Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(36)

“All clear.” Callie stood, pushing things back into her backpack.

Rowan attempted a smile. “Thanks, Callie.”

The medic reached out and gripped her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. From his seat on the couch, Axel leaned forward and patted Rowan’s leg.

“You rocked out there, chiquita.”

Lachlan frowned. “I think she’s been touched enough, Diaz.”

Axel lifted his hand and shook his head. From nearby, Blair tried unsuccessfully to hide her laugh.

“And you’re sure Nat is okay?” Rowan asked, concern on her face.

“She’s fine,” Callie assured her. “Pissed, but fine.”

“She alerted us as soon as her apartment was breached,” Lachlan said.

Axel muttered under his breath. “If she hadn’t leaped into the fight like a warrior princess, she might not have gotten conked on the head.”

Rowan tucked her hands into her lap. “These people need to be stopped. They don’t care who gets hurt and if they get their hands on the artifact…”

“Rowan—”

She stood, shaking her head at Lachlan. She turned, her hair whipping around. “I am sick and tired of being hunted down like a dog.” Her gaze met Lachlan’s, filled with quiet determination. “I saw the havoc that artifact wreaked. I won’t let it happen again. I am not going to cower and hide. I want to help you find it.”

“For now, you stay where I can protect you.” Lachlan didn’t explain to her exactly what kind of enhanced security his apartment had, but he knew she’d be safe here. Brooks had decked out the place with enough layers to ensure no one was getting in. He made a mental note to have him do the same to Nat’s place.

Rowan thrust her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to hide away and do nothing—”

“I don’t want you hurt.”

“And I don’t want more innocent people hurt.” She set her shoulders back. “I have several degrees, including a PhD. I can help you.”

Lachlan knew she was smart, but this was about keeping her alive. He cupped her jaw. “Rowan, if something happened to you…” Fuck, he was starting to realize he couldn’t stand that. How could she get so far under his skin in such a short time?

She stared at him. “No one’s ever cared if something happened to me. I’ve never been important to anyone.”

“Your damn parents made you feel that way,” he bit out. “That’s on them, not you, Rowan.”

“I always just thought that maybe I’m defective.”

“I care.”

Her eyes were huge as she stared at him.

“I don’t want you anywhere near this artifact or the people who are after it.”

She shook her head, like she was trying to clear it. “Please let me help. I need to help, for my people who died at Ellesmere. I trust you to keep me safe while I do.”

He stared into her blue eyes and realized how much she needed this. Some control back in this out-of-control situation.

“You can work with us and Brooks.”

She smiled.

“We need to find out more about the Red Wolves, who else is involved, and who has the artifact.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m out of here,” Callie said.

Rowan jerked, like she’d just remembered there were other people in the room. Lachlan sighed and looked at his team members. Yep, grinning like loons.

Callie headed for the door. “Get some rest, Rowan.”

Axel and Blair followed. His second-in-command caught Lachlan’s eye. “If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

“See you guys in the morning.” Once the door closed, Lachlan checked the security system was up and running. Then, he moved back to where Rowan sat on the couch, and knelt in front of her. He gently touched the swelling on her face.

“I’m okay,” she said quietly. “Not even a headache.”

“You threw yourself on the driver.”

“I knew if they got away, I was dead.”

Dead. Fuck. The word reverberated inside Lachlan’s head, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit. He pulled her into his chest and she clung to him.

“Why don’t you have a shower?” he suggested. “I’ll take care of dinner.”

She glanced up at him. “You cook?”

“Nope.”

When she blinked, he smiled. “But I can order takeout like a pro.”

Now she laughed. It sounded tired, but it was a laugh. “Okay.”

After she’d wandered off toward his bedroom, Lachlan ordered Chinese from his usual place—one that he’d had vetted and where he knew all the delivery guys—and tried not to imagine Rowan naked in his shower.

He’d brewed some coffee by the time she returned. Her hair was wet and loose, and she was wearing the black robe he had hanging in his bathroom. A gift he’d never worn.

He handed her a mug and nudged her toward the couch.

“Thanks.” She wrapped both hands around the coffee and sipped. “I’m going to make you some of my special-blend of hot chocolate soon. Once you taste it, it’ll be all you want.”

“Never grew out of your chocolate addiction, huh?”