Page 15 of She's Mine

I paused in the packing of my case and came to sit down next to David. Staring into his dark eyes, I said, “I know I really screwed up by sneaking away earlier. I promise, it will never happen again. I swear oneverything, until the entire Bloodline gang is caught, I won’t leave your sight.”

David let out a low chuckle. “Let’s not gothatfar, I don’t expect you to sleep in bed next to me. But yes, please don’t leave the compound without telling me first.”

I tried to ignore the way my stomach flipped when David mentioned sleeping in bed next to him.

God, how was I going to get through who knows how long, alone with him?

I sure hoped his compound was big, so I could stay in the guestroom and avoid him. Because if I didn’t … I shook the thought from my head. But even as I tried to push images of David out of my mind, I remembered the sensation of coming around after the attack earlier, and feeling his big, strong arms wrapped around me.

I quickly jumped up off the bed and continued throwing things haphazardly into my suitcase.

While I packed, David got in touch with a new care agency to ensure his mother had everything she’d need while he was away. After that, he called his staff for the compound. They lived nearby and were always on stand-by if David needed a quick getaway. He arranged with the staff for groceries to be delivered, and everything for our stay was arranged.

“We won’t want for anything,” David said when he finished on the phone. “I have a top class chef, and a housekeeper to keep everything in order.”

Hearing this didn’t surprise me. My parents hired a housekeeper themselves, and sometimes we hired chefs to cook for us. My family had a number of holiday homes, both in the states, and abroad, where we lived in seclusion and security when we needed a break. The only reason we weren’t going to any of those locations now was in case the Bloodline already knew about them.

Finally, my cases were packed, and with David’s help, we carried them downstairs. We left the cases by the main entrance, and headed back through to the living room, where my parents were still discussing their own plans with Garcia, Payne and Lincoln.

“I have arranged with the police department for me to be moved to a secure location. Scott will accompany me for the duration, but I think it’s best I don’t share my location just in case,” Dad said, as David and I sat down. “We will all keep in touch via Jeffrey.”

“Okay,” I agreed, trusting my dad knew what he was doing and that his plan had no flaws. Turning to my mom, I asked, “Where are you going?”

“I think it’s best if we don’t share our locations, but I promise, it’s somewhere safe and Pedro will be with me the entire time. I will keep in contact with Jeffrey, too.”

I hated not knowingexactlywhere my parents were going to be, but figured it was best they didn’t say where they would be hiding. You never knew if the Bloodline had planted bugs in the house.

I felt the tears welling in my eyes but fought them back. “I guess this is goodbye then.”

“It won’t be forever,” Dad promised. “Jeffrey and I will continue tracking the Bloodline. We will make sure any remaining members are brought into custody. Then we can all come home together.”

I gulped around the lump in my throat. “I know you can do it, Daddy.”

I threw my arms around my dad, and he squeezed me back tightly. As we hugged, Mom joined us, wrapping her arms around us both.

“Please, both of you, stay safe. Alyssa do exactly what David tells you to do. And Charles, please, just because you’re chief of the police, don’t go thinking you’re untouchable. Rely on others.”

“Don’t worry, Pam. I will do everything in my power to make it back to you and Alyssa in one piece. I won’t let the Bloodline tear this family apart more than it already has,” my dad swore.

I didn’t want to let go of my parents, but I also knew, the longer we all remained together in our home, the more danger we were in. If the Bloodline had grown bold enough to attack us in public, there was no reason to believe they wouldn’t attack us at our home, too.

The sooner me and my parents left, the safer we’d all be.

I stood up and wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my shirt. “Please, both of you, be careful,” I said, as I made my way to the door.

“We will be, sweetheart,” Mom promised. “We love you.”

“I love you too,” I called back, as I stepped into the hallway.

“If you need a minute,” David said, as I reached for one of my cases.

Steeling my resolve, I picked up the case, and strode towards the door. “No, I’m fine.”

7

DAVID

After checking that the roads around the Blythe Estate were clear, I drove through the security gate.

---