“There’s been no sign of anybody leaving the building,” Shane answered before anyone could. “I told Gavin that we had left, and they already had people looking through the same tunnels we used to get in. So far, nobody’s been there, according to the cameras.”
“So they’re still in the building then,” she said, staring up at him.
“That’s what they’re organizing now,” he said, with a nod to the authorities. “A complete sweep of the building.”
“Well, make sure they stop at the seventh floor,” she said sadly, turning to the cops. “That’s where all my dead coworkers are.” She looked up at Shane. “Thank you for saving my life, by the way.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, as he dropped a tender kiss on her forehead and just cuddled her close.
“Life sucks sometimes. I was really enjoying that job, and my coworkers were great. How could these men do that to them?”
“The men couldn’t risk leaving anyone alive. There might be a job here still,” he said.
She snorted. “I think everybody was killed.”
“Just in your department,” he said.
“I’ll never walk back into that office. Or this building,” she announced.
“I hear you, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on everything.”
“No,” she smiled, “not everything. Just this part.”
He squeezed her gently. “Sorry, honey.”
“I’m not,” she said. “There are things in life to worry about, but that’s not one of them.”
He chuckled and said, “Trust you to be very pragmatic about it all.”
She shrugged. “What else can I do?” She said, “It is what it is.” She looked up at Diesel. “Thanks for getting conned into helping him out.”
He laughed. “What makes you think I was conned into it?”
“You mean, you weren’t?”
He just smiled and nodded. “Shane and I go back a long time.”
“Wow, and you still came when he called. You must be one who makes good friends.”
“I too make good friends,” Shane said, with a smile. “After all, you’re my friend.”
“That’s true,” she said, returning his smile. She looked around at the cops all milling around. “Are we able to leave now?”
“I hope so,” Shane said. “I missed lunch.”
At that, she started the laugh, but very quickly the laughter turned to tears.
He hugged her tight and told the cops standing there, “I’m taking her back to the hotel. She needs a chance to recuperate in a safe, quiet place for a little bit.” The cops nodded and, returning their weapons to them, let them leave.
As they walked away, she asked, “How many guns were you carrying anyway?”
“Oh, a couple more than they took off me,” he said, with that special smile of his. “All completely legit by the way,” he added, in a mild tone of voice.
“Unbelievable,” she said. “You actually got permission? That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Hey,” he said, “I have a new job. I get to be a little bit of a rogue now and then.”
“Now and then? That’s amazing,” she said. “Does that mean you can get me out of here? I’m ready to go home.”
“Well, we’ll go to the hotel, not to your place.”
“Why not?” she asked. “I want to get a shower, change clothes, then find that bottle of wine in my fridge, so I don’t have to think about Mary and the rest of the people from my office.”
“Well, we can arrange the shower at the hotel, but I don’t know about the change of clothing,” he said. “That’s the information I gave the cops, so we need to be there.”
“You need to be there,” she said. “I don’t. I can go back to my place.”
He just glared at her, until she raised her hands in frustration, then surrender.
“Seriously? Fine,” she said. “Can we at least run past my place, so I can pack an overnight bag?”
“We can do that,” he said. “We’ll grab a cab.” She groaned, and they quickly hailed one. She gave him her address, and they headed off to her place. As she sagged in the front seat and stayed quiet, the cab driver looked at her.
“Bad day?”
“The worst,” she replied. When he pulled up in front of her place, Shane paid him and said, “Can you wait here for a few minutes? We’ll be heading to a hotel.” The cab driver agreed and put the light on, and they quickly headed up to her apartment.
As she walked through the apartment, Diesel asked, “How long have you been here?”
She followed his gaze to the stacks of boxes in the corner. “Obviously not long enough to unpack yet,” she said. “Six weeks.”
“Wow,” he said. “Will you stay?”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “As much as I enjoyed the job, I really missed California. New York is such a massive city, and yet, well, I always feel alone.”
“Seems like a good time for a move,” Shane said.
“That’s what this move to New York was about,” she said. “I guess I didn’t tell you about that, but I was just tired of the same old thing all the time.” As she walked into her master bedroom, she passed a pile of unpacked boxes there as well. Shaking her head, she grabbed her overnight bag and quickly packed a few outfits. She looked around to see the guys checking out every nook and cranny in the apartment and said, “I haven’t even had a chance to really move in,” she said, “let alone get settled.” She looked up at the two men, then smiled and said, “Come on. Let’s get out of here. Otherwise I’ll want to shower and get changed right here. If I do, you’ll probably have to pack me out of here on your shoulder.”
“Okay, but Diesel’s packing you this time,” Shane said with a chuckle. “Let’s go,” he murmured, slinging an arm around her neck.
“You’re sure I can’t just get a quick shower here?” She tried again, looking around the small apartment that still didn’t feel like home.
“Nope, sorry,” he said. “Let’s go.”
She groaned and let herself be led out of her apartment. Back outside, they headed to the cab. They got in, and Diesel gave the driver the hotel address. As they headed out, she twisted around and said to Shane, “How long do we have to stay at the hotel?”
“I don’t know,” he said, “but at least tonight.”
She shrugged and said, “Fine. That won’t kill me.” She sighed, settled back, and wondered at the direction they were going. As she turned to double-check with Shane, it occurred to her the driver seemed bigger than she remembered. Just as she started to speak, the window between the front and back seat abruptly closed, and all the locks snapped shut. She twisted to look at the cab driver. “Seriously?”
He looked at her and said, “Just sit there and be quiet.”
“After what I’ve been through today,” she said, her temper getting the best of her, “the hell I will.” She reached out and smacked him hard across the face.