All of the kitchen staff members were wearing white uniforms. They stared at him with fear and horror on their faces.
“Where the hell is he?” Dylan demanded.
His question was answered with more frantic shouts. He pulled out his ID, the nice, fake FBI ID that usually gave him a free pass in situations like this one. “I’m following a suspect. White male, six foot two, two hundred pounds. He was wearing a blue sweatshirt, jogging shorts and a baseball cap.” His gaze lasered around the room. “Where the hell did he go?”
But no one knew. They all said they’d seen nothing. No one...but Dylan.
Vanished.
Rage twisted inside him.
* * *
DYLAN BRAKED HIS CAR in front of Rachel’s apartment building. Fury still rode him.
Fury and fear.
“I don’t think you should stay here tonight,” he said as he glanced over at her. Actually, Dylan figured that staying at her place was one damn bad idea. “He’s already broken into your place once.”
“And yours,” Rachel pointed out as she tilted her head to study him. “Besides, Thomas is watching the street in front of my apartment. He’s got guard duty. And Mercer told me that the EOD upgraded my security system.”
Yeah, they had. He killed the engine. “If you’re staying here, then so am I.” He had a duffel bag in his trunk, one that he kept ready because he never knew when the EOD would ship him out on a mission.
“You don’t...you don’t have to do that. I told you, Thomas has guard duty. I don’t need—”
“Maybe it’s about what I need.” And he needed to be close to her. “Besides, isn’t the master plan for the guy to think that we’re lovers? I doubt that he’ll buy the charade if we’re sleeping across the city from each other.”
Her lashes lowered. Night had fallen on the city, and the only light in the car came from the streetlamp a few feet away. That wasn’t nearly enough illumination to let him read her expression, and he sure wanted to know what she was thinking.
“A charade?” Rachel whispered. “Is that all it will be?”
The memory of their kiss—the kiss they’d had in that car—was suddenly right between them, he knew it was. He didn’t need to see her expression any longer.
But he did have to tread very carefully. “We can be whatever you want us to be.” It had to be her choice, he knew that. But once she did make the choice...
You choose me, then, baby, you will be mine.
“Let’s talk upstairs, then.” She fumbled with the door handle and hurriedly exited the vehicle.
He followed her. And he grabbed the duffel bag from the back of the car. His gaze trekked down the street. The pub was already busy. That place usually was, from what he’d seen. But he wouldn’t be going in that pub searching for Rachel that night.
I’ve got her. And I’m not letting her go. Because he knew the truth now. Rachel wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
He put his hand at her back, then headed into the building with her. For anyone watching, it would look like they were just two lovers, heading in for the night.
They didn’t speak as they climbed the stairs. Rachel unlocked her door then reset the new alarm system. She turned toward him, and he caught the flash of worry on her face. “I have to check and make sure that he hasn’t been here...”
But Dylan was already moving. He dropped the duffel bag on the floor and went straight to her bedroom.
The covers weren’t disturbed this time. No playing card waited for her.
He heard her soft exhale behind him, and he turned back to look at her. Some of the tension had eased from Rachel’s shoulders.
If he could, he’d take away all her fear and worry.
I will. When I take out Jack.
“I need to shower,” Rachel murmured. She stared down at her hands now. “I just...I washed the blood away, but I can still feel it on me.”