Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(13)

Dozing off, I hope Darla insists I return. I imagine her claiming she needs the only guy she trusts. I haven't felt this petty since I was a kid and wanted the new puppy only to like me.

Darla isn't a pet. She's an incredible woman trapped in a protective shell. Having seen a hint of the real Darla, I'm hooked. I need to see her smile again. I'm dying to hear her laugh.

Minka's call wakes me four hours after I crash.

"Darla's freaking. Get your ass back to the apartment."

"On whose orders?" I mumble while rolling out of bed.

"Mine, I guess. Or yours. Whoever is in charge says hurry the hell up. I'll meet you there in a few minutes."

I hang up and stagger into the shower, nearly taking the phone with me. The cold water wakes me up while a quick stop for coffee gives me a caffeine kick. Yet, more than anything else, the image a panicked Darla breaks through the morning groggy.

Minka waits for me in the apartment garage. She's clearly gotten a good night's rest based on her big smile.

"Brush your hair, playboy."

I run my free hand through the damp mess on my head. Taking a gulp of my coffee, I follow Minka.

"Last night," she says while we wait for the elevator, "when you tucked her into bed, did you happen to mention you wouldn't be working the morning shift?"

"Probably. I said a lot of stuff. Besides, I assumed she understood the score since you and I switched off last night."

Minka shoots me a dark look and steps into the empty elevator. Following her, I hit the 27th-floor button and take another gulp of coffee.

"You need to be careful," she says, tapping at the handgun strapped to her belt. "Darla isn't available, so keep it in your pants."

Grinning, I lean closer to her. "Poor weak Minka, what horrors you must suffer from following your heart. If only you could be like me and control yourself around attractive people. Oh, if only. Instead, you swoon so easily."

"You're not funny," she says, smiling. "Darla isn't some chippy you can charm with that smile."

"Unlike you, I'm perfectly capable of being attracted to someone without tripping over my dick. One day, when you're all grown up, you might find the same kind of self-control."

Minka shoves me aside when the doors open. "You're not fooling me, Sheridan."

Saskia opens the door for us while Manny stands in the kitchen. Glancing around, I don't spot Darla.

"She's in her bedroom, doing that hiccup crying," Saskia explains.

"What happened?" Minka asks.

Manny shrugs. "She came out of her room, took one look at me, and started crying. I figured she didn't like the big scary brown man in her place. I called Saskia, but Darla only cried harder. You'd think a tiny redhead wouldn't freak her out so much."

Saskia gives Manny her death glare, but he ignores her. I always knew he was nuts.

"She warmed up to us," Minka says, "so we'll take over. We don't need the entire team to babysit her at the apartment."

"Fine with me," Manny mutters, spinning on his heel. "Call me when it's time to shoot someone."

Saskia says nothing while following him. I don't wait for Minka on my way to the bedroom. She's close behind and even reaches for the doorknob.

Grunting, I push her out of the way with my hip and open the door. We step into the room to find the bed empty, and Darla sitting in a corner chair. She slumped over with her hair covering her face, but I know she's awake because her left foot taps wildly as we approach.

Minka kneels in front of the chair and cups Darla's face. I wish I could touch her so easily without sending her into a panic. Shoving aside my greedy desires, I watch Minka study Darla.

"Did you take a tranquilizer?" she asks.

Darla doesn't need to answer. Her eyes are glazed and emotionless.

"Let's move to the living room," Minka says, trying to lift her up.

I sweep past her and take a nearly unconscious Darla into my arms. Walking to the living room, I brush my lips against her forehead quickly. I want more, but Minka is watching while Darla isn't an active participant. These tiny details keep me from enjoying the warmth of her in my embrace.

Once she's comfortable on the couch, I realize Darla's watching me. I wait to see her reaction. She holds my gaze for longer than I expect. Minka is also watching me, but I ignore her until Darla dozes off.

"Just no," she whispers when I join her in the kitchen. "She's all kinds of messed up, and you lack the kind of personal skills necessary to deal with her."

"I dealt with her fine," I say, checking the security cameras. "We need to get these images to show up on our phones."

"There's some damn issues with the equipment compatibility. I told Rafael he should hire on a real IT security nerd, but he figured we could contract out to local geeks. Nobody listens to me, just like you aren't in regards to Darla."

Sighing, I hold her gaze. "I'm not doing anything, Minka."

"I know you. In fact, you're wearing the same look as when we worked the Bogotá assignment, and you insisted we save the priest. How did that f*cking turn out?"

Instinctually scratching the scar on my throat, I feel not an ounce of regret about Bogotá. Then again, I survived.