Page 58 of Mountain Shadow

“Maybe that will stop him from asking when he’s going to get a little brother or sister,” Damien replied, looking sideways at his wife.

“I heard about what happened last night,” Luc said. “I’m glad you and Sarah are okay.”

Jens nodded gratefully. He knew they could trust Luc not to say anything he overheard while he was with the team. “What happened today? Did the Italian police say anything when they picked the men up?”

“Not much. The two policemen were grinning from ear to ear, though. It appears they’ve been looking for those two for years.”

“Maybe they dropped whatever it was they were carrying—or else they never loaded it onto the plane.”

“The plane left from Cagliari airport. The Italian police will let us know if they find anything out. But in any case, it looks like those two will go to prison for years to come.”

Shortly after, the whole group came together around the large round table. Jens took his seat next to Sarah’s, once again receiving a cold look from Tess, who, ignoring usual seating conventions, sat on the other side of her sister.

“You all look so serious,” Sarah remarked. She looked down nervously at her plate. “Do you have any news?”

“No real news,” Damien said, shaking his head. “I spoke to the London police this morning. He left no clues behind when he broke into your place, so they’re no closer to finding him, but he also hasn’t surfaced again. Their hypothesis is that he’s gone into hiding.”

“Maybe he’s forgotten about me,” Sarah said. “Maybe it’s safe for me to go back now.”

Jens clenched his jaw. He didn’t have the right to tell her what she could or couldn’t do.

“Don’t go back yet, Sarah,” Tess begged. “Please.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Jens said before he could stop himself.

Sarah turned to him. “I’m not?”

“Gone into hiding is not the same as disappeared, Sarah. This man is dangerous, and I can’t bear—none of us can bear—the thought of something happening to you.”

“Oh, Jens,” Sarah said.

“You’re safe with me. I’ve upgraded my security system. I’ve ordered some cameras and Alex is coming by in the next few days to install them. I will keep you safe, I promise you.”

He didn’t realize his hand was clenched into a fist until Sarah placed her hand gently on his. He let out the breath he’d been holding.

“I’ll stay,” she said.

“You will?” He tried to keep the surprise out of his voice.

“I will,” she laughed.

Tess nodded at him from Sarah’s other side, her look only slightly less glacial than it had been just a few minutes earlier.

The waiter came back, saw them talking, and left once again.

“We’d better choose before he comes back for a third time,” Luc noted, opening the menu. Jens didn’t even bother to pick his up.

“You already know what you’re having?” Sarah whispered.

“Same thing I always have when I come here,” he said. “The assiette du randonneur.”

She looked intently at the menu to figure out what that was. “Onion soup, bread, lunch meat, cheese, salad … I think I’d have to run a marathon to burn that off, and I can’t even understand everything that comes with it.”

“It’s delicious. Try it,” he said.

“Okay,” Sarah laughed. “I’ll trust you. But we’re going to need to do some more kick-boxing tomorrow.”

Jens’s cock rose at the thought of her ass in those tight leggings. Her lips curled up into a smile, as if she could read his thoughts.