Escalation - Tessa Teevan Page 0,13
she asks. “Why couldn’t you just be honest with me?”
I sigh. “In my line of work, honesty’s the worst policy. It can get you killed. I had to protect my cover, and I had to keep you safe. I’ll apologize for a lot of things, but I refuse to apologize for that.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m not asking you to apologize. I’m just asking for the truth.”
I let out a heavy sigh as I run a hand through my hair. I owe her this much. “Jesus…I don’t even know where to start.”
“How about with your real name?”
A small smile plays on my lips. “Brie, I may have lied about some things, but every time you cried out Rafe, you were calling my name. I am Rafe Matthews. That much is true.”
“Then why did he call you Agent Phillips?” she asks with a confused frown.
Just as I’m about to answer, there’s a knock on the door. An older man pokes his head in and smiles wide when he sees Brie sitting up. He pushes the door open and walks inside.
“Ah, I heard the patient was awake! You gave us quite a scare, young lady,” he tells her. “And this one? I thought we were going to have to call security the way he was incessantly asking my nurses about his beloved girlfriend.”
Brie opens her mouth to protest, but no sound comes out. Instead, a tight smile crosses her lips. “He can be quite insufferable, Doctor. You may want to keep security on your speed-dial.”
The doctor lets out a barking laugh, unaware of the tension swirling in the air around us. Ignoring her comment, I stand and move away as he comes around to her side while flipping her chart open.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
Brie flushes then smiles warmly at him. “Alive,” she quips.
He laughs. “That you are, Ms. Latham. But more specifically?”
Her eyes flick to me as she bites her lower lip. “Umm…I feel okay, I guess. Tired, with a bit of a headache. My throat is sore, and my lungs feel as if there’s a heavy weight on them.”
“All of that is to be expected from someone in your…situation. Still, your vitals look good, and if you don’t have any other complaints, I think we can see about getting you discharged. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable recovering at home.” He turns to me. “That is, of course, if you’ll be there to monitor her. It’s not uncommon for nearly drowning victims to have seizures. I don’t believe she will have one, as she hasn’t at this point, but I’d feel much more comfortable allowing her to go home if she is in your care.”
I nod profusely, silently thanking the man for making this so much easier. If I had to have carried a kicking-and-screaming Brie into my apartment and then tie her to my bed to make sure she didn’t leave, I would have.
“Absolutely, sir. I won’t let her leave my sight for a single minute,” I assure him.
Brie clears her throat, and the doctor looks down at her. Her eyes meet mine. Then she gestures for him to come closer. Once he’s leaned in, she whispers in his ear. He nods then pats her shoulder. Curiosity furls in my belly, low and unsettling as I wonder what she said to him that she couldn’t have said out loud. When he informs us that he’ll be right back, she falls back against her pillow.
As soon as he exits the room, Brie crosses her arms and glares at me. I nearly duck from the daggers she’s shooting.
“You have another thing coming if you think I’m going home with you. Or anywhere with you, for that matter.”
Even though it shouldn’t, her defiance turns me on. My dick strains against my dress pants, and I have to discreetly adjust myself. But I wasn’t so discreet, apparently, because her eyes widen and she shakes her head. I would probably do the same to any other guy in this position. She’s in the damn hospital. For a moment, I hang my head in shame, then shake it off and get back to the matter at hand.
I place my hands on my hips, pushing my suit jacket back, and look down at her. “You heard the doctor. Unless you want to stay here longer, you’re coming home with me. I may have almost failed last night, but I can and I will protect you, Brie. Until Morningstar is found and we figure out what his