Page 35 of Spy With Me
So they were doing it somewhere. Good for TJ. “No, I thinkit’s safe to say that when it comes to evading the cops, Zach knows what he’sdoing.”
It was two hours since she cried on his shoulder and heldhim and then forced him to let her fix his bandages and nag him about notpicking up stuff when he was healing a freaking knife wound. How was this herlife?
Then she’d worked with Lacey to fix up the cat palace, andnow she was talking to her parents.
It was all so unreal.
“I think Zachary has skills none of us imagined.” Her fatherwas there, too. He leaned in. “How are you, sweetie? Has someone looked youover? Kala told us you took a pretty hard hit from that Lena person. Who shouldbe glad she’s dead now. I wish I could say the same of Huisman.”
“I’m fine, and the woman Zach is working with is pretty goodwith herbs, so I didn’t even need an aspirin.” The tea had worked wonders,though she still got the feeling Lacey didn’t want her here. She couldunderstand that. Lacey Rook had a mission, and apparently Devi was cursed to bekidnapped every couple of days. It was Groundhog Day except with torture andregret. “How is Kala?”
Lacey had returned with clothes and food and a couple ofbottles of what she called responsibly sourced wine and a six-pack of beer.Devi had taken a shower and changed into comfy clothes, sat with the cat for awhile before trying to introduce some warm blankets and nearly getting herfingers taken off. But the cat had eaten the treats she left, and they were ina holding pattern.
Like she and Zach were.
He cried. The sight of his gorgeous face with tearsstreaking down his cheeks as he tried to hide them from her… She wasn’t sure hecould have done anything that would have gutted her more.
Were those the tears of an excellent actor?
“She’s got an appointment with a cardiologist. Whatever thatfucker did to her might have damaged her heart,” her father explained.
Her mom sent her dad a “we talked about this” look beforeturning back to the camera. “Kala is fine and very feisty, and you need to tellZach to fix this shit because Cooper and Kala are getting married in threeweeks, and you know there’s going to be some drama.”
She heard a gasping sound and frowned toward the door. “Youmight as well come in, Zach. It must be hard for you to spy out in thehallway.”
He eased in the bedroom, an apologetic look on his face.“Sorry. There’s only one bathroom, and I heard that news. I’m surprised. Well,I’m not surprised they’re getting married. I’m surprised Charlotte is lettingit happen in a couple of weeks. She’s been working on Tasha and Dare’s weddingfor months and we still have months to go.”
“Hey, Zach,” her mom said with a bright smile.
“Zach,” her father growled.
He knelt down beside her. “Hi.”
If looks could kill, her father would be doing murder rightnow. Her mom seemed…okay with it.
“Want to tell me where you are, Zach?” her father asked.
He looked to her. “What’s the call,swee…Devi?It’s up to you. If you want to leave, I’ll give them coordinates on where topick you up.”
The Garden. While she’d replaced his bandages they had alsotalked about the possibility of her going home. The only place he was willingto take her was to McKay-Taggart and Knight in London. She couldn’t go, and formore reasons than she was willing to admit. “I think I should stay where I amfor now.”
“I can protect you,” her father insisted. “Devi, your unclehas promised bodyguards and a safe house for all of us until this thing isover. We could use a vacation, your mother and I.”
“Speak for yourself,” her mom said with a huff. “She didn’tlike the bodyguards. They didn’t work for her.”
She couldn’t let this get too heated. “Mom, I was awful toLandon. Please don’t let Uncle Ian fire him. I purposefully tricked him so Icould prove a point, and it got a lot of people hurt. It’s why I think I shouldstay here for a while.”
“I’m not worried about myself,” her father insisted. “Yourmother and I can handle whatever comes our way.”
Her parents werebadasses. Her dadwas a former Navy SEAL and her mom had once been Army intelligence. They couldstill handle themselves, but they shouldn’t have to. “Dad, I think it’s for thebest.”
“I will protect her,” Zach said gravely.
“Well, you’re the reason she’s being hunted by a fuckingmegalomaniac determined to bring the world down.” Her father had clearly had alot of stimulation the last couple of days.
“Theo,” her mom said. “We talked about this. Why don’t bothof the guys go and find something to do? I’d like to talk to Devi alone.Please, Theo. I know how you feel, but you need to remember what your brothersaid.”
Her dad took a long breath and then nodded. “All right.Devi, I love you. I want you to come home but… Well, I want you home and safe.I’ll talk to you the next time Zach allows it.”
