Forged in Desire (The Protectors #1)(59)
The smile she gave him at that moment was well worth his honesty. Striker knew he had to shift gears, make sure they remained focused on the real problem at hand. “Whenever Roland calls and gives the word, we need to be ready to go. There’s no way you can set up shop where we’re going, but I’m sure there are a few smaller items you might want to gather out of your workroom to take with you.”
“Do you have any idea where we’re going?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t have a clue. But Roland will make sure it’s safe and not some place anyone could easily find. It’s going to be important that no one knows your location.”
She nodded. “At least you’ll be there to protect me.”
Yes, he definitely would be. And like he’d told her before, he would protect her with his life if he had to. But now those words were beginning to have more meaning for him.
He stared down into her face as his hands left her waist and slid down to cup her backside. Striker knew he needed to get a grip on his mind and not necessarily on her ass, but damn, touching her right there felt so good. And it was obvious from the look on her face that she liked him touching her there too.
“Do you think Roland suspects anything?”
Striker saw the way she was nibbling on her bottom lip. “About what?”
“That we slept together.”
“Would it bother you if he did? What about Frazier?” he asked.
“No. We’re adults.”
“Then why did you ask?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
He couldn’t help the smile that touched his lips. She was worried because of him. “Are you concerned about me losing my job?”
Her lashes lowered. “You did seem concerned about Roland finding anything out before he arrived. I know you have a close relationship with him and all.”
Striker used the tip of his finger to lift her chin. “And that won’t change.”
“How did the two of you meet?”
He no longer minded sharing how his close ties to her uncle came about. “When I got out of prison, it was suggested that I look up Reverend Luther Thomas. He was a former inmate whose sentence was overturned when they’d discovered he was innocent. He decided to dedicate his life to helping other inmates get acclimated to society. He was instrumental in making sure I finished my degree at Hampton and introducing me to Roland for a job. Roland had started his security company a couple of years before and made sure I got the proper training to be a protector. Our friendship started from there. I consider him the older brother I wish I had.”
His gaze drifted over her face. He saw the look of desire that was still in her eyes and knew he should step back; otherwise he would be sweeping her off her feet and carrying her up the stairs to her bedroom.
“We need to pack,” he said. “We’ll probably leave in the dead of night. Will you be ready?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’ll be ready.”
*
THE LONE FIGURE lifted the cup of coffee to his lips as he gazed down at the list in his hand. So far each hit had been a piece of cake, and he knew things would continue that way. No witnesses and so far he’d only taken out intended targets. Not one bystander harmed, although it would not have bothered him in the least if one had been.
He glanced at his watch. The person he was waiting for was late. She was his contact at police headquarters and the only one who knew his identity. Normally he worked alone, but Erickson’s hit list was a huge one, so a network had been implemented to stay abreast of what the feds and local police were doing.
He would admit she’d been rather useful so far. Thanks to her, he pretty much knew what was going on at police headquarters. He also knew all about that psychic who’d been brought in. It didn’t matter to him. He had no reason to believe in some weirdo’s abnormal abilities.
He and Erickson had a long history of working together. These weren’t the first hits he’d done for the man, and if things worked out the way Erickson planned, they wouldn’t be the last. He grinned at the thought that Erickson had things under control even from behind bars. There was no doubt in his mind that eventually Erickson would be set free. They would be stupid not to release him. But then, the feds and the local officers had shown him they weren’t too bright. Since he was still a free man getting ready to take care of his next victim.
He heard the knock on the door. It was about time she arrived.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
STONEWALL LOOKED UP when the office door opened. He’d been expecting Roland, although he’d wished otherwise. “I was hoping you’d keep driving to Sutton Hills after leaving Margo Connelly’s place.”
Roland walked into the room. “You would hope that. Do I need to remind you whose chair you’re sitting in?”
With a chuckle, Stonewall leaned back in said chair. “You can have it back but only when you’re physically ready. I prefer being out there where the action is instead of in here pushing papers.”
“You’ve been doing more than pushing papers and you know it,” Roland said, sitting down in a nearby chair.
Yes, he knew it, Stonewall thought. The only downfall in spending so much time here at the office was that he’d put his family as well as his social life on hold. His grandmother and sister understood how things went whenever it came to his work. So they weren’t his major concern right now. Detective Joy Ingram, on the other hand, was. Although he talked to Joy often, they had yet to go out on what he considered a real date. And lately her work schedule was becoming just as hectic as his.