“We need to find this mystery man,” Wolfe stated. “Could be that either he or your father found out what William was up to. And they discovered your role. Maybe they had someone follow you to the meeting place. Or maybe this contact of William’s sold you out. Any one of them could have shot at you.”
“You can’t get involved,” she told them. “It’s too dangerous.”
Wolfe turned those dark eyes on her. “I think you’re underestimating how deadly I am.”
“We’re not helpless, jelly bean,” Caleb told her. “We need to find out who shot you.”
“And then we take care of them,” Aleki said grimly.
“No. No!” She shook her head and tried to push herself out of Caleb’s hold, even though it hurt to jostle her arm. “That’s not what’s going to happen. All of you are going home. You need to stay far away from me.”
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Aleki burst out. “Do you really think we’d fucking leave you?”
She flinched.
“Aleki, calm down,” Caleb said firmly, sending him a quelling look. “What are you saying, Vivi? That you want us to leave and forget this happened? Forget you told us this shit? Forget the way we feel about you?”
A tear dripped down her face. “Yeah. That would be best.”
He set her down on the bed and tucked her in. It was then that she knew she’d won.
And her heart broke all over again.
14
She woke up when she was shifted. She gasped as she found herself in the air. She was laid down and something was wrapped around her firmly. Her arms were trapped. She let out a whimper of fear.
“Easy, Vivi, it’s just me. You’re safe.”
Aleki. She breathed out a sigh of relief.
“What’s going on? What are you doing?”
He picked her up, blanket and all. She felt like a giant burrito. He carried her out of the room, whistling under his breath.
“Aleki? What the hell?”
She tried to wiggle her way free, wincing as she bumped her arm.
“Don’t move like that, you’ll just hurt yourself.”
Great advice. She rolled her eyes at him. “Put me down and I won’t wiggle.”
“No can do.” He continued walking as he moved towards the elevators. A sliver of alarm filled her but she pushed it down. This was Aleki. Her fun-loving jokester.
“Is this some sort of prank?” she asked him suspiciously.
The man was known for his pranks.
“Hmm. A prank? Not exactly.”
The elevator arrived and he stepped inside.
“Wait! What are you doing? You can’t walk around with me like this.”
“Why not?”
“Someone will see us!”