Page 34 of Protector Unmatched

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With Enya’s help, Pearce had been successful in establishing a secure connection between the control center computer and the laptop in the safe house. He’d also placed a trace on Daphne’s line, so that when the kidnappers called her again, Pearce would be able to find out where the call was coming from. However, not everything had gone to plan. When he entered the safe house, Enya was waiting for him in the kitchen.

“Any alerts while I was on my way back?” he asked in a hushed voice.

She shook her head. “Nothing yet. Bad luck, huh?”

He grunted. “Why does that phone carrier have to have a server outage just when I’m trying to get in?”

“Happens,” Enya said. “There’s nothing you can do other than wait.”

She was right. “Is Daphne sleeping?”

“Yep. She finally agreed to rest.”

He glanced at the bedroom door. “Guess there’s nothing either of us can do now. Might as well catch some shuteye. Why don’t you go back to the compound? I can call you if I need backup.”

Enya hesitated. “I think I should stay here.”

“I can handle this alone.”

“Yeah, I saw that earlier. You’re playing with fire.”

Pearce ran a hand through his hair. “She’s attracted to me. I can use that.”

“Attracted? You think?” Enya shook her head. “So, you really believe that by fucking the living daylights out of her you can prevent her from killing you?”

“I wasn’t fucking the liv—”

Enya raised her hands. “Spare me. I’m not blind.” She sighed. “Listen, I’m not begrudging you the fun, okay? But I’m concerned. She’s clearly up to her eyeballs in trouble, and she’s already dragged you into it. It can only end badly. Winter is never wrong.”

“But she also admits that her visions can change as events change. And by helping Daphne free her brother from his kidnappers, I’m getting her out of trouble. That could be exactly what I need to do to change the outcome of Winter’s vision. By helping Daphne, I’ll be her friend. She’ll be grateful and won’t have a reason to kill me.”

Enya scoffed. “Yeah, and just to get a few more Brownie points, you’re fucking her. Make sure that doesn’t backfire.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I’m not a good lover?” He hated that implication. Besides, Daphne seemed to have enjoyed herself in his arms.

“Eek! Can we please not talk about that? You’re like a brother to me. Trust me, I don’t want to know what you do to satisfy a woman. I leave that up to you. I’m just saying that the more emotionally involved you two get, the greater the chance that those emotions will turn. I’ve seen it happen: we don’t hate anybody more than the person we once loved and who disappointed us.”

“Then I won’t disappoint her.”

“Yeah, good luck.” Enya snatched her leather jacket and slipped it on. “Since I can’t talk you out of it, I’d better leave. I’m not into watching a train wreck in progress.”

“It won’t be a train wreck.”

“Whatever you say.” She marched to the door, then looked over her shoulder. “Call me if you need me. And please, be careful. You’re the only sane guy at the compound. I’d hate to lose you.”

Pearce smiled. It was rare that Enya gave out compliments. “Love you too.”

She left and pulled the door shut quietly behind her.

Pearce took off his jacket and hung it over the chair, then sat down at the computer and opened the window that provided him with a direct link to his computer in the command center. The server of the telephone carrier was still down. He quickly typed in a script that would notify him with a sound as soon as the server was up again.

Now all he could do was wait.

And get some sleep.

He eyed the couch. He knew it was comfortable. He’d slept here before, when protecting a charge. But tonight, the couch didn’t appeal to him. Not when he knew who was sleeping in the bedroom.