I stared at him in surprise.
"Damon."
He ignored me and turned to George. "What day is it?"
"14th."
"14th?!" he gasped and checked his watch. "04:13."
He pulled the covers away and stood up.
"I have to be in Illinois in three hours."
"You got shot!" I said.
He faced George. "Get me a suit.
George nodded.
"Damon, you aren't in any condition to travel," I said.
He ignored me and grabbed his phone.
He dialed a number. "Get the plane ready, we leave in thirty."
There was a pause. "I'm fine! Just get the plane ready."
He ended the call.
"Damon!" I was getting impatient. I knew I'd hurt his feelings, but I'd just saved his life. It wouldn't hurt to show a little appreciation.
"Ivy, you need to leave," he said.
"So, you can see me, I was starting to believe I was a ghost or something," I glared at him.
"Thank you for saving me back there, but you need to go," he said.
His eyes were dull and empty, not at all like the guy I knew, the guy I was in love with. My feelings were a little bit hurt when I saw how distant he'd grown towards me. I pushed him away to save his life, but it made him hate me instead.
"That's it?" I tried to hide the hurt in my voice.
He paused, his eyes searching mine slowly. "Is there anything you'd like to say?"
I'm sorry.
Those words stood at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't blurt them out. I knew I wouldn't be able to answer the questions that would come after, and that was a different type of hurt. I couldn't do that.
"Yes."
His eyes lit up as he stared at me. I knew what he wanted to hear, what he wanted me to say but I couldn't bring myself to say it, so instead I said the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm coming with you."
He stepped back, disappointed. "The hell you are."
The door opened and George walked in with a suit in hand.
"Let's go," he said to George.
I stepped in front of him. "Either I go with you to protect you, or you don't leave this room."
"Please," he scoffed.
"You don't think I can stop you?" I asked.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw George stalking towards me silently. I brought out my gun and pointed it at him.
"Not another step," I said.
He raised his hand in surrender as he stared at me warily. He glanced at Damon who stepped back.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Making you stay," I pointed my gun at him, slowly moving it towards his leg. "A bullet to the leg would suffice, don't you think?
"You wouldn't," he said.
"George, I said not another step," I pointed the gun back to George who froze mid-step.
"There's no way you're coming with us," he glared at me.
"Fine," Damon said. "You can come."
"Boss-."
"I don't have all day, let's go," he snapped.
The ride to the airport was quiet and awkward. Damon remained focused on his phone, completely ignoring me. George's glares burnt a hole on my forehead through the rearview mirror. I tapped on the window nervously.
"Are you gonna ignore me for the rest of the ride?" I asked.
No response.
"Damon?"
"The only I allowed you come on this trip is so you don't delay my flight," he turned to me.
"Refrain from talking if it isn't related to your job, Ms. Wells."
My jaw hardened. Though a part of me was glad I'd succeeded in making him hate me, I didn't realize it'd hurt that much.
"Fine, if that's what you want, Mr. Walker."
He turned back to his phone.
"Who was trying to kill you back there?" I asked.
Of course, I knew who ordered a hit on him, but it'd be weird if I didn't raise a question. After all, it was the second time someone had tried to kill him in my presence.
I paused when I saw the subtle exchange between him and George. He looked anxious, like he was hiding something. I'd thought he didn't know who ordered the hit on him but seeing him nervous made me realize he might know more than he's letting on.
What if he knew my identity and that I was sent to kill him? I bit my lips nervously. Was that why he was acting so cold and distant?
"I don't know," he said.
George's eyes met mine in the mirror and he looked away quickly.
Lie.
"Are you sure?" I asked. I was skeptical.
Damon spared me a glance. "Isn't it your job as my bodyguard to find out?"
I smiled and his gaze fell on my lips. "Does that mean I'm rehired?"
He turned away without a word, but I knew what he didn't say.
Yes.