Relentless Pursuit by Kathy Ivan Page A

But maybe she had other family she wasn't quite as close with.  That might be a place to start.
    “If you're hungry, go ahead and grab something in the kitchen.  I'll just be a minute.  Wait—on second thought come on back and let's see if I can find something for you to wear.  That skirt won't be too comfortable for a long ride on the bike.”
    “Wait, what?  I thought we came here to get your car.  I'm not riding on that rattling death trap for hours.  Nuh uh.   No way, no how.”
    Remy didn't even attempt to hide his grin.  He planned on taking the car, but couldn't resist getting a rise out of her.  She looked so pretty when she got riled up.
    “Sweetheart, we'll move much faster on the bike, and Dubshenko probably doesn't know I own it.”
    “Probably ain't good enough, Romeo.  I am not getting back on that…that flaming rocket of destruction.  I'll stay here.  He won't find me.”
    Remy shook his head.  “Jennifer, this is my home.  It'll be the first place he'll look once he realizes you're not at the police station.  He knows we've talked.  He's not a stupid man, he'll know you are with me.”
    Jennifer paced back and forth in front of him, chewing on her thumb nail.  He'd picked up on that habit of hers earlier in the interrogation room.  Whenever she was deep in thought she nibbled on that nail, worrying at it.
    “I still don't see why I can't go home.  Dubshenko wouldn't hurt me.”
    “Right,” Remy shot back, cutting her off.  “He won't hurt you—you'll just disappear.  Everyone who's ever crossed him, uttered a single word against him, has vanished without a trace.  I will not see you become his next victim.”
    Grabbing her wrist, he towed her down the narrow hallway to his bedroom at the back of the house.  It was a spacious room.  When he'd moved back in with his grandmother, he hauled Max over and they'd knocked down the wall dividing the two smaller bedrooms, combining them into one large suite, complete with en suite bathroom.  They'd spent a three-day weekend retrofitting and updating the bathroom to a hedonistic masterpiece.
    “Through that door is the bathroom.  You might want to make use of the facilities while you've got the chance.  Once we hit the road, it'll probably be a while before we stop.”
    Jennifer stomped over and flung the door open.  Her breath caught as she took in the dramatic upscale and luxuriously outfitted space.  Remy knew he'd surprised her with it.  Hell, he admitted, he wanted to impress her.  Let her see there was more to him than just the cop who wouldn't let her leave.
    “Wow.  This is amazing.”  Her voice filled with awe as she spun around inside the bathroom.
    “Thanks.  I like the way it turned out.”
    “You did all this?”
    “Sure did.  Well, me and my brother, Max.”  He pointed toward the shower.  “Steam shower, jacuzzi tub, heated floors, the whole shebang.”  Remy chuckled.  “Trust me, in the wintertime, the heated floors are a decision I've never regretted.”
    Jennifer grinned.  “I believe it.  This is a dream bathroom.  I hope I can update my…”
    “Jennifer, you'll get to come back to your home and your life.  Once Dubshenko is out of the picture everything will return to normal.”
    She shook her head, and he watched her turn away, stepping further into the bathroom.  Turning to face him, she replied, “Detective, nothing will ever be normal again.”  With that, she closed the door, and the snick of the lock sounded as loud as a shot.
    With a low growl, Remy stomped across his bedroom, yanked open his dresser drawer and pulled out clothes, tossing them onto the bed.  He slammed the drawer closed, then flung open the closet door, snatching a backpack off the hook attached to the back.  He shoved the few items into the bag and zipped it shut.
    “I'll be right back,” he snarled through the closed bathroom door.  Dammit, he'd protect her, make sure she got her life back.  He had