The woman held up a hand. “Listen, I know this isn’t the Ritz, but if she wants to stay here, she can. If she wants to leave, fine. It’s up to her.”
Savannah lifted her head from his chest and met Cole’s eyes. “Can you take me away from here?”
She couldn’t understand what she was asking for. Of course Cole wanted to take her far away from this place, from the first time he’d laid eyes on the rundown house. But protocol and not crossing professional boundaries stirred in the back of his head. He resisted the urge to smooth the tangled strands of hair from her face, but kept his arms locked around her middle. Savannah’s bloodied lip, swollen face, and the exhaustion he could read on her features told him now might not be the time to argue. “Okay. We can go.”
Tomorrow they’d figure everything out.
He lifted Savannah from the chair and held her like he had at the compound. And just as strong as before, the need to protect her flared up inside of him.
Carrying her out into the night, Cole opened the passenger door and helped her inside. He reached across her to buckle her seat belt. When his hands brushed her ribs, she startled, sucking in a shaky breath. He should probably check her over for injuries, assuming that she’d likely sustained some bumps and bruises, but his first priority was getting her out of here.
She was silent on the drive to his condo, not even asking where they were going. She implicitly trusted him. The feeling was heady.
He kept the radio low, he left Savannah to her thoughts, looking out the window as he drove. He snuck glances her way, wondering what she could possibly be thinking about. The awkward silence dug into his brain like a dripping faucet.
“This your first time in the city?” he asked.
Savannah kept her eyes on the passing buildings. “We didn’t leave the compound much.”
Of course. Stupid question. He tried again. “Does your head hurt? How about your ribs?”
She ran her fingers through her matted hair, checking the bump. “I think it’s okay now.”
At least she’d stopped crying. Nothing made him panic more than a woman crying.
When he parked in his assigned parking space and turned off the engine, a hushed silence fell over them in the confined space. His heart rate ramped up in sudden awareness of her. The light, feminine scent that clung to her skin, her petite frame, and the overwhelming desire to protect her— he couldn’t deny the possessive ache that raced through his system.
“Why did you pass out, Savannah?”
She swallowed heavily. “That place scared me. There were too many people…too many strange men…”
He nodded. It wasn’t lost on him that he was a strange man to her, yet here she was alone with him too. “This is where I live,” he said finally.
Her eyes widened. “You brought me home with you?”
“Is that okay?”
She studied him, her expression weary and unsure and squirmed in her seat.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t know where else to take you. Come inside, and if you decide not to stay, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
Seemingly satisfied, she climbed from the car.
Chapter 5
Savannah insisted she could walk, but Cole secured an arm around her waist and helped her inside. He tossed his keys onto the breakfast bar, retaining his hold on her.
He knew he shouldn’t keep her here. God, Norm and the guys would have a f**king field day with this one. Sure, he brought his work home most nights, but this was a hell of a lot different. She could sleep in his guest room tonight, and then he’d have to take her to another safe house in the morning. For now, he just wanted her to feel safe. If he needed to install a bigger lock on her bedroom door to help her feel safe, so be it. They could pick up some pepper spray too.
Cole took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The panic in her voice when she called had him wondering what exactly had happened once he left, but he didn’t want to push her. He had a good enough idea from the facility coordinator. She’d likely panicked at the thought of being alone. If the living conditions of the compound were any indication, she’d grown up surrounded by people at all times. He had half a mind to tuck Savannah safely into his bed and forget protocol.
Her eyes darted around his condo, seeming to take in her surroundings. “Come on.” He guided her down the hall. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He passed by the guest bath, knowing it wasn’t stocked with what he needed. At his bedroom door, she paused briefly, her feet stopping at the threshold, her eyes trained on the massive bed. “It’s okay,” he urged. “We’re just going into the master bath.”
Her eyes drifted to the open door across the room, and she gave a nod, allowing him to urge her forward. The muscles in her face tensed, but her feet started moving again.
He flipped on the light, and cursed his lack of cleanliness. Various bottles and jars littered the counter — shaving cream, aftershave, deodorant, toothpaste — everything within his grasp since he got ready for work on autopilot. He cleared a spot on the counter by sweeping everything into a drawer and then lifted Savannah onto the counter in front of him.
He wet a washcloth and carefully washed her face, wiping away the traces of dried blood. Her br**sts rose and fell with each shallow breath, and her wide green eyes watched his every move. They were inquisitive and bright with determination. He found himself drawn to her, wanting to discover all he could about the mysterious, beautiful girl who had grown up in a cult. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms in an effort to calm herself and regain some control over the situation. He could sense the desperation she felt, her outlook suddenly seeming quite bleak. He struggled to find words to soothe her, to reassure her, but came up short and instead just silently treated her injuries as best he could.