to trust inside the government, did you? Are the break-ins at your mother’s home and your place related to this committee?”
She shrugged, but thought better of the movement as her body protested achily. Oh, man. She was going to be one sore puppy tomorrow. She answered, “I don’t see how the break-ins can’t be related. The timing is pretty suspicious, and both break-ins targeted my computers.”
The guards traded grim looks. “We’re going to be increasing your security detail, ma’am, and we’re going to be packing substantially more heat.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“We’ll be more heavily armed. Your security protocols are going to be quite a bit tighter from here on out. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.”
She was flummoxed when Gabe rolled his eyes. Apparently, he had a good idea what the guy was talking about. Personally, she was clueless. But she liked the sound of it. If she’d learned nothing else tonight, it was that she really didn’t want to die. She’d just found Gabe, darn it! Speaking of which, she still hadn’t gotten around to telling him she loved him.
“Is there anything else, gentlemen?” she asked, being sure to let weariness creep into her voice. It was a cheap ploy, but she really wanted to be alone with Gabe.
“No, ma’am. We’ll have men posted outside your door around the clock and outside below your window. If you need anything from us or sense any threat whatsoever, give a shout out.”
“Okay.” She sighed. Sheesh. She was on the third floor, and they were still going to put a guy under her window?
The guards stepped outside, and she waited for the door to close behind them. “Thanks for not firing them,” she told Gabe. “It wasn’t their fault I ran out on them.”
“Next time, no matter how upset you are or how much you just want to be alone, wait for your security team. Okay?”
“I promise.” Jeez. She wasn’t a five-year-old. Now that she understood the magnitude of the threat to her life, she wasn’t about to ditch her guards again.
“As I was saying before the guys interrupted us,” she started, “I realized something important while I was waiting to die.”
Gabe winced, and moved swiftly to gather her in his arms again. She was distracted when his mouth touched hers tentatively. As soon as it became clear that she was not caused pain by it, he deepened the kiss swiftly. It felt so good to be with him like this, tasting him, merging a part of herself with him, melting into him.
She would never get enough of him. She’d wanted him for so long, and to have him now, like this, was nothing short of a miracle. He kissed her voraciously, as if he needed to reassure himself in this way that she was alive and essentially unharmed. She was glad to provide him with the proof.
Finally, he came up for air and she dragged in an unsteady breath.
“You were saying?” he murmured against her lips.
“Mmm. What? Oh. Yes. As I was saying—”
The door swung open behind Gabe, banging into the wall. “Mr. Daws—” A nurse started. “Oh! I’m sorry.”
Gabe sighed against her temple and half turned to face the nurse. “You wanted me?”
“Yes. Your wife is demanding to know where you are. The FBI wants to question her again and she refuses to talk to them until you’re there.”
“Melinda’s here?” Willa gasped. “They found her? Is she all right?”
Gabe went stiff against her. “Yes. She was rescued earlier this evening and she’s fine. Well, actually, she’s acting damned erratic. But physically, she’s okay.”
“Oh,” Willa said in a small voice. “I’m glad she’s all right. If she needs you, by all means, you should go to her.”
“But—” Gabe started.
A beautiful brunette woman stuck her head in through the door just then. “There you are, Mr. Dawson. If you could come with me, I need to speak with Dr. Grayson, and she’s being a wee bit uncooperative.”
“A wee bit?” the nurse snorted. “She threatened to kill that cop.”
Willa glanced at Gabe in surprise. He muttered, “Deputy Green. I hope she does kill him. It would be a good riddance.”
Willa forced a smile even though her heart was shattering. “Go. She needs you. I’ve got my guards and I’ll be okay.”
On cue, one of the security guards stepped into the room. “I’ll be stationed in here until Mr. Dawson or another family member returns. You’re not to be alone at any time, Senator.”
“Not even when I’m sleeping?”
“No, ma’am.”
Seriously? The ramifications