CHAPTER 14
THE NIGHT THEY STOP RUNNING
By the time they reached the secured apartment, Mara had stopped pretending she could think about anything else.
Not Naomi.
Not Voss.
Not the ledger.
Not even the man who had been following her.
Adrian pulled into the underground garage and killed the engine.
Neither of them moved.
Rain whispered against the concrete entrance.
Mara looked at him.
He was staring straight ahead.
"You've been quiet."
"I know."
"That's usually when you're thinking too much."
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
"I'm thinking about what happened."
"The kiss?"
"Yes."
Mara waited.
He finally turned toward her.
"We need to talk before we go upstairs."
Her stomach tightened.
"That sounds ominous."
"It isn't."
"You have a very serious face."
"I always have a serious face."
"Not when you laugh."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then it disappeared.
"This can't become something casual."
Mara frowned.
"I wasn't planning to make it casual."
"I mean this."
He gestured between them.
"If we cross this line, we can't pretend we're still just doing a job."
Mara looked down at her hands.
"I know."
"I'm responsible for your security."
"I know."
"I have access to information about you that most people don't."
"I know."
"I'm thirteen years older than you."
"I can count."
His mouth twitched.
"Mara."
"What?"
"I'm trying to be careful."
"So am I."
"Are you?"
She turned toward him.
"Do you think I don't understand what's happening?"
"No."
"Then stop talking to me like I don't."
He looked at her.
She continued.
"I know you're my bodyguard. I know you're older. I know you're supposed to have boundaries. I know there is a threat outside this car."
She paused.
"But I also know you kissed me twice."
His gaze dropped.
"I did."
"And I kissed you back."
"Yes."
"And neither of us regrets it."
He was quiet.
"Do you?"
"No."
"Then what are you afraid of?"
His eyes met hers.
"That I'll start making decisions because I want you instead of because they're right for you."
Mara's expression softened.
"Then don't make decisions for me."
He looked away.
"That's easier said than done."
"Try."
He looked back.
"I can do that."
She smiled.
"Good."
They sat in silence.
Then Mara reached for the door handle.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Upstairs."
He didn't move.
She looked at him.
"You said we couldn't pretend."
"I know."
"Then let's stop pretending."
She opened the door.
Adrian followed.
They took the elevator.
Neither spoke.
When the doors opened, Adrian checked the hallway.
Mara waited.
He unlocked the apartment.
They stepped inside.
He locked the door.
Mara heard the familiar click.
For the first time, she didn't resent it.
She turned toward him.
"Wine?"
"No."
"Coffee?"
"It's nearly midnight."
"So?"
He looked at her.
"You're impossible."
"I've heard that."
She walked toward the kitchen.
Adrian followed.
She opened the refrigerator.
There was no wine.
She looked over her shoulder.
"You really need to improve your emergency supplies."
"I'll add it to the list."
She smiled.
"Good."
He leaned against the counter.
Mara poured water.
The silence returned.
She took a sip.
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"Thinking."
"I think a lot."
"About me?"
He didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
"Adrian."
"Yes."
Her heart skipped.
"Yes, you're thinking about me?"
"Constantly."
The answer was so direct that she forgot what she had planned to say.
He looked almost surprised at himself.
Mara smiled.
"That's better."
"Better?"
"Honesty."
He nodded.
"I said I'd tell you the truth."
She set her glass down.
"Then tell me."
"What?"
"What you want."
His gaze held hers.
"You."
The word was quiet.
Mara's pulse quickened.
"Anything else?"
"A chance to know you when you're not investigating someone."
She smiled.
"That's ambitious."
"I know."
"And?"
"I want to know what you're like when you aren't afraid."
Her smile faded.
"I'm not sure I know."
"Then we'll find out."
"We?"
He nodded.
"If you want."
Mara stepped closer.
"I want."
His hand moved to her waist.
This time there was no hesitation.
She rested her hands against his chest.
His heartbeat was steady beneath her palm.
"You know," she whispered, "you're much less intimidating when you're not giving me security instructions."
"I'm still giving them."
"Such as?"
"Lock the door."
She laughed.
"You're hopeless."
He kissed her.
Slowly.
The kiss deepened when Mara moved closer.
His hand slid along her back.
She felt the restraint in him, the constant effort to keep himself controlled.
She didn't want restraint tonight.
She wanted the man beneath it.
She pulled back.
"Don't stop."
His eyes searched hers.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He kissed her again.
The room seemed to narrow around them.
