Laurie gripped the seat.

Dante parked in front of a small square building, with little awnings over each window.

Laurie couldn’t tell what color it was in the darkness, but it wouldn’t have mattered to her anyway.

Dante shut off the engine.

Laurie reached for the door, put he laid a hand on her arm. She looked at him. He took a small pistol out of the console in his truck, loaded it, and handed it to her.

“I don’t…”

“Just point and shoot, Laurie. I don’t normally give witnesses a gun because they can hurt someone without meaning to, but there isn’t going to be a team for a couple of days. Maybe one or two men, until we can fly in someone else. I need to know you’re protected. I’ll show you how to load it and clean it tomorrow. Tonight, I just need you armed. I go into the house first. You stay with me, until I’ve checked every room, okay?”

Laurie nodded. She blinked at the gun in her hand. It was cold, shiny, and heavier than she expected. Even on the shooting end of it, it was intimidating.

“Let’s go. I’ll bring in the bags once everything is secure.”

Dante moved like clockwork. Opening doors, checking each room. There was nothing in the house but blank walls. Once the house was clear, Dante turned to her.

Her hands clutched at the gun as her whole body shook in slight tremors.

He grimaced.

“House is clear.” He gently took the gun from her. “We’re safe.”

She nodded. Her shoulders slumped in exhaustion. She blinked in slow motion as all her energy seemed to evaporate.

Dante wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Let’s get some sleep.” He kept his arm around her as they walked into her room.

“I’ll go get our bags—rest.” Dante jogged out of the room.

When he returned, Laurie was making the bed. She pulled soft, dark blue satin sheets onto the mattress. Dante grabbed a pillow and a matching pillowcase and started stuffing one into the other. A thought struck him, and he swore under his breath.

“I forgot the sleeping bag.”

Laurie turned to him. She considered him for a long moment, her bleary eyes taking in the grim set of his mouth and the stark stain of blood soaking through his bandage. Laurie didn’t want to sleep alone. She knew she shouldn’t allow him to sleep with her again. He had a strong, steady, and comforting presence, which she was beginning to crave. She should be cautious, but she decided to throw caution to the wind. Her need to have him beside her won out over her logic.

“I don’t think I can sleep alone tonight. Can you just sleep beside me?”

Dante hesitated, giving her a sidelong glance.

“Please? Just this once.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

His whole body softened.

“Yeah. It’s been a tough night. I would feel better if we were in the same room.”

“Thank you.”

Laurie hugged him. She wanted to cry. The unshed tears tightened her throat. She had waited in that horrible safe room. Then she walked out of the safe room, only to see David gunned down by someone trying to get to her. Her mind was numb as she released Dante, grabbing her bag of toiletries. She went across the hall to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She went through the motions of it, one minute at a time. When she came out, she saw Dante standing beside the door, looking almost guilty.

He coughed and looked away.

“Sorry—just wanted to be sure you were okay.”

Laurie nodded with the barest hint of a smile. At least there was one thing that remained the same. Dante would do whatever it took to protect her.

Laurie dumped her clothes into her bag, knowing she could deal with separating the dirty from the clean tomorrow. Then she fell into bed and pulled the covers over herself.

A few minutes later Dante re-entered. He closed and locked the door. Then he turned off the light.

Laurie’s heart started pounding, but she ignored it. It was silly. He had already slept with her before. Why should she be nervous? She chalked it up to anxiety hanging on after the attack.

Laurie rustled around in the bed, throwing back the covers for him.

He lay down beside her. She felt the warmth radiating from his body. As he settled into bed, Laurie cuddled up beside him. She laid her head and hand on his chest.

Dante hesitated, but after a few minutes, he wrapped one arm around her.

Soon after, they both fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER TEN

Dante

The next morning, Dante awoke to a frantic beeping from his cell phone. He tried to slide out from beside Laurie.

She mumbled something and rolled over, turning her back to him.

He fumbled for the phone inside the pocket of the jeans he wore the night before. Finally, he pulled it out. It showed a missed call from his boss. He stepped out of the room and hit speed-dial.

“Hi, Rick,” he said into the receiver.

“What the hell happened?”

“We were ambushed. They came by night. Four guys.”

“God, so it’s true. Where’s the girl?”

“Laurie’s with me.”

“Well I’m glad. I don’t know what we’ll do about David though. Have you called his family?”

“No, I was going to do that this afternoon.” Dante closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Good. You should call Max and Cheyn’s families and tell them they’re in the hospital. What can I do for you right now?”

Call David’s family for me, Dante thought it but he didn’t say it—he knew it was his job.

“Well, I could use some more men. I can’t protect her by myself the whole time.”

“No. Of course not. I’m already working on that. I have two men flying in later this evening from Maui. They’re wrapping up another assignment, but I’ll try to get them out to you as soon as I can. The fourth I might be able to get from California. But he won’t be there until tomorrow morning at the earliest.”

“All right. We should be fine until tonight.”

“How is she doing?”

Dante stared at the bedroom door. He wanted to go back to the woman in question.

“Shaken, but she was in the safe room. She’ll be fine. She’s a tough girl.”

“Good. I expect a full report on this by mid-week.”

“Not a problem. How are Cheyn and Max? Have you called the hospital yet?”

“Yeah, yeah. Cheyn’s just fine. He’s a little out of it but you should be able to talk to him if you call. Max is still recovering from surgery, but the doctors sound hopeful.”

“Good. I’ll have to call and check on them later.”

Some of the tension eased from Dante’s shoulders. He leaned up against the wall by the bathroom. He felt suddenly weary.

“All right, kid. You two stay safe!”

“Thanks, we’ll certainly try.”

Rick hung up in Dante’s ear.

Dante was relieved to hear Cheyn was going to be fine, and Max pulled through. Dante pulled open the door to find Laurie on her side almost buried under the covers. He shut the door and made his way back to bed. He slipped in beside her. She stirred a bit but didn’t wake up. Dante, however laid awake. He watched Laurie sleep for a little while, brushing his fingers through the cool silk of her hair. Her skin was tan from years of living on the island, but he could tell it was naturally fair from the tender skin on the underside of her wrist. He slid the back of his fingers down the bare arm resting above the covers. Then her eyelids fluttered open. She smiled up at him. His heart thumped in his chest.

Laurie yawned, and stretched her arm over him gracefully.

“Morning. Who was on the phone?”

“Rick.” Dante took a deep steadying breath to keep from kissing her awake. “Wanted to know what happened last night, make sure we were okay.”

Laurie mumbled something else, laying her head on his chest.

Dante closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep again. He laid there, his thoughts roaming. He tried not to think of the beautiful woman lying beside him or the scent of her shampoo, which drove him crazy. First, he made running lists of things that needed to be done. Then he tried to think of who might be the men coming tonight. Finally, he thought about what he would write for his report. He thought about what he remembered. Then he started reliving the night. Before he knew it, Laurie shook his shoulder.