The Intelligence Unit Series

Addison pulled up in front of the tidy, nondescript storefront emblazoned with a sign reading Martial Arts Academy in glossy green letters. They hadn't wanted to waste any time getting Chloe set up here once she'd decided to stay. Rather than going back to Chloe's place, which was still being checked by forensics for any fingerprints or other evidence Bishop might have inadvertently left behind, Grace had gone to the nearest superstore to pick up clothes, pajamas, and toiletries. Seeing her had seemed to bolster Chloe's spirits at least a little, and by the time Chloe, Ryan, and Addison had slipped out of the rear entrance to the precinct with Chloe's hair tucked under one of Addison's knit hats and Maxwell and Garza on either side of her to shield her from view, she was mostly calm. Ryan had been supportive but unusually quiet, and while right now, Chloe was Addison's main concern, she couldn't help but worry about Ryan, too.

"Here we are," Addison said, cutting the engine and getting out of the car. Master Ah-lam's place stood on a neatly kept semi-residential city block, nestled between a dry cleaners and a block of four apartments. The dojang housed the entire first level, with two large, open classrooms taking up the front of the space and smaller, private training rooms in the back. Addison knew every inch of the place by heart, the mats and mirrors and training spaces far more of a home than the apartment where she'd grown up. Master Ah-lam lived in the apartment above the dojang, the rooms there equally familiar to Addison, and a pang moved through her as she walked Chloe and Ryan to the threshold.

"The dojang is obviously closed now," she said, and Chloe's brows furrowed.

"The what?"

Addison smiled. "Sorry. It's a Korean term used to describe a place of formal training." She gestured to the large windows facing the street. Even though the blinds were closed, it was easy to see that only the backup lights were on and the place was shut tight for the evening. "That's where the Tae Kwon Do classes are held."

"Oh." Chloe looked at her. "Did you take lessons there?"

The memory of the first time she'd ever stood on this threshold rose up from her memory, making her heart squeeze. "I've done a lot of training here, yes," Addison said. "You'll be very safe with Master Ah-lam." Turning toward the small vestibule tucked away beside the much larger entrance to the dojang, Addison pressed the single buzzer beside the letterbox next to the door.

"May I help you?" came a voice that would never fail to comfort Addison, and she smiled despite the seriousness of what had brought her here.

"It's Addison," she said. "I've got your guest with me."

"Ah, come up. Come up."

The security lock clicked open, and Addison held the door. "Master Ah-lam owns the building, so she's the only one with a key," she said, noting the way the news made Chloe's shoulders relax by just an inch. "That's good, right, Ry?"

"Absolutely," he said. But his shoulders had gained the torque that Chloe's had lost, and Addison fought the desire to reach out and comfort him.

They climbed a flight of narrow wooden stairs, with Chloe leading the way. Master Ah-lam appeared at the top of the steps, the door to her apartment ajar behind her, and smiled down at them.

"You must be Chloe," she said as Chloe reached the landing, taking both of Chloe's hands in her own. "I'm Ah-lam. I'm pleased to have you as a guest."

Chloe blinked, and honestly, Addison couldn't blame her. It was still one of the biggest mysteries in Addison's world that this tiny Asian woman with the kind eyes and the graying bun twisted neatly at her nape could fell a two hundred-seventy pound man like a sapling. A stereotypical fourth-degree black belt, she was not.

"Hi," Chloe said. "It's nice to meet you."

"Come in," Master Ah-lam said. "Your brother, too."

Ryan greeted Master Ah-lam, shaking her hand as he introduced himself. He followed Chloe into the apartment, but Addison waited on the threshold to be bowed in. Master Ah-lam turned in the doorway to face her fully, returning Addison's bow and smiling. "It's good to see you," she said, hugging Addison with strength that never failed to surprise her.

"You, too," Addison said. "Thank you for helping us out."

"We always protect those who need it," Master Ah-lam said, sending a serene smile in Addison's direction. After Sinclair had okayed the arrangement, Addison had filled Master Ah-lam in as much as she could without compromising the confidentiality of Chloe's case. Chloe staying here was more precaution and strategy than anything else. Because there had been no overt threat to her life, she didn't qualify for the sort of full-scale protective custody that required a guard twenty-four/seven. But they wanted to keep her safe, and they wanted to throw Bishop off his game, make him desperate enough to find Chloe that he'd slip up.

And when he did, Addison would be there to take him down.

