Rand stepped up beside her as she reached the intersection with the wide main road that stretched across the peak of Valletta from the Triton Fountain just outside the city gate to Fort St. Elmo on the sea.
“You won’t be meeting with that man alone,” he said softly.
“I most certainly will.” Her voice was at her normal volume. No one was close enough to hear, and she didn’t care if they were.
“You’re angry.”
“Gee, I wonder why?”
“Because I’m here? I’m not stalking you.”
“I never thought you were.”
He stopped and grabbed her arm as they neared a restaurant with dozens of customers sitting at tables that lined the thoroughfare. “Kira, I’m here to protect you.” Again, his voice was low.
She shook off his arm. “That was your choice, not mine. And it doesn’t mean you get to dictate what I do. This is my trip, Lieutenant Commander. One I’ve been waiting to take my entire life. I have people I need to meet with while I’m here. You do not get to boss me around or accept or decline invitations for me. If that’s how this is going to be, you can take the next flight home.”
“It’s not safe—”
“And I’m not a Valkyrie. I know what you and Freya think of me. It doesn’t mean you get to decide what I do on my trip.”
“What I think of you? I didn’t—”
She held up a hand. “Explain why you think you have the right to speak for me or object to plans I make with others in Malta?”
He closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. “I don’t. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
The quick apology helped, but she remained tense. Only time would tell if he meant it or if he was simply being placating and intended to control her every move over the next two weeks. Of course, that assumed his plan was to stay and not to demand she leave. She wouldn’t put it past him. Five thousand miles was a long way to travel to play companion when it would be easier to drag her home so he could get back to his team.
He’d made it clear on Tuesday he didn’t want her to go to Malta at all.
“I’m not leaving, if that’s your intention. This trip is too important to me.”
He shook his head. “I’m not here to convince you to go home.”
“Then how long are you here for? For real this time.”
“Either until you head home or the Navy yanks me back. If my team is tapped for a mission, I’ll have to go.”
“What, you haven’t gone AWOL just for me?”
He let out a soft snort. “I’d need more than a hunch you’re in danger for that.”
“So we aren’t at DEFCON 5. Good to know.”
“Five is lowest danger. DEFCON 1 is the highest.”
“What are we then?”
He shrugged. “Three?”
She’d been hoping for four, but three was reasonable.
“Can we at least talk about your plans, make decisions together?” he asked.
“It depends on if that means talk about it until I agree to do what you want or if I get to make my own informed decisions.” She turned and resumed walking. “I’d like to point out that I didn’t invite you to join me.”
“If you were given a choice, would you have?”
She thought about the question and finally said, “I don’t know.”
“I couldn’t take the chance you’d say no.”
“You’re failing to acknowledge that I can still say no. Just because you’re here doesn’t make you the boss of me. I had an employer who wanted to control me once. I’ll never let that happen again.”
Rand stopped again, but this time, he didn’t grab her arm to detain her. “Fuck, Kira. I’m not like him. I’m not trying to control you—”
She stopped and faced him. “I want to believe you, but you’re going to have to rein in your SEAL team commander impulses and show me you aren’t that guy.”
“You want me to prove it by leaving? Give me a chance. Please.”
“I’m not asking you to leave. Just don’t blindside me again or speak for me to make me do what you want without consulting me.”
He nodded. “Do you want to get a drink? Have a bite to eat? Or go back to the hotel and talk?”
She smirked, remembering all of Freya’s questions about hotels and plans she’d made. “Why do I think we’re staying in the same hotel?” She narrowed her gaze. “You have your own room, right?”
“Yes, and yes. I’m not here to seduce you. Your ‘no’ was loud and clear.”
