Page 19 of Conceal

Finally, the SUV makes a couple of turns, and we end up on a dirt road surrounded by woods. I have no idea where we are, and frankly, I don’t think I care. He finally puts the SUV in park and shuts off the engine.

He turns in his seat like he wants to say something, but when nothing comes out, I unlock my door and step out into the small clearing to take in the safe house. I wasn’t really expecting anything, but the cabin before me is adorable. It’s large, made out of thick logs, and has a deep wrap-around porch. The lights are off, but my brain is too tired to care.

I walk up the steps, letting my hand caress the worn wooden railing. Lev brushes past me, carrying one of my bags and Sparkle’s travel container. He opens the front door for me before setting Sparkle down and holding his hand out against my belly. The unexpected contact makes me suck in a breath, and the skin under his warm palm tingles.

I’m reminded of how I felt pinned against the wall by him. We still haven’t talked about what he did or what it meant, but I remember how flustered and confused it made me - how turned on being under his control made me. I’d liked that he’d taken my control away. I liked how he’d manhandled my body. No one has ever done that before. And I know I shouldn’t be thinking about my brother’s best friend that way, but I can’t help it. It’s like that small interaction altered my brain chemistry.

He was hard.

I’ve felt Mik hard on my ass a few mornings when I’ve woken up before him, but I assume that’s just biology and morning wood.

No, Lev had been hard because of me. But I was certain he didn’t look at me like that. Maybe it’s just been too long since he’s gotten laid.

I honestly don’t know if he goes out and picks up random women when he’s off duty. He could. He’s off from eight pm to eight am. Plenty of time to go to a bar and pick up a stranger.

Unease slithers through my gut. It doesn’t matter. He is my bodyguard. My dad’s employee. Nothing is ever going to happen between us. Even if I can’t get how his hands felt on me out of my head.

I take in the large cabin as I walk inside. It’s beautiful. The outside makes it look old and rustic, but the inside is open and modern. A hallway leads off to the right to where I’m assuming are bedrooms, but beyond that is a chef’s kitchen. A massive refrigerator, six-burner gas stove, and dual ovens line one wall, with a large island with a sink that separates the kitchen from the living room. A stone fireplace is flanked by two massive windows that look out over a rolling field and a mountain lake. It’s stunning.

A deep mahogany couch faces the fireplace, and the TV mounted above it looks like a painting.

Lev sets Sparkle’s cage on the island before walking back out to the SUV for whatever else he packed me. I head down the hallway and find a laundry room and two bedrooms, and stairs that must lead to a basement.

When I hear Lev come back in, I go back to the kitchen to help him.

“When’s Mik coming?” I ask.

Lev stops moving, his back to me, and I immediately know something’s wrong. “What?”

He turns to face me but still doesn’t meet my eyes. “He... uh...”

The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

“Lev,” I say, a warning in my voice.

“He’s not coming. Orders from above.”

Fury slams through my body so hard I waver on my feet.

Somehow, I knew this might come, but on a day when I need my best friend more than ever? Fuck them!

“Okay,” I say, fury morphing into something more dangerous as an idea forms in my mind.

“Okay?” Lev asks, surprised, but finally looking at me.

“Sure. Would you mind taking my bags to the master? I’ll get Sparkles settled.”

He looks at me, conflicted. I know he doesn’t trust me. And he shouldn’t. But, technically, I’m his boss, so reluctantly he does.

The moment he’s down the hallway, I spin, grabbing the keys from the sideboard where he left them and sprinting out to the SUV.

Do I know how to drive? Nope. Is that going to stop me? Also no.

The audacity of my parents, or worse, my brother, to send Mik away when I need him. Someone just tried to kill me. I am not okay. I need to be held, to be reassured that everything is going to be okay, and Lev and Roman simply can’t.

I launch myself into the driver’s seat, slam the door behind me, and lock it just as Lev appears in the front door looking horrified.

I grin.