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“Not when she’s at home with me. The condo has solid security,” Derek said. “I can drive her to Silver Fire Research in the morning and then pick her up. So I guess we’re covered there. But just in case I can’t get to her, have someone on-call.”
“Since I’m on leave anyway, I can cover her,” Maia piped in, much to her husband’s displeasure. “What? I like her. Besides, Derek, how sure are you Sophie wants to go home with you? She can stay at my place.”
“Maia—” Jack warned.
“I’m not sure your husband would approve,” Derek replied.
“Damn, Lockwood, did you screw up already?” Viktor drawled.
“Are we done here?” Derek asked desperately.
Viktor nodded, much to Derek’s relief. He got up and stalked out of the situation room, anxious to find Sophie. Hopefully, she would let him make amends.
10
“Why couldn’tI just get new security?” Sophie asked as she reluctantly got into an unmarked black AGS vehicle with Derek.
“You’re safe with me, Sophie,” he said, smiling warmly at her. Oh so now he is all warm and fuzzy, Sophie thought with irritation. As a person who derived control through intellectual experiences, she was not comfortable with his apparent mood swings. She wanted an ordered life. The one time she decided to let go had been devastating and messed her up for a few years and she was still paying the price. Devoting herself to science was a lifeline. For a year after Adam, she cut herself to relieve the pain of his loss, but she was saved by finding an affinity to physics the same way her father had. She did not want to trust her happiness and security to another man.
“I will not sleep with you again,” Sophie said. She had to make the boundaries clear.
“Let’s talk about that later,” Derek replied as he started the engine and the SUV pulled out of the underground parking.
“No, I want to be perfectly clear before I go back with you to your condo,” Sophie said, her voice rising.
“Angel—”
“Oh so now it’s Angel? When this morning you could barely look at me after having sex with me three times?”
Sophie saw Derek flinch, but she had so much more to say. “You know how cheap that made me feel? Do you?”
“That was not my intention, Sophie,” Derek said quietly. “My headspace was fucked up.”
“Have you sorted it out?”
“I’m getting there,” Derek shot her a boyish grin. Sophie figured that worked most times on his women. Now was not one of those times.
“And when will it get messed up again?”
Derek frowned. “Let’s talk about this later, OK?” His tone held a hint of exasperation.
Sophie let it go. She was exhausted and it wasn’t even noon. Derek told her he had the whole weekend to spend with her, but she was dreading it. She would insist on buying or renting a car this weekend. She needed to regain her independence. She would start looking for an apartment. Beth had suggested she move in with her, but as much as Sophie loved her friend, Beth was a slob and that would drive her obsessive-compulsive nature insane.
* * *
Sophie was staring at Derek,her mouth gaping. “What do you mean I can’t go look for an apartment? Am I still in danger?”
They had just arrived at the condo when Sophie started surfing for information on apartment rentals on her smartphone.
Derek returned her gaze steadily as he said carefully, “The AGS has evidence that indicates the hit this morning was related to you.”
“How? When we’re not even together?”
Derek’s jaw tightened. “Someone came to the conclusion that we were together when they saw us at Rooster bar.”
“How?”
“I think they were following Beth or Stephen.”
