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Half an hour later, Lauren stood at the door of her apartment, Royce by her side He leaned in and kissed her "Let ood about the bodyguard routine right now," she said "Feel free" She pressed her key into his pal, he felt around her doorjaainst the wall, knowing all too well that he was looking for some sort of trip wire or surveillance equipment It was overkill, she told herself, suspicion and caution built into his blood by a lifeti But deep down, caution felt right, and that

The aze dropped, he squatted then stood, having retrieved an envelope "Does your dooro?"

Lauren stepped toward hi for it She half expected him to resist "No You’ve seen how he hovers" To her disain, as she fumbled with the seal and opened the envelope Inside she found a single sheet of paper that appeared to be a calendar

"Today’s date is marked off," Royce observed from over her shoulder "Any idea what itit? What about evidence?"

"There won’t be any," he said, as if he were sure

Her heart hammered in her chest as she let him take the piece of paper froround

Drawn to Royce’s strength, she studied his profile as he exa and intense He bent down and picked up the dropped envelope, inserting the page back inside

When he spoke, his voice was unaffected He seeht now "I need to check out the rest of the apartment" He reached out and smoothed a piece of wild hair behind her ear "Stay put"

It wasn’t a question, and though taking orders normally wasn’t her cup of tea, it suited her just fine if it o inside alone She nodded and leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling exhausted The adrenaline high fro off to be replaced with stark fear

Royce waited to pull out his gun until he stepped inside the door He didn’t want to upset Lauren any further, and right now, things that wouldn’t norht She was just that rattled, and that sensitive

He searched the apartut Gathering his thoughts, he stood in the bedroo to Lauren’s side He wasn’t sure eighed on him more heavily, Lauren’s safety or the fact that he knew she didn’t give trust or control easily, but she was giving it to hi he was bound to hide the secret pact with her father until this blew over Part of him even wondered if he could si all too well that he’d end up captive to her father, and even h his hair, he let out a loud breath Then he heard Lauren’s voice "Royce?"