She huffed out a sigh but gave an abbreviated rundown—a story she’d no doubt already told the police.Boone noted that she stayed close to him, rather than the officers who’d arrived.Radley felt safe with him, whether she realized it or not.
His gaze swept over her, assessing.It was hard to believe she’d been perfectly fine an hour ago and then attacked mere feet away from her front door.Anger wound through him.He never should’ve let her come home alone.It was a mistake he wouldn’t make again.
Boone’s phone buzzed, and he lifted it to his ear.
“How is she?”Holt barked.
“Radley seems to be fine, just shaken up.Several police officers are here in her condo taking a report.Forensics and other officers are in the hallway.The guy escaped before anyone got here.”
“Stay with her,” Holt ordered.
“That was already my plan,” Boone assured him.
Boone hung up, his gaze settling on Radley once more.Just seeing her soothed something inside him.Being around her gave Boone something he hadn’t even realized he needed.He worked alone.He was happy in his life.Successful.But he couldn’t deny that being near her stirred up all sorts of feelings he hadn’t expected.Emotions he couldn’t control.
“The boss was making sure you were okay,” he explained in a low voice.
She nodded, then looked to the police.“Are we almost through here?”
“Yes, ma’am.We’ll review the surveillance footage,” one of the officers told her.“There was blood at the scene, so hopefully we’ll get an ID on your attacker.The lab will run it through CODIS.Any prints retrieved will go through AFIS.If he has a record, it’ll be easy to ID him.”
Radley bit her lip, nodding.“I’m a former agency employee.It’s possible he works there,” she added.
The officer frowned, making another note.“Are you okay to stay here tonight?You said that you live alone.There’s a possibility the suspect might come back.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Boone snapped.
Radley didn’t argue.“I’ll be fine,” she told the officers.“Trust me, I work with an entire team of overprotective alpha males.I’ll probably never have a moment alone again until this guy is arrested.”
They finally departed, telling Radley and Boone that the forensics team would still be working in the stairwell and that they’d be in touch soon.When they were finally gone, Radley let out a shaky sigh, locking the door behind them.Boone’s heart stuttered.She was putting up a brave front, but he could see she was still rattled.
Trying to put her at ease, his gaze swept the room.“Nice place.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“I’m serious,” he said.“I’ve got a bunch of boxes at my apartment.You’ve already settled in, and I’ve barely even unpacked.”
“Typical man,” she said, but her laughter was more subdued than usual.
Radley headed toward the kitchen, Boone following her like he’d done so every day of his life.It was weird to feel so at home in a place he’d never been before.While she had just moved in, it felt comfortable here.She had furniture.Shiny new appliances in the kitchen.A few knick-knacks lying around.
It was her, he realized.Something about Radley made Boone feel like he could be himself.She didn’t let him boss her around, which both amused and annoyed him.His reactions to her were a walking contradiction.She was sexy as hell, stirring all his base desires, but he also wanted to wrap her up and protect her, shielding her from the world.
“You want something to eat?”she asked.“I was going to heat up some leftover pizza before I got...sidetracked.”
“Sure, unless you’d rather I order us some food.”
She turned to face him, raising her eyebrows.“Are you offering to buy me dinner, Boone?”
“Are you always going to argue with me, Radley?”he countered.
She rolled her eyes.“It was just a question.”
She turned and opened a cabinet, stretching to grab something from the top shelf, and Boone stilled, fisting his hands.The soft material of her sweater had ridden up, and he spotted the bruises on her side—an angry purple, blueish hue from a fresh injury, the colors marring her creamy skin.
“You’re hurt.”His voice was gruff.Pained.He sucked in some air, trying to remain calm, before his deep baritone filled the space.“He hurt you.”
Radley turned toward him slowly, the item in the cabinet forgotten.Her face was perfectly expressionless.“He tried to hurt me,” she said, her voice cool.“He shoved me into the door of the stairwell.”