“And you’ll be leading The Knights back to them,” Daniel pointed out. “Can’t you see? Staying here is the safest option. Back in Vegas, you’d be vulnerable with no one to protect you.”
“The Knights’ reach is far and wide, my lady,” Thoralf said. “If their eyes are fixed on you—and that is possible after tonight—they will pursue you.”
She looked pleadingly at Christina, as she looked to be in charge. “Isn’t there any other way? Witness protection or something?”
“There are places where we can hide you,” she said. “But that still won’t get you back to Vegas. But I can offer your brother and sister protection as well. I can have two agents watch out for them.”
Sarah tapped her finger on her chin as she contemplated her choices. “I—fine.” She took a deep breath.
“Good,” Daniel said with a determined nod of his head. “You’ll move in with me tonight.”
Her head snapped to him. “What? Move in with you? We agreed I’d stay at the motel.”
“That was before those bastards tried to kill you.”
“They tried to kill you,” she countered. “Not me.”
“But they tried to take you too,” he pointed out. “You heard Christina. You’ll be safer at home. Mine.”
“This is ridiculous, I can’t stay with you.”
“Yes, you can.” He turned to Jason. “Dad put the house under an LLC before they left it to me. That should at least delay anyone digging through public records.”
“Your dad’s always been a smart one,” Jason said.
“It would also sell your ‘marriage’ story better,” Christina interjected.
“If you need to craft a statement, I’ll have Lennox’s PR department do it for you,” Jason offered. “They’ll have something done by noon tomorrow and sent out once you approve it.”
Sarah wanted to protest some more, but could see she was outnumbered. “Fine.” An idea, however, popped into her head. “But, Thoralf should come too.”
“Thoralf?” Daniel said, his voice edgy. “What do you want him for?”
“Well, I need someone to protect me, and he said he’ll do it,” she pointed out. “What are you going to do while you’re working? Drag me up and down that mountain with you? And you said your house was huge. You won’t even know he and I are there.”
“Your lady has an excellent point, Daniel Rogers,” Thoralf said. “Of course, if I am not welcome in your home, I understand. I would be happy to sleep outside.”
“Sleep outside?” Sarah placed a hand on her chest. “Seriously, Daniel? This man saved your—our lives, and you’re going to let him sleep on the ground when you have five perfectly good bedrooms in your gigantic home?”
“It’s no trouble at all, my lady,” Thoralf assured her. “I have slept in worse conditions in the last year. Why most of the time, I lay my head on whatever ground, tree, or cave I happen to be near.”
“He hasn’t even slept in a real bed in a while.” She looked up at Daniel. “Please?”
Daniel ground his teeth loudly. “Fine,” he relented. “He can stay with us.”
“That should make our lives easier,” Christina said. “Now, if you don’t mind, maybe you guys can give us more details about the events of tonight, and give us any descriptions and details that might help us track down the men who attacked you.”
Sarah leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest. At least she wasn’t going to be alone playing house with Daniel Rogers for the next few days.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to live in his house. Oh God, there was a part of her that wanted it too much. This whole charade was bad enough, but something so intimate … so close to him … something told her it was a bad idea and would not end well. Dreaming of such things would only lead to disappointment.
Chapter Seven
Jason, Christina, and Luke each talked to them separately. Sarah was glad it was Christina who interviewed her as she didn’t feel comfortable with either of the men. Besides, she found herself admiring the other woman. She was obviously the one in charge around here, being a female surrounded by males at work—and the boss, to boot—was probably not easy.
After having their phones outfitted with a tracking app and panic button, they were finally free to go. Since Daniel’s truck was trashed, The Agency lent him one of their SUVs and also promised to get her car back to her by morning. Soon, she, Daniel, and Thoralf were on their way. Before they left, however, they came up with a cover story that Thoralf was an old college buddy of Daniel’s, who had done a year abroad in America and was visiting them for a couple of days.
Their destination wasn’t too far, and the SUV slowed down as they reached a typical suburban street. It was dark but when she looked out the window, she saw that they’d pulled into the driveway of a sprawling Colonial-style home with its typical shuttered windows, pitched roof, and wooden clapboard siding.
“Wow.” She couldn’t help but gape. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Daniel stopped the truck and cut the engine.
What was it like to grow up in a home like this? Her own childhood hadn’t been so idyllic mostly bouncing around a bunch of orphanages and foster homes. She was a difficult kid, on purpose most of the time, and the only reason she stuck around the last home was because of Darcey and Adam. Enduring that crappy living situation had been worth it, knowing that the moment she turned eighteen, she could take her brother and sister far away from that hellhole.
“It is indeed a splendid home,” Thoralf exclaimed. “I’m honored you invited me to stay.”
Daniel grunted but said nothing as he got out of the car, and they followed him toward the house. She nearly stumbled as she realized there was a
