Heartthrob (The Bennett Brothers 3)

“I can find it myself.”

He doesn’t acknowledge my resistance, pushing a button to open the door. I go to check on Carlos again, noting he’s sleeping peacefully, then head through the lab to my room.

Stefan walks closely beside me in an uncomfortable silence. I begin to get jittery the closer we get. My usual escort, Bob, is nowhere to be found. Something feels off about the situation.

When we get to my door, I turn, blocking him. “This is as far as you get.”

His eyes grow warm, into a liquid glittery brown, and his hand comes to my cheek. I stand frozen and horrified when his lips sweep across my forehead. My hands ball into fists, ready to fight him off, when he steps away.

“I wasn’t kidding you earlier. I never planned to hurt you. You’re too special of a woman. I think, if I was capable of loving a woman, she'd be exactly like you. Thank you, Claire, for what you’ve done for Carlos. He trusts you, and you’ve given him a chance we didn’t think possible.” With that, he pivots and walks away.

When he’s halfway down the hall, I thaw out of my stupor and yell at him, “I never told you a list of what we may need.”

“Taken care of,” he calls back.

“When will my escort be here?”

He stops, twisting his neck and looking over his shoulder at me. “There is no more escort, Claire. You can come and go as you please.”

I suck in a deep breath, my body quaking with the news. Before I can question him more, he’s gone.

I let myself into my room and see a bag already packed, sitting on the bed next to my backpack. Out of the corner of my eye, there’s movement, and I spin in time to catch the stranger leaping toward me. His hand covers my mouth, stifling my scream as his mouth goes to my ear.

“I’m here to get you out. Is this room wired?”

The thundering of my heart and ringing in my ears are almost too loud to understand him so I shake my head. He lets me go and steps back. It’s then I notice the gun at his hip and vest.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Jay. Mathis hired me. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Are you with the police?”

“Hell no, those assholes are still volleying over political jurisdiction and a bunch of bullshit. I’m contract for hire.”

I’m not sure what he means, but explanations can come later. My mind travels back to Stefan’s monitors. “He’s got a camera on the hall. He had to see you coming in.”

“He didn’t see me.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because I scrambled his feed.”

“Did you pack these?” I wave to the bags on the bed.

“No. I saw a man in a black suit leaving earlier and took a chance it was your room.”

That means Bob must have packed them. “I’m supposed to move to a new room.”

“Not happening. I’ll have you out of here before then.”

A flood of relief washes through my system, and my knees buckle. I land on the edge of the bed and drop my head to my hands. The relief is short-lived as Carlos’ face fills my mind.

“There’s a very sick young man here with me. Carlos.”

“I’m aware of him. Is he mobile?”

“Not today. Yesterday yes, tomorrow maybe, but today, he’s weakened by his treatments. There’s not a chance he can walk any sort of distance.”