Burned Deep (Burned 1)

“Sorry … not following you.”

“From House of Cards. She got thrown in front of a train by a congressman because she knew too much.”

“Dangerous game to play,” he concurred.

“Yeah. So’s this.”

We both fell silent until we reached the house. As we entered, Dane said, “You’ll work from here the rest of the week.”

“Dane,” I instantly protested.

“Don’t say a fucking word against it, Ari.” He took my nearly melted ice and left me. I sank into a chair in the entryway. He returned minutes later with a fresh ice pack that he gently placed on my hand. Kneeling in front of me, he said, “Baby, I’m so sorry about this.”

As he brushed tears from my cheeks, I said, “It’s not your fault.”

“You keep saying that.” He stood. “But it is my fault. And I’m going to do something about it, once and for all.”

I didn’t like his ominous tone.

“Dane—”

“This all ends, Ari. All of it.”

He helped me up and to his bedroom.

“Dane, I can’t hide out here. I have staff. Meetings. Measurements to take around the lobby. I have to get Facilities involved as well, since their people will be hanging the decorations.”

His jaw set and a hooded look clouded his eyes. “I’m not comfortable with you at the Lux right now. Not until I’m done.”

I blinked. “Done?”

Was I even sure I wanted to know what that meant?

“I’ve got some calls to make. Final straw. I’m about to shove hard. I don’t want you caught in the cross fire.”

“What about others at the Lux?”

“Have you not noticed you’re the target?” I could see he fought to keep the razor edge from his tone. He wasn’t all that successful. “I’m willing to bet ours will be the only two offices bugged. Your badge was deactivated when you needed it most. Even you said it—rattlesnakes and scorpions terrify you. And you’ve gotten a healthy dose of both. Only you.”

My nerves were shot to hell and I still felt the disturbing tingle of venom. I sank onto the mattress before my legs gave out. A tremor started in my toes and worked its way through my body.

“I don’t want to be here alone, Dane. You and Amano will be at the hotel. That’s where you need to be.”

“You’re safe here. That’s a fifteen-foot-tall fence surrounding the property and it’s fully monitored. I have access to the security cameras on my iPhone, my iPad, my computer. And I can give Amano access as well.”

With a shake of my head, I said, “You’d rather have me close by and you know it.”

He raked a hand through his hair and muttered under his breath. He paced before me.

“I’ll give you my schedule for the week,” I offered. “You’ll know where I am at all times. They tried to scare me and they did. Okay? I am officially freaked out. And in a serious amount of pain. But I still have work to do and I will be extremely careful, Dane. I swear.”

He pinned me with a tortured look that made my heart twist.

“I can’t just sit here and worry,” I said. “Even if you send Amano over, I will go completely stir-crazy. And we’ll be behind the eight ball with the grand opening. I don’t want you to have to postpone again.”

“Neither do I,” he said with conviction. He walked away, balled his fist, and put it through the drywall next to the door.

I jumped. “Dane!”