Hidden Away (KGI #3)(82)

“And how big is this place?” Garrett asked. The last thing he wanted was to be tripping over five other men in close quarters.

Rio grinned. “Big enough. Besides, we’ll be taking position in a perimeter around the house. No one will get within a mile unless we want them to.”

Armed with painkillers, the trip over less-than-ideal roads wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Still, by the time they turned onto the winding road that led to Rio’s safe house, Garrett felt like he’d been beat all over again.

There was a large security gate that couldn’t be seen from the road. Security cameras were mounted at each post on the left and right and Garrett raised his brow as Rio opened the gate by remote.

“Exactly how much are we paying you, man?” Garrett joked.

Rio snorted. “Not nearly enough.”

The drive was a half mile long and looped around the incline to where the house rested atop a hill, completely surrounded and sheltered by dense trees.

Garrett whistled when he caught sight of the place. He’d been expecting a shack or maybe a stone building that more resembled a cave. Rio and his men had reputations for being staunch, cave-dwelling loners who kept to themselves when they weren’t on assignment.

Rio liked his privacy—obviously—but he damn sure wasn’t suffering in some hovel.

“Can’t wait to see this,” he muttered as they piled out of the van.

A high-security fence circled the house in addition to the barrier provided by the trees. The house was modern and sleek and spread out over at least three thousand square feet. When they entered, Garrett was struck by how clean and efficient the house looked, but what immediately took over his notice was the high-tech surveillance gear, the computer system and the weapons locker located just inside the door.

“Van would cream himself,” Garrett said.

Rio laughed. “That he would. I’d have to kick his ass because he’d be touching my stuff.”

He guided Sarah and Garrett into a kitchen that looked like something out of a catalog. All the modern appliances, granite countertops and a professional-grade stove with six gas burners.

“The kitchen is fully stocked. If it’s edible I probably have it. Freezer and fridge have all the necessary foodstuffs. Staples in the pantry. Plenty of bottled water. Don’t drink out of the tap. We don’t have the best water.”

They carried on into a sprawling living room, which Garrett immediately approved of. He cast a sideways glance at Sarah, wondering if she was noting the differences.

“This is the type of place you hole up in when you’re hiding,” he said. “There aren’t any open areas for anyone to see into the living room or take a shot at you from a distance. All the windows are high to allow light to enter but this is a completely safe room.”

“Oh yeah?” she muttered. “What if they have a grenade?”

Rio laughed. “Well then it’s KYAG time.”

At Sarah’s raised eyebrow, Garrett supplied, “Kiss your ass goodbye time.”

“Ah, very succinct.”

“The bedrooms are through here,” Rio said as he led them down a long hallway. “Each has its own bathroom and the master suite has a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower. Take your pick and make yourself at home.”

“This is your home, isn’t it?” Sarah asked softly. “Not just a safe house. I mean it’s your safe place.”

Rio was silent for a minute. “Yeah, it is. It’s the place I go when I want to be alone, but hey, a guy likes his creature comforts too.”

Sarah grimaced. “I’m sorry we’re intruding then. But thank you for sharing your private getaway with us.”

He smiled at her then and leaned over to ruffle her hair affectionately. “Well, if it was only Garrett I would have stashed him in some hovel somewhere. Much more in keeping with his winning personality. But I couldn’t very well treat a lady like that.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. I’m going to puke over here,” Garrett grumbled. “Don’t you have something better to be doing?”

Rio grinned again and gave a snappy two-finger salute before he sauntered back down the hall to round up his men.

Garrett and Sarah were standing in the doorway to the master suite and Garrett waited for her to venture in. “It’s beautiful,” she said as she turned in a circle in the middle of the room.

Garrett dropped their bags on the floor, startling her. She looked at the bags, looked at Garrett and then color rose in her cheeks.

“I’ll take one of the other bedrooms,” she said as she started toward her bag. “You can have this one. I don’t need much room.”

He caught her wrist before she could bend to retrieve her bag and then he pulled her up close until they were flush against each other. “You’re staying in here with me.”

She trembled and her eyes took on a slightly glazed, hungry look that brought his body to immediate attention.

“In that bed. With me,” he said as he nodded toward the big king-sized bed in the middle of the room. “Your legs wrapped around me, me inside you. I’ve thought of little else for the past few days. It’s what got me through the two days in captivity.”

She sucked in her breath and licked her lips nervously, leaving them plump and shiny and so damn irresistible. Then she put a hand on his chest and gave him a doubtful look.