Chapter 10
Paige
The day goes by too fast. We spend most of it naked in bed. We eat charcuterie on the mattress. Dane dominates me. We make love. I know time will move at a snail’s pace for the next two weeks, and I dread walking out of here tonight.
Dane makes a lot of calls. JT and Brant are coming over before the club opens while it is still empty. When they arrive, Dane opens the door to the apartment and lets them in. I hide in the bathroom until the door is closed. They’re going to recognize me, and they’re going to be shocked.
I step out.
JT sees me first and gasps.
Brant palms the wall, looking like he might faint.
“Jesus…” JT mutters.
Dane pulls me in front of him and wraps his arms around me from behind. He did this a lot when we were together. I liked it then, and I still like it now. “She didn’t die.”
Brant licks his lips. “I see that. But how?”
“I was the sole survivor that day. The FBI told everyone I was dead. I’ve been in witness protection,” I inform them.
JT’s eyes are wide. He glances at Dane. “You knew?”
Dane shakes his head. “No. I found out last night when she walked into the club.”
“Holy fuck,” Brant mumbles.
Dane nods. “That about sums it up. And you both have to keep this completely secret. No one else at work will be aware of Paige’s existence for now.”
“Of course,” they both say in unison.
Dane continues, “I need the two of you to take on the assignment of keeping Paige safe for the next two weeks. She has to return to her apartment and her job. She’ll give notice at work, pack like she’s moving, wrap up her fake existence. I don’t want to take a single chance while she’s extricating herself from her life.”
They don’t even flinch as they both nod. They both stare at me as though they’re looking at a ghost.
“She won’t go anywhere but home and work. I’ll get you those addresses. Stagger your schedules however you want. I’ll take some shifts, too. In a few hours, she will walk out of here and take an Uber to her apartment. Follow her home and find a discreet place to watch her apartment. Same goes for her work. You brought me some surveillance cameras, right?” Dane nods toward the bag JT is holding.
JT hands it to Dane. “Yes.”
Dane takes it. “Paige will mount them in the living room and the bedroom of her apartment. We’ll all be able to monitor her except when she’s in the bathroom. If anything looks suspicious, contact me immediately.”
“Understood,” JT says. “She’ll be safe.”
“Is there a particular threat we should be looking for? I assume the bank robber is at large?” Brant asks.
Dane responds, “Exactly. He doesn’t know there was a survivor, so in theory, he has no idea Paige exists. Her new name is Shannon.” Dane looks down at me. “I didn’t even ask your last name.”
“Jones.”
Dane chuckles. “Shocker.” He returns his attention to JT and Brant. “There shouldn’t be any threat. All of this is precautionary. When the two weeks are over, I’ll move her into my penthouse and guard her myself.”
Brant nods. “Done.”
“Thank you.” Dane walks them to the door.
JT turns toward me. “Fuck, it’s so good to see you, Paige.”
Brant rubs his eyes. “I still can’t believe it. I’m in shock, and nothing shocks me.”
I give them a wan smile.
As soon as they’re gone, Dane is back, wrapping me in his arms.
He kisses me. “You okay?”
“Not even close.” I’ve been shaking since we showered and dressed. I’d rather get back into bed and never leave this apartment.
Dane picks me up.
I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me to the table and sets me on top of it. He cups my face. “Two weeks.”
“Two very long weeks. Are you sure we can’t at least talk during that time? We could use my burner phone.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t risk your life for anything, baby. It’s a long shot, but on the off chance someone is watching you, I don’t want anything to connect you to me. Even if they aren’t aware we knew each other in your previous life, they could easily figure out who I am and what I do and know you’ve been compromised.”
“I hate this,” I murmur.
“Me, too, baby. Me, too.” He flattens me against him and hugs me like he’s done a thousand times today. When he leans back, he continues to give me instructions. “Order packing boxes like anyone who’s moving would do. Pack most of your things in the boxes. I only want you to bring a few suitcases to my penthouse. Some clothes, toiletries, things you would take on a trip. I’ll have fake movers come and take your boxes to a storage unit. I’ll also arrange for someone else to go in after you’re gone and deal with the furniture.”
“There are so many parts to this,” I say.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure we cover every base. In two weeks, my men will come in the morning to take the boxes. Then one of my men will pretend to be an Uber driver and pick you up out front at six o’clock in the evening. It will look like you’ve done everything you need to move, and you’re heading to the airport.”
I nod.
“You’re strong, Paige. You can do this.”
“I know I can. But I don’t like it.”
Another tight hug. “I love you,” he whispers against my ear. “I never want another day to go by without saying that.”
I choke up, wishing he had said it three years ago. “I love you, too.”
“You’re mine. I’ll never let you go again.”
My eyes are watery as I meet his gaze. “I never want you to.”