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“Yes. One of Burke’s guys would be able to install one in a day or two. If you’re gone and anything happens to me...” She shrugged. “Elijah needs to have a place to hide.”
At first, he couldn’t think past something happening to her. But he’d hired her to protect his son and knew she’d be prepared to step between Elijah and a bullet if the need arose, especially after the letter taped to Rick Gates’s chest.
God. The thought of Val getting hurt... well, it hurt. Like a punch right to his sternum. But she was waiting for an answer, so he forced himself to consider the suggestion. It made sense. “I’m not against it. Have you recommended this to your other clients with children?”
“Most of them already had safe rooms. They were either wealthy or celebrities who’d lived with the threat of a kidnapping for years before I was assigned to guard their kids.”
He flinched at the word “kidnapping.” “How would it work? Where would you put it?”
“I was thinking the walk-in closet in Elijah’s room would be a possibility, but Phin could tell us for sure. He’d beef up the walls, install secure doors, add locks, run a phone line into the room so Elijah could call for help. We’d need to store food and water and even insulin in there, just in case. Phin’s very trustworthy. He’s Burke’s night security and does all the maintenance around the office. He’s built safe rooms before. He’ll do a good job.”
“Can he come tomorrow?”
“He can. I’ve already talked to him.”
The next body we’ll leave you will be that of your son. “Tell him to do it.”
She met his gaze, hers calm now, and it made him feel calmer, too. “I will.”
Their conversation was finished. He should return to the others, allow her to continue her vigil, but he didn’t seem to be able to move. Then again, neither did she. He watched, fascinated, as a blush rose to pinken her cheeks. The seconds ticked and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
His mouth dry, he fought for something to say.
She bit at her bottom lip and his skin felt hot. His heart was beating so fast that he felt light-headed. He felt his body leaning forward into her space, and she didn’t push him away. Her tongue licked a path across her lip and he wanted to follow it. Wanted to taste her. Wanted to see if her lips were as lush as they appeared.
He wanted to take her hair down and see it spread on his pillow.
And then his phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the spell. She blinked, her spine going ramrod straight. He thought she shivered and...
Shit. He wanted her. The notion hit him like a brick. He’d noticed women since Heather’s death, but he hadn’t wanted them. Not like this. Not like he wanted Val Sorensen.
She made a small noise. “Are you going to get that?”
Oh. Right. He pulled his phone from his pocket and his body went abruptly cold. “It’s André on FaceTime.” Hands shaking, he managed to hit accept. “What’s happened?”
André’s face filled his phone’s screen, his expression grim. “Rick Gates woke up.”
Kaj’s pulse went from pounding to stratospheric. “I’m on my way.”
André held up a hand. “Wait. When we get him into a formal interrogation room, you can be on the other side of the mirror. I’ve already asked him a few questions tonight.”
Kaj’s temper exploded. “You promised,” he hissed, cognizant of Elijah in the next room.
“Kaj,” Val murmured. “Breathe. You know André wouldn’t do you wrong.” She laid her hand on his forearm and his rage seemed to crumble into dust.
He felt grounded. And not alone. His throat tightened unexpectedly and he blinked back tears. “I know,” he murmured back. He angled the phone so Val could see it, too, reducing the volume so that Elijah couldn’t hear. “What did he say, André?”
“He was muttering when he was trying to wake up. Saying ‘Please, don’t. I’m sorry,’ over and over again.” André exhaled. “The doctor found evidence that he’d been tortured.”
Kaj’s eyes widened. “What? How? And by whom?”
André grimaced. “Electrocution to his genitals. The doc found burns on his scrotum.”
“Jesus.” Kaj shuddered, irritated with himself for feeling even a morsel of sympathy for the man who’d touched his Elijah.
“Oh my God,” Val whispered. “So... was he tortured into attempting the abduction?”
André lifted a massive shoulder. “I don’t know and he’s not telling. But there was also evidence of other abuse. Old bruises. Healed bone breaks.”
