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circumstances.
    He pushed away from the window, drew his cell phone out of his pocket, and pressed the speed dial number for Strike.
    “Having fun babysitting?” Strike answered in an amused voice.
    “Loads.” Alec’s jaw tightened. “How are things going tonight?”
    “Quiet,” Strike said. “Not a damned thing happening other than the usual human criminal activities that we don’t deal with.”
    Like the calm before the storm, Alec thought. “Tomorrow isn’t going to be so quiet.”
    “I’m ready for a good fight.” The fierceness in Strike’s voice was convincing enough to make Alec hope that the Enforcer wasn’t going to search one out just for the sake of a brawl. “I want to be the one to take down Dawson.”
    “I plan to get to him before you ever have the chance.” Alec could picture himself ripping out the sorcerer’s throat and fury made his head ache. The bastard had gotten away tonight but he wouldn’t tomorrow.
    “You had your chance earlier.” Strike’s words were harsh but true. “Have you figured out what’s important about that human?”
    Alec let his breath out in a rush. “Not a damned clue.”
    “She’s a liability.” Strike made a growling sound. “Max needs his head rotated to get it on straight.”
    Alec shook his head. “Why don’t you share that little observation with him?”
    “I just might,” Strike said.
    “I’ll let you get your ass back on the job,” Alec said.
    “And you make sure and enjoy your babysitting detail,” Strike said with a laugh.
    “Screw you.”
    “I’m taken.”
    Alec snorted and disconnected the call. He spent the next hour contacting the other members of his team and to a one they were having an unusually quiet night.
    When he finished, he turned out the lights and headed up the stairs planning to go to his study.
    He reached the top of the stairs and couldn’t help but look toward the guestroom where Loni was probably in bed. The door was ajar and he found himself moving toward it. The latch didn’t always close properly and she probably didn’t even realize it was open.
    The room was dark but he could see easily enough with his enhanced sight. He had expected to see her form beneath the blankets but instead she was sitting on the edge of the bed.
    She looked up at him but didn’t say anything.
    “This door doesn’t always close right.” Alec cleared his throat. “Just wanted to shut it for you.”
    “Please don’t close it. Please don’t go.” Her throat worked. “After today I don’t want to be alone. At least not tonight.” Moisture glistened in her eyes and she looked down.
    He nearly groaned aloud. It wasn’t one damned bit fair when a woman cried.
    “Hey.” He strode across the floor and crouched in front of her. He took her hands in his. They were warm and so soft. “It’s going to be all right.” What was going to be all right he didn’t know, it just seemed like the right thing to say.
    “Is it?” A tear rolled down her cheek as she looked at him. “Am I going to get to go back to my life? Will I be able to forget what happened with that—man?”
    “I don’t know.” All he could do was be honest. He didn’t know what plans the Powers That Be had for her so he couldn’t promise her anything. “I can never tell what the plan is.”
    “Then stay with me.” Another tear trickled from her eye.
    He took a deep breath. “Get under the covers and scoot over.” He kicked off his shoes but left his jeans and T-shirt on. He wasn’t going to take advantage of a woman who was in the state that Loni was.
    When she was over far enough, he slid under the covers with her. “Turn over with your back to me.” She obeyed and he put his arm around her waist. She moved back against him, as if needing the closeness.
    His cock hardened at the feel of her soft bottom against him. She smelled so good, felt so good. He held his breath and tried not to move.
    “Thank you,” she murmured and he felt her relax.