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“The same men coming for you have been given the order to kill both of you on sight. Then, they’re supposed to pick up a group of two hundred women who were abducted and are being shipped out of the port very shortly. We have two objectives: keep you and Lexie alive, and find those women.”
Her face displays her shock, and she doesn’t say or need to say a word. “I know, love. It’s a horrendous thought, but mark my words. We’ll find them and keep everyone safe. We just need you and Lexie to do as we ask, though, and do it as quickly as we tell you to do it. Understand?”
Allie nods. “You tell me to jump, and I’ll do it immediately. I’ll give Lexie a call as soon as I’m done getting coverage for the nursing staff this week, and we’ll do whatever you need. You have too many other things to worry about than to worry about us too.”
“I need you to get ready and pack enough stuff for a week, but do it fast, Allie. I’m taking you to the Prestian Towers. Chase gave us the use of his penthouse for as long as we need it. Sheldon will meet us there with Lexie. We’ll be able to shut the private elevator system down to the towers. The only way they could get to you is if they got through all of our men and took them out in the stairwell, and that won’t happen.”
“A woman can pack and talk at the same time. I’ll be back in ten minutes and ready to go.”
Allie takes off, answering a call as she walks down the hall. I put the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on while reading an incoming text from Sheldon letting me know that he and Lexie are on the way to the Towers and that Liam, Trent, Mason, Cole, and Scottie have arrived and are in position. Liam and Trent will post right outside the door. Cole and Scottie will take the stairs, and the Larussio crew will take the perimeter.
I glance up, and Allie is already done, walking down the hall with a bag tossed over her shoulder. She’s wearing a pale purple cashmere-like sweater that looks feminine and soft, wrapping her curves like a glove. Her peach-sized breasts jiggle slightly, and her curves sway wrapped in skintight jeans as she walks.
Allie looks up when she gets closer. “All set. I just got off the phone with Lexie. Sheldon thinks we should all stay together at Chase and Katarina’s penthouse even though others are available. She wanted to know what I thought and said that Sheldon would call you to talk about it shortly.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
She watches me with those deep green eyes, contemplating my question as she stands there in her skintight clothes. “We’re adult enough to share a room without crossing any of our agreed-upon terms.”
Sweet Jesus. Sharing a bed with Allie and not touching her will take a literal act of God.
Chapter Twenty
Allie
Nick doesn’t even lookfazed at the prospect of sleeping together, while still keeping our arrangement. I don’t know what kind of reaction I was looking for, but more than just nothing. The sting of rejection smarts although the logical side of my brain knows he has a million things on his mind that are of greater priority. I grab my purse and turn for the door. “I have calls to make on the way over. I’ll set up my laptop and get a few other things done for the hospital once we get there.”
“Allie.” That deep timbre stops me in my tracks.
“Yeah.”
“You almost forgot this,” he says, holding up my water bottle.
I swallow down the butterflies that a small gesture like that creates. It’s nothing. It’s his job. It’s what he would do for anyone he’s taking care of. I need to remember that and keep my heartstrings safely tucked away before he slowly snaps the chords one by one. “Thanks. It would put a wrench in your schedule if we had to turn around and come back for that.”
His jaw shifts, but he says nothing. Of course, we wouldn’t come back for a fricking water bottle. I’m clearly overtired and a little on the emotional side. I count the days off until the monthly visit in my mind as I walk in front of him toward the SUV. He opens the door for me and closes it behind me before walking around to get into the driver’s side. Once settled, he glances at me, his eyes homed in on my lap. “Seat belt.”
“Sorry, I was a million miles away.” I click it into place.
“Anything you care to share?” Nick asks, glancing out to his side and pulling onto the road while another vehicle gets into position behind us.
I buckle the seat belt and swallow down the emotional strife rattling around in my head. “Nope, nothing worth the breath it would take to get the words out. I have some calls to make while we drive.” I connect with the temp agency and internally fume that it will probably take forever on hold just to get an update on the staffing situation and be told they have no one left to send. Same story, different day.
The traffic heading toward the city is light, with most of the highway commuters already having reached their work destinations for the day.
When we reach the Manhattan sky rise, Nick hands the valet the keys and escorts me to the private elevator. Two men I recognize from the gathering to announce Sheldon and Lexie’s engagement greet us. One puts out his hand. “I’m Cole, and this is Mason. We didn’t get a chance to talk to you the other night. I heard there was a bad accident that you went to help out with.”
The four of us get in, and he pushes in the code to the penthouse. “Nice to meet you both. It was pretty bad, but Nick was kind enough to get me to the hospital in time to help.” I sidestep giving out any information that wasn’t already plastered all over the local news stations.
Mason extends his hand. “Good to meet you, Allie. I’ve heard nice things about you from Nick and Sheldon. Cole and I’ll be running point on the stairway. No one is getting by either of us, but Liam and Trent will be right outside the elevator.”
“I appreciate all the security. Lexie and I will make sure there’s plenty to eat and drink coming out your way,” I promise him.
“Deal.”
“I’ve alerted the sky rise administration that the elevator will be out of commission, so you’re clear to cut the juice any time now,” Nick says just before the doors open into the penthouse and two more intense, muscular looking guys walk toward us from the living room.
Nick extends a hand to each in greeting. “Jay, Damian, thanks for all your help getting the perimeter set up. Greatly appreciate that. This is Allie.”
