Chapter Sixty-Nine

“If you like, you can join us on our morning runs, Jo,” one of the young marines who had been keeping her company said.

Joey smiled and held onto the expression even when she noticed Rory’s arrival.

The workout had calmed Lena down enough to let Joey take over. And so, she and Westlake had gone to the mess hall for a late breakfast.

The friendly group of marines she had joined chatted on about their training as she surreptitiously watched Rory’s almost reluctant approach.

Something was up.

She pointed at the coffee she’d gotten for him and made room for him to sit beside her. He sure was worried about something. Patting his thigh affectionately, she wondered what it could be. She knew he had gone to speak with the base’s commanding officer.

Bad news, probably.

He was quiet as she introduced him to Corporal Jack Simms, the leader of the group they shared the table with. They were a boisterous bunch of career military men and women who apparently had no trouble accepting civilians in their midst.

With a tense smile, he reached for her hand and squeezed it. “We need to talk,” he told her quietly, leaning close.

That sounded pretty serious.

She met his gaze. “Sure.”

Holding her hand as they excused themselves, he led to one side of the mess hall. At a big window overlooking the dense forest, he stood behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. But he didn’t feel relaxed.

Trepidation filled her. This couldn’t be good.

“Okay. Hit me with it. I’m ready.” She rolled her head along his shoulder so she could look back at him. Despite everything, she enjoyed the easy, comfortable way they were able to touch each other without sexual intent. Though, yeah, she wished there was more of that kind, too…

“The admiral discovered some disturbing facts about Jonathan Creed,” Rory said. “Let’s just say there might be more behind all this than him playing his sick mental games.”

Creed. Of course.

She should have known the bastard was responsible for getting Rory upset. It really was time to cue Rory in on what was going on with that. She hated to see him worried like this. But it would all be over soon. They would make sure of that.

He looked at her as if he was afraid to set her off. “You might not be safe here on the base, after all. The admiral is looking into different options.”

Well, crap. Not again. She was getting tired of constantly being on the move. Especially when it was proving essentially useless. “Why? What’s going on?” she asked with a frown. Damn it. She wanted this whole mess over with. She wanted Creed dead and gone. Fast.

“This new information might force us to change our strategy. Otherwise, you’ll never be safe.”

That was the whole point of killing Creed. Staying on the run wasn’t helping anything, but how was she going to explain that to Rory without ticking him off? Damn the man.

She waved a hand. “So catch him or kill him, whichever is easier.”

“That is the plan, but your safety comes first.”

If he weren’t being so nice, she might be annoyed. She was fully capable of taking care of herself. “We both know it’s me he wants,” she said. “Why not just use me as bait?” Which was her plan, regardless…one way or the other.

“Forget it, Joey. Not happening.” He pulled her a little closer against his chest. “We’ll get him some other way. I won’t risk your safety.”

Something inside her melted at his protectiveness. She knew there was a reason she liked him.

“You’re so sweet sometimes,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “Misguided, but sweet.” Her hand on his cheek, she looked him straight in the eye. “We know he’s after me. The risk is already there. I don’t see why we don’t use that against him.”

“No.”

“But—”

“That’s final.” Clearly, he wouldn’t bend on this point. “I won’t endanger you even more than you already are.”

How on earth was she going to get him to be reasonable about this?

She gave it another stab. “Honey, I was in the care of a crazy shrink with a God complex, for crying out loud. It can’t get any more dangerous than that.”

Behind them the marines were steadily filing out of the mess hall to resume their duties. She barely spared them a glance.

“We can’t just sit on our thumbs until he reveals himself. From what you told me, he doesn’t mess up much.”

“Not usually,” Rory agreed. “But he did just a couple of days ago. You shot him.” Before she could correct him, he conceded, “Fine, Lena did. Either way, it’s bound to have pissed him off and made him even more determined.”

She bit her lip, wondering how to break it to him that, even though unplanned, their last encounter with Creed wasn’t exactly a fluke. Somehow, she doubted Rory would take it well. It didn’t help, either, that she was pretty sure Creed was going to try again.

Soon.

“I want you safe,” he insisted. That was all it boiled down to. For him, anyway.

“I am safe.” As safe as she was ever going to be as long as that bastard Creed was alive. Now all she had to do was make Rory believe it. “We’re surrounded by a whole bunch of soldiers, Rory. What could he possibly do to me here?”

Well, a lot, actually. And he would definitely try.

That was her hope, anyway.

No sense in letting Rory in on that little fact, though. Not yet. He’d just panic.

“They’re marines, not soldiers,” Rory said.

She rolled her eyes at his automatic correction. “Whatever.”

“And Creed’s a sneaky son of a bitch. He’ll find a way.” No doubt figuring he’d won the discussion, Rory slowly pulled away from her and looked around the mess hall. “Let’s get out of here.”

For a moment she considered arguing some more but had a strong feeling it would be useless. “Okay, okay. I still think you’re being stubborn.” She shrugged. “Anyway. What now?”