He gave us a polite nod and disappeared into the shadows. I eyed the faint heat of his body until he disappeared into a car, then said, “Shall we go back to the hotel and wait for fate to throw us another surprise?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Jackson touched a hand to my spine, lightly guiding me across the road to our SUV. “Do you want to grab something to eat on the way there, or just order room service?”

“The latter.” I paused. “I also think we need to ring Baker and update him on events. He needs to know he’s looking for two people, not just one.”

Jackson nodded as he pulled out of the parking spot. “Might as well do that now; otherwise, we might just get a polite confrontation from them.”

I pulled my phone out of my purse and did just that, then shoved the phone away and yawned hugely. “Sorry. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Jackson glanced at me as he pulled out of the parking spot. “Dreams? Or ugly memories resurfacing?”

“Again, the latter.” I didn’t bother telling him they were his memories as much as mine. I doubted he’d believe me.

“So much for saying you’re okay.”

“Nightmares are a natural part of any traumatic event, Jackson. It’s often the brain’s way of trying to make sense of what happened.” I paused. “As I’ve said, I’ve learned how to cope, but I’ll go to a therapist if it becomes evident I need to. But you’ve got to promise me to do the same.”

“But I wasn’t—”

“You were,” I cut in. “And it would have felt even more invasive for you because you had no warning. At least I knew what was going to happen and could fortify myself mentally against it.”

He didn’t immediately say anything. “And physically?”

I felt like reaching out and shaking him. “I’m sore, as you can imagine. But that, too, will heal with time and patience.”

He nodded, and we drove on in silence. Once we were back at the hotel, we ordered our meal; then I took a long shower, needing to wash the dust and grime of the day away. And wished I could so easily do the same to the lingering physical reminders of both Frederick’s and Hunt’s attacks. But as I’d said to Jackson, that would eventually come.

Once we’d eaten, Jackson set up the sensor alarm again; then we climbed into bed, where he took me into his arms, kissed me tenderly, and held me as we both drifted into sleep.

We were woken rather abruptly a few hours later by the sharp ringing of a phone. Jackson swore and flung out an arm, groping for the damn thing.