My breaths came in short gasps as the sound of car horns blowing, pedestrians walking by, and someone hailing a cab faded into a distant hum. All my problems became insignificant as this gorgeous man ensnared me in his seductive web. Hope bloomed for the first time ever. Hope that I could have feelings for a man. Hope that I could have a future, a husband, and a family like my brothers had.
I placed my hand on Brian’s face, and he leaned into my touch as if he were the one who needed consoling.
“What the fuck is going on?” Duke raised his voice, which sounded deep and scary.
Brian jumped back as if he were on fire. “Just talking.”
Duke was breathing fire at his best friend. “We just discussed Grace, and you assured me there’s nothing going on between you two.”
It was my turn to spit fire. “You don’t have a say in who I see.” Not that Brian and I were dating.
Brian steeled his shoulders. “Calm the fuck down, Duke. We were just talking.”
“Like hell you were.” The brown in Duke’s eyes darkened to the shade of coal.
Like a referee in a boxing ring, I held out my arms between them. “He was trying to prevent me from decking you.”
Duke’s laugh wasn’t nice. “That’s not what I saw.”
“Why are you trying to control me?” I was on the verge of screaming. “If I like Brian, so what?”
Duke’s eyebrows flew into his hairline. “Since when?”
If Brian reacted to my comment, I didn’t notice because he was behind me.
“You two need to figure out your shit.” Brian’s tone was dripping with frustration as he removed his keys from his jeans pocket. “I have my own crap to deal with.” He stalked away.
Great.Now I could be responsible for breaking up their friendship.
Duke stood frozen, a wariness stamped on his hard features.
I shoved my brother—or tried to. “Talk to him. He’s done nothing wrong.”
“We both need to cool off,” Duke said. “Knox will follow you to the shelter. You’re staying there with Andie, right?”
Knox hung back by the door, seemingly not paying any attention to us.
“I don’t need a bodyguard. So what if I asked about Miguel or broke down in front of you in the police station?” I would bet that the latter was the reason he was in freak mode. “As I told you the other night, you can’t help me, Duke. And a bodyguard sure as heck won’t take away my past. None of that is reason enough to suffocate me again. I need to go.”
It was futile to argue about a bodyguard. All my brothers were hardheaded, but Duke won the award for stubbornness.
Duke caught my arm. “Is someone following you?”
I laughed only because he was clairvoyant. “You came to that conclusion because?”
“Your actions, Grace. Something is messing with your head, and don’t give me the excuse it’s your thesis. Ted filled me in that you’re looking into Miguel as part of your research. The last time you acted like you were spooked, Miguel was hunting you. You shut out Dillon and me and had Dominic help you. Is that what you’re doing with Brian? Using him?”
I felt like he punched me in the stomach. My intentions were not to use anyone but to keep my brothers out of my business. They had their own lives. I wasn’t about to cry or break down.
I held my head high. “You’re one to talk. You kept Dillon, Denim, and me in the dark for years about your life, always afraid that we would become victims of your enemies. So don’t give me your father-type speech. And is it a crime to be attracted to Brian?” I huffed out a breath. “News flash, brother. Brian doesn’t keep secrets from you, which means if I asked for his help for any reason, he would tell you. Do what you want with the bodyguard. I don’t care anymore.” I threw my arms up. “And stop psychoanalyzing me. If I want anyone to do that, I’ll see a doctor. I’m out of here.”
I walked away, seething, hurt, and angry.
“I love you, Grace,” Duke called after me.
I knew he did. I also knew he and my other two brothers would die for me. But as much as Duke wanted to protect me, I wanted to protect him.
Pulling my keys from my purse, I decided that I wouldn’t engage Brian in my shit. I didn’t want to use him. If someone was stalking me, even if it was Zane Smith bent on revenge, I would handle the situation myself. For all I knew, my mind was playing tricks on me because I was digging up my past with my research on sex trafficking.
