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But she hadn’t left him.
And she’d wanted to help. Hex said she’d done a good job, and had an eye for the CCTV images.
He would’ve preferred she stay in the apartment and rest, but after seeing the way she’d relaxed by being involved, he was happy for her to help. Safely, from the command center.
He scowled at the ceiling, the city lights flickering in from around the curtains.
They still didn’t have a name. It wasn’t Mikhailov. The asshole was locked up in a CIA black ops site and would never be seen again. Devyn had assured him of that.
Besides Mikhailov had been obsessed with Saskia, not Addie.
I will find you, asshole. You’re not hurting her.
Suddenly, he heard Addie cry out from the bedroom.
He leaped up, throwing the blanket off and grabbed his Glock off the coffee table. He sprinted down the hallway and burst into the bedroom.
It was dark, but the light was on in the bathroom, so he could see well enough. There was no intruder. Just Addie sitting upright in the middle of the bed.
“Addie?”
She let out a small sob. “Sorry… I…” Another sob. “I had a nightmare. It was so real. I was back at that estate, locked in a room.” Her voice shook. “I could hear the woman next door crying. And one of the guards chewed gum. I can still smell it. Like cinnamon.”
“You’re safe. You’re in New York.” Bram moved to the bed, and set his handgun down on the bedside table.
“I know,” she whispered. “The nightmare just crept up on me.” Her voice hitched. “Why would someone do this? Hunt me? Try to kill you? It’s crazy.”
He reached out and touched her silky hair.
She gripped his hand. “Bram, please, will you hold me?”
Damn. He couldn’t risk getting in the same bed as her. His control around her was already dangerously thin.
“Please.”
He couldn’t say no to her. Not when he heard the plea in her voice. Not when she was afraid, and she needed him.
He climbed onto the bed and leaned against the headboard. He reached for her, but she was already climbing into his arms.
He pulled her close and she rested her face against his bare chest, wrapping her arms around him.
She was shaking and he stroked her back.
“That this guy might be Russian…I guess it brought back my abduction. It was the scariest thing that ever happened to me.”
“I know, sunshine.” He rubbed the base of her neck. He was conscious of her belly pressed against his abs. “You’re safe now.”
“I know,” she murmured. “I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you.”
Feck. His chest tightened. “When you were younger…you didn’t feel safe?”
He felt her shrug, nuzzling against his chest. He gritted his teeth, trying not to get hard.
“We didn’t have a lot of money. My mom worked two jobs, and was always tired. To be honest, she just never showed much interest in us. I mean, there was always food. She did the best she could. Dad drank. He wasn’t violent, but he was mostly absent. My siblings and I were left on our own a lot.”
His hand tightened. “Did anyone hurt you?”
“No, Bram.” She kissed his chest.
