“What—” His lips silence me. His tongue delves into my mouth, and his hand palms the back of my neck. The unexpected kiss steals my breath. This kiss speaks volumes. He wants me. He is my protector. And he will be back. This thing between us is something I don’t need to question.

CHAPTER 24

Alex

“Why don’t you sound more excited?” Sabrina’s question is reasonable.

I should be thrilled. The prominent headline of the day is “Sophia Sullivan Home Safe.” The news is abuzz with the record one-hundred-million-dollar reward paid for the information that led to her safe recovery.

More questions have been placed on who won the reward and the long-term ramifications of such a high reward than on the specifics of the case, but my guess is Jack hasn’t authorized much information to be released to the public. His goal will be for the media buzz to die down. The media doesn’t seem aware that the person arrested in connection with her kidnapping committed suicide or was potentially murdered while awaiting arraignment.

“Sophia is safe, but she’s still going to have so much to go through. This ordeal is hardly over for her.” I limit my response with Sabrina out of respect for Jack’s wishes. He’ll control the narrative as long as he can.

“The article I read said that the FBI is still investigating persons of interest related to the case. It’s still considered an open investigation.”

“That’s true.” I had a very similar conversation with Timothy earlier, only our conversation also included reviewing the upcoming exam and double-checking he reviewed all the concepts while covering for me.

Trace lifts his head, then bounds off the bed, letting out a series of shrill barks as he runs through the house. It’s late in the evening, but I’ve already put on my pajamas and prepared for bed.

Trace’s incessant barking doesn’t stop. Someone is probably walking their dog by my house. As I stretch an arm out, it strikes me that’s nonsensical. Trace leaped off the bed. He doesn’t have a view of the front of the house from my bed. Is someone at the door?

I end the call with Sabrina, promising to meet her for coffee in the morning, and shuffle through the den. A deeper knock mixes with the shrill rapid-fire barks. Trace’s tail wags back and forth frantically, and his front paws rest on the wood.

I unlock the front door, leaving the chain latch on, and crack the door open the few inches the chain allows. A hulking dark form shifts and blocks my view of the late evening dusk. Trace ceases barking and sits, his little tail wagging.

My gaze travels up a wide, familiar chest, to an unshaven, grizzled jaw, to Wayfarer sunglasses. My heart cinches. Breath escapes.

“Ryan?”

He lifts the sunglasses, and those light blue irises take me in.

“You gonna let me in?” His question snaps me out of my daze.

I push the door closed, slide the chain off, and open the door wide. Ryan’s wearing the same outfit from earlier today. His eyes are slightly bloodshot, and there’s an air of weariness about him. I step back to let him in. His trousers fit tightly over his shapely, firm ass. His broad shoulders exhibit perfect posture as always.