Page 74 of See You There
“A professional?”
Luke thrust a hand back through his hair. “If this has to do with the photos, they think she knows more than she does.”
“Or is telling us?” James pointed out. Luke sent his brother a dark look, but he couldn’t deny it was a possibility. Dahlia had already left out that she was married… What else hadn’t she told them?
“Do you think she knows more about the Bratva angle?” James’s eyes were serious.
“No, if this were the Russian mob, they wouldn’t have missed the first time. They would have killed her, and it would have been over. Until tonight, it’s been amateur hour.”
“I agree. We could ask the DA if her office has any funds for witness protection.”
“If it was a leak, I’m not sure how closely I want law enforcement involved in protecting her.”
As furious as Luke was about finding out Dahlia was someone’s wife, thus making her permanently off limits—someone was trying to kill her. Until that was resolved, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
James’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want to do?”
Luke exhaled harshly. “Let me make some calls. I have a couple of clients who owe me favors. You should lie low, too.” Luke looked at his twin with concerned eyes. “In case they think you know where she is, or if they mistake you for me.”
James nodded grimly. “I can take care of myself.”
Luke looked at the remains of dinner on the counter. At least it looked like she’d eaten something before the shooting started. He rubbed his forehead.
“Take Dahlia down to our offices. It’s on the other side of the building, so the police won’t stop there. I’ll clean this up and throw a bag together. Meet you there.”
James’s eyes strayed to the broken glass. “You’re not going to report it?”
“I’ll call Brady once we’re settled and have him handle it. I don’t want anyone to know she was here. Two shootings in one day on the heels of that casino robbery could ruin her career. Who will want to work with her if she’s a liability?”
A strangled sound came from the doorway, and Luke cursed. “Dahlia, I—"
Dahlia shook her head and took a breath. He could see she was struggling not to cry again. “No, you’re right.” She turned to walk back into the bedroom, only to reappear with her bags. “I spoke with the food delivery person, but unless she makes the connection, I should be in the clear. Thanks for dinner, by the way. She said you gave her a good tip,” she said wryly to James.
James frowned and shook his head. Dahlia’s expression faltered. “You didn’t—”
“That’s how they knew which unit. All he had to do was ask if it was my order.”
This is my fault.If I hadn’t been so infuriated with my brother for suggesting I couldn’t keep things professional, and hadn’t gotten lost in the memory of how she’d kissed me despite being married…
He needed to get his head screwed back on straight!
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have answered the door.” Her lip quivered briefly before she regained her composure, which made him feel worse.
Luke closed the distance in two strides and enveloped her in his arms, tucking her face into his chest. He held her tight, meeting James’s unhappy eyes over her head. His brother shook his head at him.
He was aware his behavior was out of bounds. But the fact that Dahlia was his married client didn’t matter at the moment when Dahlia looked like she might fall apart.
He set her back at arm’s distance, sliding her duffel off her shoulder and handing it to his brother. “Go downstairs. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Her lips wobbled, but she managed a smile. James opened the door and looked out before ushering Dahlia through the door.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” James said before the door shut.
Luke scrubbed his hands down his face. He did, too. But now wasn’t the time to sort out his feelings for Dahlia. Luke shoved the food back in the bag, and thumbed through his phone until he found the contact he was looking for.
“Devil Dog. Sorry it’s late, man. I need to cash in that favor.”
Before the sun was up,Dahlia and Luke were on Georgia 400, heading north in a borrowed 1990s era pickup truck. The farther they drove, the less fidgety Dahlia was. Luke noticed her fingers, which had been twisting together nonstop since they’d gotten in the car, now lay relaxed in her lap.
