“That’s because she’s tired of us always in her business. Try again. I’m going to see Miguel. Ted is setting up a visitor’s pass at the prison for me. Miguel has never come clean about his clients, but Duke and I have a hunch.”
I walked over to the window. “Duke’s hunches are usually spot-on. Care to share?”
Duke had told me a lot about what transpired when Grace suddenly showed up after being missing for four years. Miguel found out that she’d escaped from the client he’d sold her to and hunted her down, claiming the family of the man who’d purchased her had put a bounty on her head.
But as soon as Miguel went to prison, the threat vanished—unless someone else had been watching Grace for the last ten years, biding their time for the right moment to strike. Then again, Grace was surrounded by bodyguards for most of those years until Duke had gone to prison.
“In the backs of our minds,” Dillon said, “we always thought the son of the man she killed could be a threat. Zane Smith was thirteen at the time.”
“Which means he’s twenty-three now,” I said, my jaw hardening.
“That’s right. Grace knows Zane could be a threat, too, but she’s not voicing it. If I know my sister, she won’t. She thinksshe can handle anything. If Duke and I are right, we need to be ahead of this before Grace loses her life this time.”
“Is the bodyguard Duke hired recently still watching her? Because, if he is, he’s not in Connecticut. I know Knox. I haven’t seen him.”
“As far as I know, he is, but Grace has become quite savvy at ditching bodyguards. I’ll let Duke know she’s with you.”
I stared out the window. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He chuckled. “Duke needs to allow Grace to make her own decisions about who she dates. I get where he’s coming from, but you two have a strong bond. Talk to him, Brian. He feels like you broke his trust.”
I could argue that Grace and I hadn’t done anything, but my issue with Duke wasn’t Dillon’s to deal with.
I massaged my neck. “I’ll talk to Grace, but I can’t promise anything. She’s as stubborn as Duke.”
He laughed then sighed. “Thanks, man.”
After we hung up, I stood at the window for a few minutes, thinking of how Duke would blow his top the minute he found out Grace was in my hotel room.
I couldn’t worry about that. Grace was more important at the moment. So I did as Dillon instructed and got comfortable on the bed, careful not to wake her.
The covers were drawn up to her waist as she lay on her stomach, her hands tucked underneath the pillow.
“What are you doing to me, baby girl?” I whispered as my gaze traveled from her pretty face down her neck, where she had the colorful hummingbird tattoo. Then I sucked in air when I saw her bare back.
Scars littered her skin. I heard that she’d been whipped repeatedly, but seeing the results brought out a need to hunt down the fucker who’d done it. Lucky for him he was dead. Still,if the fucker’s son was lurking in the shadows, he didn’t stand a chance if he dared hurt her.
I pressed on the stabbing pain in my chest as my thoughts took a sharp turn down a dark road in the dead of night. My innocent daughter came to mind. I knew Duke harbored guilt about Grace’s plight, but it never resonated with me as clearly as it did at this moment. I knew I couldn’t keep Fran under my control forever, but I really wanted to try.
Grace stirred, flipping on her side, her arm swinging out to land on my waist. Then she snuggled into me, tucking her head into my chest.
My heart skipped a few beats as a feeling of euphoria blanketed me. I could get used to nights like these when I had the most beautiful woman in my arms.
I rubbed her back. “I will never let anyone harm you again, and I will kill anyone who tries.”
As if she were the drug I needed, I fell asleep.
20
GRACE
Istretched awake, feeling something hard against my body—against my hand, in particular. I didn’t move, my eyes flying open as I registered what I was actually touching.
The good news—or maybe bad—was Brian was fully clothed, except his shirt was open, and the sexy V that disappeared below his belt led to a very impressive erection.
I slowly moved my hand off his dick as I glanced at Brian, who was sleeping soundly. I was itching to drag my fingers over his unshaven jaw and through his unruly hair and to kiss him, but I didn’t want to disturb him.
Not only that, I was half-naked. I wasn’t embarrassed, but I wasn't ready for him to see me. Oh, God. My scars.