"Would you like a cup of tea before I show you to your room?" Master Ah-lam asked Chloe.

She shook her head, looking about fifty years older than she had when she'd walked into the Thirty-Third a few hours ago. "No, thank you. I think I'd just like to go to bed, if that's okay?" "Of course. You've had a difficult day."

"We'll let you get settled in," Addison said, waiting as Ryan handed off Chloe's bag and hugged her tight, before turning to Master Ah-lam. "You'll call if you need anything?"

The older woman smiled. "You'll be the first to know." To Chloe, she said, "Let's get you some rest."

Addison and Ryan made it the few steps to the front door before he turned back around. "Thank you again. Your keeping Chloe safe means a lot to me. To my family. So....really. Thank you."

Master Ah-lam dipped her head in acknowledgment, her smile staying calmly in place. "If Addison thinks this is where Chloe belongs right now, then I believe it, too. You're welcome, Ryan. She'll be safe here."

"I'll call you in the morning," Addison said, bowing to Master Ah-lam and slipping out the door. She led the way down the steps, letting Ryan pass through the outer door before pulling it shut behind them both to be sure it was secure. "It's been a really long day," she said. "Are you on shift tomorrow?"

Ryan shook his head. "No. I'm supposed to be, but I told Hawk and Captain Bridges I had some personal stuff to take care of. I wanted to be around in case Chloe needed me, and to be honest, I don't think I could keep my head on straight if we ended up on a big call."

"Understandable." For as often as he ate adrenaline, egg, and cheese sandwiches for breakfast, it was a totally different ballgame when someone you loved was involved. "Why don't I just drop you off at home so you don't have to go all the way back to the precinct for your car? I can give you a ride to go pick it up on my way in tomorrow."

For a second, Ryan looked like he'd protest. But then, "You know what? Yeah. That would be great. Thanks."

Addison popped the locks on the Charger, sliding behind the wheel as he got situated in the passenger seat. The trip back to his place was quick, and they spent it in silence. Worry radiated off of him in waves, moving through Addison, too, and damn, she needed to do something to reassure him.

"Hey," she said, pulling into the parking spot she remembered from the last time she'd been here, months ago. "Chloe is safe, Ryan. She's going to be okay."

"I know." He exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "Well, my brain knows. The rest of me is..."

"I get it," Addison said. God, she really did.

Ryan turned toward her in the shadows of the front seat. "You're so calm, even when things are a complete shit show. How do you do it? Because right now, I could use the advice."

For a single, white-hot second, she was tempted to tell him how it had taken years to cultivate her calm, that she'd been led to learning how by the literal survival instinct of her frightened fourteen-year-old self. But what Ryan needed right now was a little light in the darkness so he could find his way, so Addison said, "It depends. But usually, I just do some box breathing and count my heartbeats, nice and slow, and think of a good, safe place."

He laughed, a soft, humorless sound. "I don't think I've been able to take a decent breath since I walked into the Thirty-Third tonight."

"Here." Before her brain could register that it was probably a bad idea, she'd scooped Ryan's hand up and placed it just below her collarbones, mirroring the move with her hand on his chest. "Close your eyes."

He hesitated, but only for a beat before doing as she'd asked. "Now, follow the rhythm of my breathing. Nice and easy. Inhale." Addison slid a breath into her lungs on a four-count. "And exhale," she said, releasing it to the count of five.

It took a few rounds, but the tension thrumming through Ryan's muscles began to ease beneath her fingers. The warmth of his chest tempted her own breath to hitch, the feel of his body so close to hers making it hard to meter her pulse, and finally, she fluttered her eyes open to discover him looking right at her, his mouth inches from hers.

"Hey," he said, not moving his hand from where it rested on her sternum.

"Did you find a good, safe place?" she whispered.

There, there was the little half-smile she always wanted to lose herself in. "Yeah. I'm right here, with you."

Ryan slanted his mouth over hers, and oh God, she couldn't fight the need to kiss him back. Addison moved her arms from his chest to his shoulders, pulling him close even despite the awkward barrier of the console between them. A noise tore free from his throat, needful and hot, and she realized in that moment that it wasn't that she couldn't fight wanting him.

She didn't want to.

She broke the contact to meet his glittering stare in the shadows. "Take me upstairs, Ryan."

His hesitation lasted for a microsecond, but she still saw it. "You don't do second times."

It came out as a question, his version of are you sure, and her answer flew out, unchecked. "I do with you."