Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
H aven sat quietly on the hospital bed. She’d been checked over, and now the nurse was taking care of the cut on the side of her head.
It was small, but it had bled a lot.
She’d been asked lots of questions about her bruised face, and she’d finally convinced the nurse that Rhys hadn’t given them to her.
Then a police detective had arrived to take her statement about the explosion.
She hadn’t mentioned the men in the crowd, but she’d told the detective everything about how she’d gotten out of the building.
The older man had eyed her carefully before giving her his card and leaving.
Rhys sat in a chair beside the bed. He was staring at her, hadn’t taken his eyes off her the entire time.
She fidgeted a little. The painkillers had kicked in, and had helped clear the fog in her head. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to be pissed off or scared about what had happened. At least she’d heard that no one had been killed, and Mrs. Girard’s family were with her and she was recovering.
“All done.” The nurse pulled off her gloves. “I recommend no more adventures for you.”
Haven choked out a laugh. “I didn’t want any of the ones I’ve had. Believe me, robbery, beatings, attempted kidnapping—twice—and now my apartment exploding… Not fun.”
The nurse’s eyes widened.
Haven felt something pumping off Rhys and glanced at him. His face was hard, his brown eyes glittering.
Her chest locked. Right now, he looked as scary as Vander—all that easygoing charm gone.
“Get some rest,” the nurse said. “You have a mild concussion, so you need someone to stay with you.”
“Okay.” Hopefully, she could stay with Gia. She glanced at the bed and saw her cell phone. That was all she had left of her stuff. God .
With a nod, the nurse left.
“Well, I—”
Rhys dragged his chair closer, startling her. He took her hands, holding them tight enough to hurt.
“Rhys?”
His forehead dropped to her thigh. “I thought you were dead.”
His harsh voice and his words made her belly clench. She rested her hand on his head. “I’m okay,” she said softly.
“There was no sign of you, your apartment was in ruins and on fire…”
His voice cracked.
Oh, God . She tangled her fingers in his hair. “Rhys, I’m right here.”
He lifted his head. Then he rose, his mouth on hers. He kissed her like he couldn’t breathe and she was air.
A shiny sense of relief flooded her. Just being close to him made her feel better.
His fingers moved up to press against the side of her neck. He lifted his head, his gaze intense and turbulent as it locked on hers. He pressed his fingers to her pulse.
Her heart skipped a beat and she knew he felt it. His hand slid down until his palm rested on her chest, over her heart.
“I’m okay,” she repeated again.
“I’m going to keep you that way. From now on, I’ll be your own personal bodyguard. Keep you alive and breathing.”
She swallowed. “I—”
“No arguments. No negotiations. This is the way it’s going to be.”
Haven nodded, and saw his shoulders relax a little.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He rested his forehead against hers.
“Okay, Rhys.”
“Let’s get you home.”
He bundled her up, and then when he looked at her bare feet, he lifted her into his arms. He carried her through the hospital and outside to the SUV. It was a short drive back to his place.
Realization flooded her. “I have nothing.” Her mother’s bracelet. It had likely been destroyed. A searing pain filled Haven’s heart. Her clothes, her jewelry. “God, all my things—”
He reached out and touched her hand. “We’ll take care of it.”
She nodded, fighting back tears.
“You have insurance?”
She nodded again. “I had a bracelet of my mother’s, some photos, my clothes. They’re gone.”
He squeezed her hand.
Once they reached his place, he carried her into the elevator. He set her down in front of his door to unlock it, and it swung open to reveal Easton.
Her boss shouldered his brother aside and pulled her against him.
Her lips trembled.
“Shit, Haven,” Easton murmured.
Gia strode in from the kitchen. “My turn.”
As her friend hugged her, Haven spotted Vander and Saxon in the kitchen. Vander was dressed all in black and as always, Saxon looked aristocratic and elegant in a custom suit.
“I bought you some supplies.” Gia nodded her head toward what Haven guessed was Rhys’ bedroom. “Clothes, underwear, toiletries, and makeup. Just a few days’ worth. We’ll get more.”
“Can I stay with you?” Haven asked.
There was a deep growl behind her, and Rhys wrapped an arm around her. She found herself pressed against his body.
“No,” he clipped out.
“Rhys—”
“You’re staying with me.”
No. No . There was no way she could fight the pull of him if they were living together. “I don’t—”
“It’s not safe. You could put Gia in danger.”
Horror rolled through Haven. She hadn’t even thought of that. “Then you’ll be in danger, too.”
He cupped her cheek. “I’m trained. It’s my job.”
“No one is going to get you, Haven.” Vander’s hard tone wasn’t just a promise, it was a vow.
And she saw the echo of that in Rhys’ eyes.
