One to Protect (One to Hold 3)

Love you more. Sleep. I’ll be there soon.

I’ll try. xxx

With a deep breath, I look once more at the images on my phone trying not to feel miserable. My thumb pauses on a shot of me Derek took a while back. I’m smiling, and my hair’s blowing across my face from the side. The little gold heart at the base of my throat catches the light.

Placing my phone on the counter, I snatch up the flashlight and run out to the side porch. Shining it all around, I get down on my hands and knees and feel under the small sofa one more time. Again, I come back with nothing.

Frustrated, I sit back on my heels and look out at the dark night toward the shoreline. The doors are all locked, and I promised Derek I wouldn’t do any more night walks until he’s back. Still, I can’t help wondering if I lost it out there somewhere. Maybe a metal detector…

Just then the whistle starts loud from the kitchen. I push up from the floor, and walk slowly in the direction of the noise as my thoughts travel across the miles to where he is. He’s taking a huge risk. Everything could go wrong, and he could lose his license, his business…

Exhaling a tiny prayer to Saint Michael, I take the kettle off the fire and pour the water into my waiting mug.

Chapter 11: Opening Act

Derek

Time feels like it stretches on for hours as we wait, wondering if our target will come back or move on. I want to call Mel, but I also want the kitchen staff to forget I’m here. So I keep quiet. Until she texts me.

All the reasons I’m here come rushing back in just a few lines—to protect her, to keep her safe. We say goodnight, and just like that, everything starts to move.

Patrick shoots me a text. Switch on. We’re back in business.

I quickly put the earbuds back in just in time to hear Sloan talking to Star. Two more martinis, and she’s making progress.

“I only waited to tell you goodnight.” Her disguised voice is suggestive but tentative. “My rep never showed up, so I guess I’ll head back to my hotel now. Alone.”

A few seconds pass, and he doesn’t respond. I’m hanging on the sounds of glasses clinking and the low roar of voices. He finally speaks.

“How long are you in town?” I’m not sure, but it sounds like a nibble.

“Just a few days.” She releases a sad sigh. “I’ll head back to DC and look for a new job there, I guess.”

“What were you doing before you left?”

“I was an intern for Senator Daltry.”

Silence, more noise from the bar. Muffled talking. I can’t tell if that was them or what happened. Then they’re back.

“…wouldn’t mind a little company.” I missed the first of that, but it sounds promising. “We can discuss it tomorrow night if you’d like to have dinner with me?”

“Oh, I’d love to!” The gushy sound of her voice worries me. She doesn’t need to be too easy. “I really want to stay in the city.”

The noise is muffled again, and then the voices vanish altogether. I’m straining against the tiny white headphones. What’s going on?

Footsteps outside the door, and it pushes open. Patrick shoves inside, and I realize he put his phone in his coat and headed up here.

“She did it.” He hangs by the window, scanning the alley. “This is good. One of us can get down there fast if anything goes wrong.”

“I’ll let you take that route. I’ll use the stairs and the kitchen exit.”

He chuckles. “Thanks.”

“So what’d I miss? You apparently shoved your phone in your pocket at a critical point.”

Pulling it out again, Patrick checks the face. “Our man offered her a job ‘keeping him company’ while she’s in town. Strictly a test-run, of course.”

“I heard they’re having di