***

Dante

Across the cab of the truck, Dante fumed. He couldn’t believe this woman leapt from the closet at a dangerous, armed gunman. She’d endangered both their lives. Hadn’t listened to him at all. She’d delayed leaving with her packing and her hugging. He was angry beyond words, but he heard her sniffling. His stomach filled with cold dread. The sniffling turned to soft crying. He glanced over and Laurie sat crumpled against the window, her eyes buried in her hands. His anger melted. He ran a hand through his thick hair. This was going to be a long assignment.

“You’ll be able to talk to them soon.” Dante glanced at her to see if his words had any effect.

“Will I be able to see them again?” She turned toward him.

Dante sighed. He knew better than to answer that. Talk to them, yes. Over a secure line through the Marshals Service. See them? No, never again. He tried a different tactic.

“If you’d stayed, your friends would have been in danger. Even if you escaped the attack tonight on your own, your friends would be in a lot of danger. Anyone around you would have been at risk.”

“I know.”

“Things will be better in the morning, after you’ve had some decent sleep.” Dante knew he was lying through his teeth.

“Sleep would be nice.” She tried to dash away the tears as they appeared.

“Sleep now.” Dante looked back at the empty road. “We’ve got a couple hours drive before we get to the safe house.”

She nodded. Laurie stared out the window for a long time. Longer than Dante expected. Finally, after almost half an hour, he glanced over to see her eyes closed. She looked serene. Her position was too contorted, too uncomfortable to look peaceful, but there was a calm, quiet aura about her while she slept curled up on his front seat.

Dante drove for another hour down deserted highways. There were no cars behind him, not even at a distance, so he decided not to take any back roads or to back track to loose potential followers. He pulled up to the safe house in good time. Buried in the Hilo Forest Reserve, the house was impossible to get to if you didn’t know the dirt pathway off the main road. The lights in the house were on. He recognized the cars in the driveway. His team was already here. He pulled in behind them and waited. He saw some of the curtains move. He reached over to Laurie.

“Laurie.” He shook her arm. She bolted upright in the seat, scaring both her and him.

“What? What?”

“Easy, easy.” He grabbed her shoulder. She looked confused and pale. “We’re at the safe house now. When my team comes outside, we’ll go in.”

“Oh.” Her eyes drifted from his face over to the windshield.

She sat back in the seat and yawned. Dante glanced up to see two of his team members emerge from the house. They ambled toward the car.

“Stay here. I’ll make sure they’re ready for us.”

He got out to meet them in front of the hood of the truck.

“Hey boss, little late tonight.” Cheyn flashed a smile at him that gleamed white in the darkness. He was shorter than the other Marshals, and a native islander, with spiky black hair.

“Yeah, ran into some trouble at the hotel. Two attackers broke into her room right before we left.”

“You’re kidding.” Cheyn quirked an eyebrow at him. “You had to fend off two guys already?”

“Yeah, I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. You ready for us?”

“I know I’m ready for her.” Max stared at Laurie through the windshield.

“Max, that’s unacceptable.” Dante stepped into his line of vision, blocking Laurie from sight.

“Aw, come on boss. We don’t get too many sweet girls as an assignment.” Max backed up a step.

Dante gave him a businesslike scowl.

Max looked away from the truck, out into the trees.

“I don’t want to hear anything like that again. She’s under our protection.” He tossed Max the keys to the truck. “Turn it off after I get her and the bag.”

Max caught the keys and stood there while Dante walked away.

Cheyn grinned, chuckling. He leaned over to Max.

“Boy, he’s not in the mood tonight. He ain’t playin’ with you.” Cheyn nudged Max’s ribs with his elbow. Max glared at him and Cheyn chuckled even more.

Dante pulled Laurie’s bag from the backseat. Then he opened her door. She looked at him wearily. Her eyes were glassy and her lips compressed into a thin line.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.” She slid out of the seat.

Dante shut the door. He put his hand on her shoulder to steer her toward the house.

Cheyn fell into step beside them.

“Hello, Miz Laurie, I’m Cheyn. I’m your protector for the evening.” He extended his hand with a grin.

Laurie smiled and laughed.

Dante scowled. He hated the way his men looked at Laurie. He hated the way that Jim guy looked at Laurie. “Introductions tomorrow. We’ve had a long night.” Dante quickened his pace, pulling Laurie along with him. “Cheyn, I want Max to take the first watch, you’re the second. David’s fourth.”

“Yes, sir, boss man.” Cheyn gave him a little salute.

Laurie chuckled again.

Max jogged up behind them as they all climbed the stairs, entering the house. David was keeping watch at the living room window.

“David.” Dante nodded in greeting.

“Boss.” David gave a little salute.

Dante steered Laurie up the stairs toward her bedroom, at the back of the rooms on the left. “Laurie, this is where you’ll sleep. You’ll have your own bathroom, in there.”

He gestured to a wooden door, half open. He put down the bag by the bed, which was bare. Dante sighed. He thought his men would have the forethought to make the lady’s bed.

“Let me get you some sheets.” He turned toward the hall.

“I’m going to change into some night clothes.” Laurie unzipped her bag.

“Wait.” Dante doubled back.

He moved to the half-opened door. He inspected the bathroom before coming back into the bedroom. “After our earlier bathroom encounter, I wanted to be sure it was clear. At least this one isn’t on the ground floor.”

Laurie laughed, and Dante gave her a smile. He went to the hall closet, and brought back a set of light green sheets and a pillowcase. Laurie was already in the bathroom. He made the bed for her. Dante heard her rummaging around in the plastic bag of beauty products she brought. Then he heard running water. By the time she emerged, he was finished with the bed, and ready for his own.

“All right.” Dante turned toward her.

He felt the air evaporate from the room. She stood there in a simple light blue cotton nightgown, with tiny little straps snaking over her shoulders. It fit over her narrow waist, flaring out down to her knees. It made her fair skin almost sparkle. Her blonde hair was down. It hung a few inches past her neck. She looked like every angelic picture Dante had ever seen.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him. She walked right up to him and looked up into his face.

His heart gave a sharp thump. He realized her eyes were a deep blue, almost sapphire.

“Thank you for everything.”

Dante’s brain moved in slow motion. He didn’t move or speak, as Laurie threw her arms around him in gratitude. After a couple of minutes, he registered her floral scent, her softness as her upper body melted into his, and her heat pulsed through his shirt. He stared at the bathroom door. Then he patted her shoulder blade. After a few moments, she broke the embrace, to climb into bed.

“Good night,” she called to him as he left her room.

“Good night.” He hesitated as he flicked off the light. He let his gaze linger on her for a moment before he closed the door most of the way and went to his room for some well-deserved rest.