book, Parker. So spill.”
Cody sighed. Edged close enough to Sierra that their shoulders were almost touching. “Alex will be back in Evanston in a week or two and Gideon will be with her. Mel is keeping Gideon on the job for a while, just in case the Bratva go after her. She took the money Trotter stole from the Bratva, and she’s giving it back to Trotter.” He worried about Sierra’s exposure to Alex’s problem, but the other part of his news would take care of that.
He took a breath. Held her gaze. “And because you’re Alex’s partner and are still potentially vulnerable, I’m staying with you for the foreseeable future, as well.”
He said the last words quickly, trying to minimize them. But Sierra narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re staying with me? As my bodyguard? Why would the Bratva come after me once this is over?” she said.
“Same reason Mel was afraid they’d come after you now. They want their money back.”
“I don’t have their money. I never did.”
“By taking you, they could pressure Alex to give them the money in exchange for your safety.”
Sierra shook her head slowly, and Cody had no trouble reading her expression. She didn’t want him around any longer than necessary. Just like he didn’t want to stay any longer than necessary. Close to her twenty-four seven? Knowing he couldn’t touch her because he needed to focus on protecting her? It would be complete hell.
Apparently Sierra agreed, because she shook her head sharply. “Not necessary,” she said, a muscle in her jaw twitching. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine.”
“‘Pretty sure’ isn’t enough.” He clenched his teeth, knowing what would happen if the Bratva got its hands on her. “That’s why I’ll be here to make sure you are.”
She opened her mouth to respond, and Jack’s phone rang in the other room. He picked it up. “Hey, Dr. Chang.”
