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Right now, he had to concentrate. His country and his duties had to take precedence, as they always had.
Lieutenant Yost waited for him, her look pointed and unhappy, but she said nothing. He pushed Ray’s number on the callback as Lieutenant Yost hurried down the stairs and to the basement.
“Yeah?” he asked his best friend, walking down the stairs with heavy treads. He headed for his office just off the stairs on the main level.
“Lieutenant Yost informed me that Treven Rindlesbacher has escaped from prison and apparently has an impersonator masquerading as him?” Ray’s voice was gruff, annoyed, and ready to hunt down Treven.
Jensen would utilize his best friend’s dedication, insights, and forces, but why had Lieutenant Yost woken Ray at two a.m. and then claimed the general had called her?
That wasn’t Ray’s problem, but Jensen would ask her about it. He had been cloudy and consumed by Livvy’s kisses, but it had seemed to him Ray’s phone call and Lieutenant Yost knocking on the door were seconds apart. Had she been standing there waiting? That was annoying and out of line.
“Yes,” he told Ray. “The man in the prison is definitely not Treven.”
He and Ray talked through everything that had happened, and the General Prince promised to continue searching for Treven and Naomi, but as they’d all been on high alert for Naomi already and hadn’t found her, it was becoming more frustrating by the day. Was Naomi holed up on some private island where they’d never find her? Who was pulling the strings and financing Treven if not Naomi? William was definitely dead. That was the only good news they could cling to at the moment.
Jensen hung up with Ray and sent the alert to Interpol, the European Union authorities, and Sutton Smith. He took the time to talk to each of the officers at the house. It was after four a.m. when he finally lay down on his office couch. He was roused at seven by movement in the kitchen.
Swinging his feet to the floor with a groan, his head pounded with lack of sleep. He stood and took a deep breath, rolling his head around to loosen his neck up. He headed into the main area and paused when he saw Livvy standing next to the counter, a glass of water to her lips. She was freshly showered, and her long, dark hair trailed over her shoulder. She was absolutely glorious. How could he resist fixating on her when she was right here?
“Good morning,” he managed. “You look incredibly beautiful this morning.”
She looked incredibly beautiful all the time.
Her eyes narrowed slightly at him, as if he had no right to tell her she looked beautiful, and he probably shouldn’t have gone there. Dang the line he had to walk to solve this case and keep her safe. Treven could not win. Not with Livvy at stake.
“You look exhausted,” she returned.
“I am.” He forced a smile, looking down at his rumpled shirt and slacks and back up at her. “Please feel free to eat anything you like, and …” He wanted to tell her she could explore, but where could she go? The living room? At least she could play the piano. “Please don’t leave the house.”
“Don’t leave the house? So I’m a prisoner here now?”
“Livvy.” He crossed the room, stopping a foot away and impressively not pulling her into his arms. Sometimes he amazed himself. “We have to keep you safe until we find Treven. Please.”
She studied him and then whispered, “Are we going to talk about it?”
Their world-altering kiss? Their connection? How she consumed his every thought?
His hand moved without him granting it permission, and he gently cupped her jaw, his thumb trailing across the softness of her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes.
Jensen wasn’t tired any longer. He could fight a dozen men to keep her safe.
The front door beeped and then opened. Jensen pulled his hand from her face, and she straightened away from him.
Frank walked in, shutting the door and arming the alarm behind him. “Morning,” he murmured, nodding to them before heading to the stairs and the basement.
Jensen focused right where he wanted to … on Livvy.
“Keeping you safe has to be my focus,” he said in a gravelly voice.
“What does that mean?” She blinked up at him, so beautiful and right here, in his kitchen, looking at him. Wanting him? He felt as if she were meant for him.
Jensen steeled himself. “I have to focus on finding Treven and Naomi and keeping you safe.”
“Your duty has to come first,” she said softly.
She understood? That was good, even if it was hard for both of them to exercise restraint right now.
