my way to the elevators. Michelle pressed the “up” button and the doors immediately opened. As soon as she swiped the card and selected the floor, the doors slid shut. I was impressed with the security.
“Could you set me down?” Michelle asked softly. “I don’t want to attract any more attention than we already have.”
Carrying her kept her scent trail minimal. Even with the heightened security, I was hesitant to take the risk. But, the look in her eyes suggested she wasn’t requesting to be set down. Carefully, I eased her to a standing position. I didn’t miss the way she winced when her feet touched the floor. I took her hand in mine and started to rub slow circles over the pulse in her wrist.
After the elevator stopped and the doors opened, I inhaled deeply. The air was clear of any disguising chemicals. It was also clear of werewolf. Holding her hand, I led her into the deserted hallway.
“Are we okay here?” she asked.
“Better security,” I said, pointing to a camera mounted just outside the elevator. I wouldn’t promise we would be okay. I’d already made that mistake once.
We walked down a long hallway toward our room. Michelle kept pace with me but had a hitch to her step. I needed to look her over and assure myself she was all right, but I wondered if she’d let me.
The room card opened the second door on the right side of the hall. Stepping aside, I let Michelle enter first. The door closed behind us with a click, and I released Michelle’s hand and kicked off my shoes as I watched her look over the suite of rooms.
Decorated in neutral colors with black accents, everything looked and smelled clean. The light cream walls of the kitchenette flowed into the main room where electric flames danced in a fireplace. Michelle stared longest at the leather sofa and oversized chair, then turned toward the bathroom through an open door to the right. It had a glass corner shower with dual shower heads, a whirlpool tub big enough for two, and a heated towel rack. If she wasn’t so exhausted and hurt, the tub might have interested me. Now, I just wanted her to rest.
“I call dibs on the tub,” she whispered, half-reverently.
The look on her face had me chuckling. Nothing would stop her from taking a bath. So much for rest first. While she moved into the bathroom and turned on the water, I went to the couch.
We made it. Safe and sound. This place has decent security. We shouldn’t have any problems.
Good. Everything’s quiet here. We are leaving it up to Michelle if she still wants to go to the lawyer’s tomorrow.
I dropped my head into my hands, wondering if that was the best decision. Michelle wanted to protect her brothers above all else, even above her own safety. That Blake’s men had taken her from a hotel room showed the lengths they would go to retrieve her. When I’d first met Michelle, she’d said those hunting her wouldn’t stop; she was right.
How could I keep her safe if she chose to go to the lawyer’s office? Would the media be enough? Blake had already broken our laws by killing Richard in public. What would stop him from doing something tomorrow?
Michelle left the bathroom just then. I lifted my head and watched her walk through the room, looking around with a slightly troubled expression.
When our gazes met, her expression cleared and she came to sit beside me. She rested her head on my shoulder and gently touched my arm.
“Don’t dwell on the past. It doesn’t do any good,” she said.
She read me too easily.
I kissed her forehead. “Go take your bath.”
She gave me a quick hug then stood and wandered toward the bedroom. The troubled expression was back.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Just checking things out. Something seemed familiar, and I can’t figure out why.”
When she reached the bedroom doorway, she froze. I went to her and looked over her shoulder at the room. There was a single, big bed. Was she really worried about that now?
Her scent alternated between anxious and interested while her pulse beat erratically.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She whirled to face me, startled.
“Yep. Fine.” Her gaze dipped to my neck, she flushed, then quickly looked up again. “I’m going to rinse in the shower then take a nice long soak. Let me know when the food’s here, okay?”
She gave a nervous smile and started to step around