The city disappeared behind the windows.
There was only warmth, closeness, and the strange relief of no longer having to deny what had been building between them.
Mara's fingers moved into his hair.
He drew her closer.
Then stopped.
His forehead rested against hers.
"Tell me if you want me to stop."
"I will."
"Promise?"
She smiled.
"You don't make promises."
"Apparently I do when it matters."
She kissed him.
The rest of the night unfolded without hurry.
No declarations.
No dramatic vows.
Just two people who had spent days resisting something that had become impossible to ignore.
When they finally lay together, the room was quiet.
Mara rested against Adrian.
His arm was around her.
She traced one finger along his wrist.
"You're awake."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I'm thinking."
She laughed softly.
"Of course."
He looked down at her.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
She rested her cheek against his chest.
For a while, neither spoke.
The rain continued outside.
Mara could hear the distant city through the glass.
A siren.
A car horn.
The faint rumble of a train.
Ordinary sounds.
She closed her eyes.
"This feels strange."
"What does?"
"Being this close to someone."
Adrian's arm tightened slightly.
"Bad strange?"
"No."
She paused.
"Good strange."
He kissed the top of her head.
Mara smiled.
Then reality returned.
"Tomorrow."
"What about it?"
"We have to deal with everything."
"Yes."
"Naomi."
"Yes."
"The ledger."
"Yes."
"Voss."
"Yes."
She sighed.
"I hate that this is happening at the same time."
"So do I."
She looked up.
"What happens to us?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Mara waited.
"I don't know."
She nodded.
"That's fair."
"But I know what I don't want."
"What?"
"I don't want to use this against you."
Her expression softened.
"You couldn't."
"I could."
"Not if you don't."
He looked at her.
"I won't."
She smiled.
"Good."
Morning came too quickly.
Mara woke with sunlight barely filtering through the curtains.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Adrian was beside her.
Asleep.
She watched him.
Without the suit.
Without the watch.
Without the guarded expression.
He looked almost ordinary.
Almost.
Mara reached out and brushed a strand of dark hair away from his forehead.
His eyes opened.
"Morning."
"Morning."
He looked at her.
Then around the room.
His expression changed.
The memories returned.
Mara smiled.
"Regretting it?"
"No."
"Good."
He leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
"I don't regret you."
Something warm settled inside her.
Then his phone rang.
Adrian reached for it.
The softness disappeared from his face.
"Marcus."
Mara sat up.
She watched him listen.
"What?"
A pause.
"Are you sure?"
Another pause.
"Send it."
He ended the call.
Mara waited.
"What happened?"
"Naomi's phone was found."
Her stomach tightened.
"Where?"
"Near the river."
"Was she there?"
"No."
"What did Marcus find?"
"A recording."
Mara pulled the blanket around herself.
"Another one?"
"Yes."
"Play it."
Adrian opened the file.
Naomi's voice came through the speaker.
Quiet.
Shaky.
"They know about the ledger. But they don't know where it is. There's someone helping them. Someone with access to private security information."
Mara looked at Adrian.
Naomi continued.
"If I disappear, look at the people who knew Mara's movements before the investigation became public."
The recording ended.
Silence.
Mara stared at the phone.
"Private security."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
"Someone close to you."
"Maybe."
She looked at him.
"Adrian."
"I know."
"What do we do?"
He stood.
"We find out."
He began dressing.
Mara watched him.
The night they'd shared suddenly felt fragile.
Not because she regretted it.
Because now there was a person inside their circle who could be watching.
Adrian buttoned his shirt.
Mara got out of bed.
He turned toward her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he reached for her hand.
"I won't lie to you."
She squeezed his fingers.
"Good."
"I won't make decisions for you."
"Good."
"And I won't pretend last night didn't happen."
Mara smiled.
"Good."
He brought her hand to his lips.
Then released it.
The professional Adrian returned piece by piece.
But not completely.
Something had changed.
Something neither of them could put back.
Mara looked toward the bedroom door.
It stood open.
For the first time, she noticed it.
No lock.
No barrier.
Just an open doorway between them and the rest of the apartment.
She looked back at Adrian.
He followed her gaze.
"You're staring."
"I noticed something."
"What?"
"Nothing."
She smiled.
"Not yet."
Adrian looked at her for another second.
Then picked up his phone.
"Get dressed."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Order?"
"Suggestion."
"Better."
He smiled.
And for the first time since he had entered her life, Mara didn't feel like she was running from the danger.
She felt like she was facing it with someone beside her.