Chapter 7

7

JUNE

W hen lips brush against mine, I smile. I reach out for Luka, wanting to pull him closer. "Kitten." He says this against my lips. "I'm going to pick you up."

"What?" I open my eyes, having forgotten where I was. "I fell asleep." I yawn, and Luka scoops me up into his arms.

This all feels like a dream. I'm still in a bit of shock that I agreed so quickly. But I knew I had no other choice. I can't help the pull that I feel toward Luka, and I want to continue to explore it. Plus, maybe this is exactly what I need: to get away for a bit and experience life somewhere else.

The last thing I remember is getting on the plane. I lay down on one of the long sofa benches while Luka had to take a phone call. Then it was lights out for me.

"You had a big day at your brother's wedding. I'm sure you were exhausted."

I must have been. I rest my head on his shoulder as he exits the plane, carrying me down the stairs. Owen is already standing outside of the SUV, holding open the back door for us. Luka places me inside. I don't get to put my seat belt on; he's already doing it for me.

"Do you live in the city?" I ask around another yawn, leaning into Luka when he slips in beside me. He wraps his arm around me.

"I have homes in a few cities."

"Right." I laugh. "Wait, where the hell are we?" Probably should have asked where we were going. I just assumed we were going to New York. The sun is only just rising so it's hard to make out where we might be, but I know this isn't New York.

"We're in Washington, DC."

"Oh." I suppose it doesn't matter.

"But yes, we'll be in the city. I picked DC because the home I own here also has a secure office for me in it as well."

"Ohh," I say playfully. "Is it like an underground secret office?"

"I wouldn't call it a secret. A lot of government officials also live in the building."

"Wait. It's really underground?" That perks me up. I can't help but be nosy. It's in my nature. "Can I see it?"

"I'm working on that."

"You're working on that?" I don't know what that means. "I don't have to see it. I was only teasing." I don't want him to do anything that might compromise his work because of my curiosity.

"But I will be spending a lot of time there. I'm looking into getting your clearance. I've made it one of my stipulations."

"You really don't have to do that." The last thing I want to be is a nuisance. I understand the significance of his tasks. I've dealt with super secret stuff my entire life with my brother.

"We'll see." He runs his hand down his face; I can tell he's tired.

"I know you can't tell me some things. I'll try not to be too nosy. Sometimes I can't help myself."

My brother was always tight-lipped about everything, especially that side of his life. Jackson went on crazy badass missions that he was prohibited from ever discussing with anyone. I've learned to deal with it, but that doesn't mean I ever stopped worrying.

Luka shifts, turning to face me, his hand coming to my face to cup my cheek. "I want to tell you things." His thumb drifts back and forth.

"It's okay. I'll understand if you can't." I turn my head to kiss his palm.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay here?"

"As long as I'm with you."

My parents were okay with me leaving for a while. I knew they would be. They have both always worried that I haven't let myself see enough of the world. I settled right in at Cottonwood with no plans of ever leaving. I've always been a girl who knew what she wanted.

Dad told me not to worry about anything. He would have it all handled. I'd also already hired a few new people to help. My dad has slowly begun to take a step back. I don't think he'll ever fully retire, but I know he wants to spend more time with my mom. It can be challenging to let go of the horses. They become a part of you.

"You'll tell me if you need anything."

"I can handle myself." I can tell he's worried about me. It's sweet, but he has other things to focus on right now.

"But I also want to handle things for you."

"That goes both ways."

"I'm not accustomed to living with someone."

"I get the feeling you're a neat freak."

"Maybe."

"Maybe? Right." I laugh. "I'll try to clean up after myself. I can be messy."

"I don't care."

"You say that now, but-—" He kisses me, cutting me off.

"I don't care," he repeats.

"The garage, sir? Or do you want me to drop you at the front?"

"The garage."

I peep out the window to see buildings all around us. Owen pulls into a parking garage below the building. The SUV comes to a stop in front of two sets of elevators. Luka doesn't wait for Owen to open the door. He does it, offering me his hand.

"This is my elevator. It's private." He leads me to the left. A screen in the elevator door comes to life.

"Whoa, is it motion detected?" This is the most high-tech thing I've ever seen in real life. I mean it looks like it came straight out of one of those 007 flicks.

"No, facial recognition."

"Like it scanned you when we walked up?" This really is spy stuff.

"It can scan for you too." He grabs my wrist and lifts my hand to the screen. "Your full hand against the screen." I do as he instructs. A red line outlines my hand before going solid. Then the elevator doors slide open.

"That's so badass." I hop onto the elevator. "What now, James Bond?"

"What happened to Patrick Bateman?"

"You prefer to be the psycho instead of the super-hot spy?" I tease.

"I wouldn't call myself a spy. But I'm glad you think I'm hot."

"You're more badass. You make stuff the spy can use."

"This is true." He hits the top button. "There is actually something I wanted you to wear for me." He reaches into his suit jacket pocket and pulls out a bracelet. It's a small, solid band. Luka puts it around my wrist. It clicks into place. There are horses delicately engraved into it.

"It's beautiful." I let my fingers trace over it.

"I'm glad you like it. It requires me to unlock it, and it has a tracker on it." My mouth falls open. I get the sense this might be for security or something. I haven't missed the fact that Luka's driver is always carrying a gun. He's military-trained. I can see it in the way he moves. I've been around enough of them to know.

"Okay, I guess you are back to being Patrick Bateman."

Most women would probably get freaked out by wearing a tracking device, but I have the complete opposite reaction. I want to wear it. It makes me feel closer to Luka.

Maybe I shouldn't be teasing him so much about being psycho. It seems we may be two peas in a pod.