Page 28 of Long Past Deadly

He couldn’t keep a woman in his life. They all seemed to fall away when they figured out he couldn’t be manipulated for his money. Might also have something to do with all the secrets and how they found out the truth about who he was.

Still, he had women around him who gave a damn.

Elizabeth. Cait.

And now Alanna.

He didn’t make many mistakes. Oh, he had growing up, but he’d considered that a flaw and had worked hard to stop and think, correct his actions, and do the right thing.

He’d messed up with Alanna, and his pride and values demanded he fix it. Maybe he would gain another woman in his circle he could fully trust.

Chapter Six

QM International Situation Brief: 01:30:45 PST 12/16 – San Diego HQ. Facility secure. Threat assessment revised. Agent Williams identified as primary target. Daniels remains at elevated risk. Security level 3 remains in effect. Ϙ

Alanna jerked awake, her heart pounding in a horrid, panicked rhythm. There was no ambient light in the room, but there was a night light over the door. She took a quick inventory of the large white room and noted four beds, white canvas pull drapes for each, and pale blue walls. There were no other people in the room, except her. Chairs were strategically placed near the beds.

Her ears throbbed in time with her heart. Shallow breathing wasn’t helping. Her gun gone along with her clothes, she was dressed in a beige paisley hospital gown. Again. With only an olive green blanket over her – where the hell was she? She hated falling asleep with no thought to safety. It set off her fight or flight. Even in FBI training, she struggled between sleeping with her gun and not sleeping at all.

“I have you.” The whispered words shocked a harsh, ragged breath from her. She turned too fast, and her muscles objected in a painful chorus.

“Fucking hell.”

Quaid rose from the dark blue recliner on the back side of her bed. The chair didn’t match the hospital decor of the room, so Mr. Daniels had one moved in. As the boss, he didn’t belonged here either.

He flipped on a low light mounted under the bed frame. For a man who usually wore suits, the dark jeans were a new look. So was the black QM T-shirt.

She ignored the part of her brain that lectured her for not having searched the entire room for threats. “What are you doing here? Where am I?”

“QM’s medical bay.”

“Dr. Hunter’s back?”

“No, Drucker will manage until tomorrow.”

“I’m fine.”

“Your groan says otherwise.” His dry tone rubbed her snarky button.

“I’d rather sleep in my own quarters than in this open space.” She pulled the blanket closer. Body language was a bitch.

“I planned to move you to the fifth floor and a secure guest room, but you were already asleep.”

“I have quarters here. It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. Security has become a serious issue because…oh, wait for it. I got shot in the parking lot and you got blown through a glass window. Our guest suite has better placement in the building for protection. Currently, your name is on the room. Niles can help you shift when you’re ready.”

“Niles? Niles? You’re loaning me your butler?”

“He’s my body man. Different job descriptions. And he’s family. Be nice.”

Alanna huffed. She was a hard-assed FBI agent and had worked hard for that reputation. She had no nice to spare. “If I go, will you leave? Sleep horizontal in your own bed. You look like hell.”

Pain always loosened her control, but she never had a man in her room while in this state of undress. Had nothing to do with propriety and everything to do with trust and safety. “Why are you here anyway?”

“We’re a matched set until we catch this guy, Williams. Get used to it.” Quaid stepped back and sat. His phone out, his fingers danced across the screen. “He’ll be here in a minute.”

“You’re moving me now?”