Mission: Impossible to Protect (The Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 6), стр. 26
He allowed Luna into the safe house only because they were about to change locations. It was never good to stay in one place when you were dealing with a powerful cartel with eyes and ears throughout LA. He had Reeves vet Luna a second time, knowing that Reeves had already run a search previously at Danni’s request.
Luna Star was proving to be more interesting than expected. Real name Amelia Farnsworth, East Coast old money, dramatic lifestyle changes when her mother died eight months ago; changed her name to “Luna Star,” had been a rising new talent before dropping out of RISD, the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design.
Lars had his men drive the most circuitous route through LA to ensure that Luna would have no way of finding the house again and to prevent a cartel tail—impossible to be too careful, given the long reach of the world’s largest cartel. He assumed that the cartel was watching Hardy to find Danni. He didn’t think they were watching the band or Luna, but he was taking no chances.
Danni’s warm look of appreciation when he announced Luna’s upcoming massage was forever burned into his brain. Danni had never looked at him with such admiration. Caring for him at the hospital, she was gentle and compassionate, but she had never looked at him as if he might be a man worthy of her love.
In a mind-blowing, crazy in a “what the hell is happening” way, he wanted more of her glowing approval. He was shocked that by pleasing her in a total nonsexual way, it pleased him too. He was fucked this way to Sunday. Once he told her the truth, all the admiration gleaming in her incredible eyes would disappear. He’d be back to the top of her shit list. He had arranged her massage because he truly didn’t want her to be in pain but also to enable her to sit on the six-hour flight. He knew from experience that nothing was worse than sitting for a prolonged time when you had back spasms.
He hurried away from the door when his phone rang, not wanting to disturb the massage. He glanced down at the cell’s screen—no fricking way, another call by Danni’s posse. After sleeping in the chair in Danni’s room for the last two nights, if you could call it sleeping, he wasn’t in the best of moods. His building frustration from long nights near Danni, without being able to touch her, made him more than cranky. And to add to his crappy mood, before he had his morning Joe, the phone calls started despite Danni having access to a burner phone to call her friends.
He clicked his phone.
“Hey, Soph, nothing changed since I last talked to you.”
Okay, he gave up the pretense of being charming. He was too damn tired of listening to her friends/amateurs explain to him that Danni could be protected better in Seattle, where she could also get the support and pampering that she needed from her friends. And, of course, why he shouldn’t be in charge since he and Danni didn’t get along. What was this, middle school?
“She’s not answering her phone because she’s still in her massage.” God save him from girlfriends.
No one under his command questioned his ability to handle a mission. He was highly trained to separate his emotions from his job. Hell, he was a Special Forces operator. And he was damn tired of the women implying that he couldn’t protect Danni. Another reason why he didn’t need a woman in his life. You didn’t just get her family when you became seriously involved; you also got the bonus of all her girlfriends.
“I’ll tell her you called.” He didn’t say aloud “again,” but he sure as hell thought it. “I know she’ll want to talk to you too.”
All of them: Jordan, Sophie, Izzy, and even Emily in Hawaii called to express their concern that he shouldn’t be the one in charge of Danni’s detail. Since they were involved with his brothers, the women felt it gave them carte blanche to voice their opinions.
By default, he had acquired more sisters than he ever wanted. Each exchange had the same “concerned” theme. Didn’t anyone remember that Miro had Danni’s driver’s license with her Seattle address? And also, the psychopath had Danni’s phone with her full contacts list, making all the women at risk by association. He kept it to himself that Miro liked to use his knife to get up nice and close to his victims. The conclusion was a no-brainer: Danni wouldn’t be returning to Seattle until he deemed it safe.
Lars had just slid his phone into his jean pocket when it buzzed again. He dug the nuisance back out and glanced at the screen. Reeves again.
Reeves sided with the women but didn’t openly criticize Lars, though he projected an undercurrent of unease and disapproval. Just because Lars didn’t get serious with women didn’t mean he wasn’t respectful. His mamma was one tough woman and demanded respect for all women from all her sons.
“Yes, New York. No, I’m not changing my mind. No more discussion. Just do it.” Lars hung up. He couldn’t believe that even Reeves was against him.
Without sleep, Lars was tempted to point out to Reeves that, as an employee, it wasn’t his place to question. What stopped Lars was Reeves’s genuine care for Danni. It was Reeves’s judgement that saved her from disaster by sending Lars to LA.
Lars pivoted quickly, suddenly aware of another person.
Luna Star waited outside Danni’s closed door.
“I’m so glad that I was able to come to your house. Danni really needed the adjustment. The fall must have