“Can you send me the files—just employee pictures and names—of any of your guys not working the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours?” Roman knew it was a big request and Escobar didn’t owe him anything but he had to ask.
The man’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “You think one of my guys came after her?”
“It’s stupid not to consider the possibility. At least let me eliminate your guys by looking at their pictures.” Because there was a high likelihood that Neal used easy resources and that included Powers Group security. It made more sense to look at the most obvious possibilities and while the man at Vadim’s house had been wearing sunglasses and a hat, Roman wanted to try to identify him or at least narrow down the suspects. If he could give a list of names to Escobar or Taylor, they should be able to look at finances or anything else linking the shooter to Lynch. And if they couldn’t, Roman knew Vadim could.
Escobar’s jaw tightened, but he semi-relaxed as Taylor returned from her car, seemingly mollified by what she’d found. “All my stuff is there.”
“Good,” Escobar said, then nodded at Roman. “By the time you get settled in tonight, it’ll be in your inbox.”
He nodded back once. “Thanks.”
“What will be?” Taylor asked.
“Just some files. I’ll tell you on the way to your place,” he murmured, glancing over his shoulder. They were still enough out of ear shot from the other men but he didn’t want to talk about any of it until they were alone.
She looked as if she wanted to argue, but simply nodded. “Okay. I…need to grab some stuff from my office. Would you mind helping move our bags from the SUV to my car before we head up? It hurts a little to lift stuff.”
Roman’s eyebrows pulled together. “Your car’s staying here. We’re getting a ride to your place, then the condo. Tomorrow we’ll figure out something else for transportation.”
“We have a company vehicle you can use,” Escobar interjected.
“I can’t even drive my car?” She seemed surprised, or more likely she was just exhausted and not thinking about the situation with the same type of attitude Roman and the other man were.
He shook his head and reached out for her, needing to touch her. Even though he wasn’t used to showing public displays of affection, he didn’t care as he gently cupped her cheek. She instantly leaned into his touch. “It’s safer if it stays here. With Lynch and the shooter out there, we don’t need to give them any way to track you.” Pulling Taylor close, he shot Escobar a look. “We’ll take one of the vehicles tonight but tomorrow we’re getting something else.” Because Roman was taking more control of the situation and that meant making sure that wherever he went with Taylor, she wasn’t being tracked by anyone.
“Fine. And whatever you need from your office, one of the guys can grab,” Escobar said.
Taylor stiffened slightly against Roman. He looked down to find her biting her bottom lip, her expression unreadable. “I don’t actually need anything from my office. I just… I thought maybe…” She trailed off and swallowed hard.
“You thought you might want to see where it happened?” he asked, purely guessing.
When her eyes filled with tears and she nodded, he let out a curse and pulled her into his arms. She buried her face against his chest, her petite body trembling against him. God, he was surprised she’d held up so well. It was too soon for her to see where Powers had been killed and he knew from experience that seeing the scene where her friend had died wouldn’t do her a bit of good. But it wasn’t his place to tell her. He might be domineering and used to taking charge of most situations, but he wouldn’t right now. Not with this.
“No one’s allowed up there now,” Escobar said quietly. “It’s marked off with police tape.”
Taylor shuddered as she sniffled and stepped back. Roman kept his arm protectively around her as she turned back to face Escobar, wiping at her eyes. “That’s probably for the best.”
Roman kissed the top of her head. “It is. Now let’s get out of here so I can take care of you.” Words he’d never said to any woman.
Nodding, she tucked into his hold as he led her back to the SUV.
One of the other men called out to Escobar, telling him they’d be the lead vehicle and had her address plugged into their GPS. Once Escobar, Taylor and Roman were back in the SUV, some of Roman’s stress lessened. He didn’t like Taylor being so exposed even in the relative safety of the vehicle.
Hell, he didn’t like any of this. And he didn’t know what to do with the strange protectiveness that welled up inside him whenever she was near. Since that had been practically the last thirty-six hours and it hadn’t abated, he wasn’t sure what the hell to do with his emotions. It was like she’d triggered something inside him and now that it had woken up, it sure as hell wasn’t going away. He’d never felt like this, not even with his only serious ex. That relationship had been all about sex, something he could now see clearly. Because hindsight was a fucking bitch.