Grace let out an evil laugh. “I’m not a baby. I can take care of myself.”
The minute Knox was inside, I pulled Grace to me. “I know you can handle yourself, but you need a friend right now.” And I needed a lobotomy if I thought I could be her friend when I wanted to be so much more.
She clung to me as if I were her lifeline.
“I got you, baby girl.” I held her tightly, and I wasn’t sure if she was shaking or if I was.
But suddenly, in that moment, everything felt right in the world.
Yep, I was a liar, a horrible friend, and screwed beyond recognition.
9
GRACE
The buzzing in my ears overpowered the sound of car engines and the horns blowing on the busy Boston street as I buried my face into Brian’s chest. I swore I was on a fast-moving train to a mental health institution. I loved Duke, and at the same time, I wanted to strangle him. I knew he meant well, but I couldn’t let him suffocate me again. I wanted to believe I could handle myself. After all, I’d been training in self-defense for years since my escape. I’d learned how to use weapons, pick locks, and free myself if I were ever barricaded in a cage.
I shuddered against Brian, relishing the strength of his arms, his manly scent seeping into my nostrils. The tighter he held me, the more I relaxed as the sound of those angry bees in my ears lessened.
“I hate him,” I repeated over and over.
Resting his chin on my head, he rubbed my back. “No, you don’t. He loves you, Grace. He’s only trying to protect you.”
I craned my neck upward, blinking away tears. “From what? The frat boy won’t come after me.” If he did, his father, the judge, would be forced to throw him in prison.
“What aren’t you telling anyone?”
“What are you talking about?” As soon as I asked the question, I knew the answer. Ted had told Dillon that I asked about Miguel. Of course, Duke must know that too. It now made sense why my brother was on high alert. Duke had been with me when Miguel kidnapped my sister-in-law Maggie in exchange for me. That had been another dark day in my life, with bullets flying and one hitting Maggie, all because of me. I was the reason for my family’s problems.
“Ted talked to Duke,” I said, more to myself than Brian.
“Is Miguel Rivera who you want my advice on?” he asked evenly.
I gnawed on my bottom lip. “No.”
He held my face between his large palms, his lush green eyes full of something I couldn’t put my finger on. “Talk to me, Grace.”
I captured my bottom lip between my teeth. “I want all this to end.”
“What to end?” He tucked hair around my ear.
I glanced out and past the line of cars waiting for the light to turn green, and my gaze landed on a man standing at the corner looking at us. My stomach went haywire as I stiffened, paranoia causing my heart to pound against my ribs.
“Grace, what is it?” Brian followed my line of sight, but the man had already slipped around the corner. “Did you see someone you knew?”
“Just a person who appeared lost.” That was the only answer I had.
I wasn’t prepared to voice to Brian that I felt someone might be stalking me. I had yet to see the same person more than once. On top of that, until I could confirm that my feelings were real, I couldn’t put my family through another round of panic.
“Grace.” His tone was even but held a smidge of warning. “Talk to me. I told you I would help.”
With Duke about to come out of the bar at any moment, this wasn’t the time. In addition, I was beginning to feel as though I might’ve shown poor judgement in asking Brian for his help. I couldn’t ruin his longtime friendship with my brother. Plus, Brian didn’t keep secrets from Duke.
“Look at me, baby girl.”
His pet name for me sent warmth throughout my body, and his soft voice made me feel like I wanted to tell him every detail of my past. Things that I hadn’t even confided in my therapist or anyone else, for that matter.
His gaze dropped to my lips, and my pulse increased exponentially. A heated dance of danger and desire began as he shifted his attention from my lips and locked eyes with me.
