Save Me If You Can Read Free Page B

doesn’t exactly feel good, Savi.”
    At that, her eyebrows lifted, and concern replaced anger in her expression. “It’s probably time for a dose of painkillers. Those will let you sleep as well, or I can just give you a shot, to numb the pain.”
    “Pills, please.”
    Savi nodded, then turned to where Harrison assumed she’d been sitting, waiting for him to wake up. He watched as she unzipped a bag on the table, removing a small bottle of pills. She took out two, and deposited them in his hand before she poured him a cup of water.
    He downed the pills quickly, crunching them on the way so they would enter his blood stream faster, then used the water to clear the bitter taste from his mouth. When he was done, he handed the cup to Savi, who tossed it back onto the table without looking at it.
    She was too busy looking at him , and Harrison took a deep breath, because he knew she was about to ask him something he couldn’t answer. Still… when she stepped a bit closer to the edge of the bed, and eased her hand into his, he accepted her palm and squeezed tight.
    “ Harrison ,” she whispered, in an urgent, desperate tone that made his heart clench. “Just tell me. What are you involved wi—”
    “You know I can’t—”
    “Bullshit.” Her voice was laced with disgust as she shoved his hand away, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to hear about going against protocol, or classified information. Look around you ! Whatever cover you have, it’s blown. Everybody here has alphabet soup behind their name, Harrison, remember that. FBI, CIA, and not to mention the hackers… they will know everything about you in less than a day, if they haven’t figured it all out already.”
    “Stop talking! If this room is bugged—”
    “You’re not listening! Whatever your mission was… it’s done. You’re in hostile territory here, no escape. It’s over.”
    Harrison lifted a hand to swipe his face. “It’s not. But I can’t tell you anything else.”
    She sucked her teeth, and started to move away, but pain be damned, Harrison sat up, snatching her by the hand and dragging her close again. “Savannah, listen to me. I am trying to protect you here. You’ve never seemed to understand that, but it’s always been about protecting you. The less you know, the better.”
    “And you never seem to understand that I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
    Tugging her closer still, Harrison lifted her hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to her fingers. “I know that, Secret Agent Badass Briggs.” She shook her head, but the downturned corners of her mouth twitched like she wanted to smile. “But that doesn’t have anything to do with me not wanting you involved in my shit.” The end of his sentence came out in a slur, and for a second he panicked as his head filled with clouds. But then, the dimming pain from his leg reminded him of the painkiller beginning to course through his system.
    His grip on Savi’s hand loosened, and she slipped it away, giving him a gentle nudge back onto his pillows. She arranged and fluffed – fussing over him, which he hated, but after so many years of not seeing that gorgeous face, it was certainly something he would willingly endure. “If something happened to you because of me,” he mumbled, unsure if his words were coherent or not, “I wouldn’t… I woul—”
    “ Shhh. ” Savi pressed a finger to his lips, then gifted him with a tiny smile, which he returned. He was so glad to see her. One good thing out of all of this.
    No.
    Two good things.
    At least the kids were safe.
    Inwardly, he smiled.
    Yes, the girls, Kennedy and Taylor, were both in the care of people who could, and would protect them from the reach of Terry King.
    “Sleep,” Savi repeated, her breath sweet, and her voice soft as she leaned over him, meeting his eyes. “Please, get some rest. Sleep.”
    So… he did.
     
    &
     
    Deep, chest rending sobs pulled Renata from the fitful sleep