Burned Hearts by Calista Fox Page B

made it worse. I didn’t want him stressing about what might be happening here. More than that, I wanted him safe.
    I said, “I have Kyle. Take Amano.”
    â€œNo, Ari. I’m not taking any chances. They both stay with you. And you do exactly as they say. Even Kyle.”
    My eyes bulged. Hadn’t seen that one coming.
    â€œHe’ll take care of you,” Dane said with confidence, “look after you. He won’t let anything happen to you.”
    â€œThis is serious, Ari,” Kyle chimed in. “The Feds need Dane. Even though they’ll have him covered, you know he’s too Die Hard to end up in anyone’s crosshairs, now that he knows he can’t trust his network. He can take care of himself.”
    I couldn’t dispute that. It didn’t settle me, though. More tears flooded my eyes. “You don’t have to go right this very second.”
    â€œActually, we do,” Strauss said. He’d briefly been on his phone, issuing instructions to someone on the other end. Now he returned his attention to us and added, “Expect Agents Price and Johnson shortly. They’ll coordinate with Amano. No one else comes through your gates.”
    â€œMy dad!” I hastily blurted. “I haven’t seen him—”
    â€œFaceTime or Skype,” Dane said. “We don’t want him or Jackson anywhere near here. They’ve been of no interest to anyone—particularly Horton. Let’s keep it that way.”
    â€œSo we’re sequestered, too,” I lamented.
    â€œWitness protection comes with perks,” Kyle told me, trying to lighten the mood. “We haven’t streamed the current season of The Walking Dead on Netflix.”
    I tried to grin. Failed miserably. “I’ll stay put,” I vowed to Dane.
    He released my hand. Cupped the side of my face. “I need you to be safe. I need you to keep our baby safe. That’s what I’m asking of you.”
    I choked down the emotion swelling in my throat. “Swear you’ll come back. Because I know you’re determined to keep your promises from now on.” More tears pooled. Pain lanced through me.
    â€œYou know I will,” he said with conviction in his tone, in his beautiful emerald eyes.
    No, I didn’t know that. But I couldn’t torment him with my fears. Every tiny facet of our lives was but a thin strand of webbing that could easily be ripped away. I had to live with that reality. Because as I’d told him, I chose this.
    â€œAri, I love you.”
    I fought the body-wracking sobs threatening me, making me shake. I couldn’t even hug him without hurting him.
    â€œThis is so fucked up,” I said.
    â€œYes. But not for long. It’s almost over. Just stay strong for me.” He kissed me fiercely, to hell with our audience. Then he pulled away and added, “Stay strong for the baby. Figure out a name for him.”
    â€œWe should go,” Daugherty said in a quiet, respectful—even remorseful—tone.
    My eyelids squeezed shut for a moment. I tried to compose myself, to no avail.
    Kyle moved in, nudging me with his elbow. “He’ll be back before Kid’s even born and wondering what the hell you did all day when there’s no nursery set up. Let’s get cracking. Unless you’re planning on propping up your feet and popping bonbons all day long.”
    I glared at him through the mist I couldn’t contain. “Don’t you have some squats to do? Barbells to lift?”
    He laughed, albeit tightly. As though my being shredded to the core over another of Dane’s absences shredded him as well.
    Amano said to Dane, “I’m stuck with their bickering. I’m not sure you’re paying me enough.”
    Dane kissed me on the cheek. “Play nice so Amano doesn’t quit on us.”
    As if that would ever happen. The man was the epitome of devotion. But I said, “I’ll