Okay . She could do this. She’d sleep on his couch. And she’d keep her eyes, hands, and lips off Rhys’ body. Somehow.
“I have drinks with a client tonight,” Gia said.
“What client?” Saxon demanded. “It’s late for a business meeting.”
Gia pinned him with a look. “I don’t run my schedule through you, Buchanan.”
A scowl crossed Saxon’s handsome face. “I think—”
Gia held up her hand. “I don’t care what you think.”
Sexy, elegant Saxon growled. Haven watched the pair eagerly. What was this? How had she missed the tension between these two before? Maybe because she’d been too busy avoiding Rhys.
Gia focused on Haven. “I’ll cancel—”
“No,” Haven said. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
“She needs to rest anyway,” Rhys added.
Gia gave her a tight hug. “I’m already sorting through stuff to get you a replacement license, ID, credit cards.”
Haven smiled. “Thanks, G.”
“No more danger for you.”
Haven snorted. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“I don’t want a world without you in it, girlfriend.”
Tears pricked Haven’s eyes. “Don’t make me cry.”
“He’ll take care of you.” Gia’s voice was a quiet murmur.
“I know, but as soon as it’s safe, I’m out of here.”
Gia smiled that maddening smile of hers. “We’ll see.”
Why could no one understand? “He’s your brother, my boss’ brother—”
Gia kissed her cheek. “Sleep well.” She winked. “Or not.”
After blowing kisses to her brothers, and shooting a glare at Saxon, Gia left.
“I think I need a shower,” Haven said to the sexy man-huddle at the kitchen island. She wanted the blood and soot gone.
Rhys broke away. “Let me show you where to find everything.”
His bedroom had white walls, and the same warm, wood floor as the living area. A bed with an industrial-style, metal headboard faced floor-to-ceiling windows that highlighted the Bay Bridge. He pointed through to the spacious bathroom, with lots of gray granite and a large shower.
His hands reached into her hair, tugging her ponytail loose.
“Take your time,” he said.
Soon, Haven was naked in Rhys’ shower. She closed her eyes. She was in so much trouble, and she didn’t just mean exploding apartments and art thieves.
Grabbing one of Rhys’ fluffy, gray towels off the rack, she dried off.
She dug through the bags Gia had left on Rhys’ bed, and found that her friend had bought all of Haven’s favorite toiletries.
She pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a cute blue T-shirt.
She studied her hip. Hmm, she had a few new bruises appearing.
Well, she’d just add them to the collection.
She headed back into the living area and heard the men talking, their voices low.
“We need to drill into the Russian mafia link.” That was Vander.
“I’m already on it,” Rhys replied. “I’m digging into everything on the Zakharov family.”
“What’s the link to Haven?” Easton asked, clearly not happy.
“Don’t know, but I’ll find out.” Rhys’ voice was hard, dark. “And neutralize it.”
“So you’re all-in for her?” Saxon asked.
“Yes.”
“You sure? You’ve been dancing around this.”
Dread filled her, her heart pounding as she listened. She was so screwed up. She wanted him to want her, but she knew she should stay away.
“Haven’s mine. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect her.”
She closed her eyes, trembled. No one had ever said anything like that before. When she’d met Leo, it had been fun. He’d liked collecting art. He’d wanted a pretty woman on his arm in his club, and to have a good time.
He never put himself on the line for her. The opposite, in fact.
Her father loved her as much as he could. But after her mom had died, he hadn’t been there for her in the way she’d needed. As soon as she’d gone to college, he’d left on his trips overseas to provide medical services in developing countries.
She’d had no one to protect her but herself.
Haven waited, listening, as the men kept talking.
They talked some more about the investigation, until she finally decided that she’d eavesdropped enough. She set her shoulders back and walked into the kitchen.
“Well, at least I don’t smell like smoke anymore.”
Rhys moved toward her. He slid an arm around her and pulled her close.
She glanced around at the serious faces. “What’s going on?”
“You don’t need to worry, but we’re working on this mafia link,” Rhys said. “The Zakharov family out of Miami is involved.”
Miami ? Her skin went cold. “I don’t know anyone in the mafia, here or in Miami.”
Vander almost smiled. “We didn’t think you did, but there’s a link somewhere. Rhys will find it. He’s the best.”
“We questioned the man who hit you. He gave up his crew.” Rhys pointed to a sheet of paper on the island.
There were photos. No, mugshots. “These are the thieves?”
Rhys nodded.
Looking at the photos, she stiffened.
“Haven?”
“This one.” She tapped one man with a scar on his face. “I’ve seen him before.”
“Where? At the museum?”
She sucked in a breath. “No, at my ex’s club in Miami.”