“The men that took you abducted Ruby recently,” he said.
The surprises just kept on coming.
“Why?” Amy asked.
“To hurt me.” His honesty made Amy feel a little more comfortable in his presence, and she took a bite of her donut as he talked. “So, you see, I’m going after these guys.”
“They’re the Italian mafia, right?” She almost didn’t expect him to answer, but he nodded. “And you guys?”
“A different side of the same coin.”
It wasn’t exactly great news, but at least she had an answer. She knew who she was dealing with. Taking a deep breath, she started to talk.
8
BROGAN
By the time Amy finished her story, he was barely suppressing his rage. The rough way the Italians handled her and the threats they made against her made him feel violent.
He tried to tell himself it wasn’t a personal reaction. He just hated those fucks and he’d always felt protective of women. But then his mind flashed to last night. The way that Amy looked as she came, the feel of her hands running over his body. The feeling of her tight warmth wrapped around his cock.
His body started to react to the memory, an erection growing in his pants. He couldn’t help it. Amy was wild in a way that matched him, and he’d never found that in a woman before. He could still feel the sting of the scratches down his back, a reminder of what a wildcat she was.
He loved it.
But he didn’t even allow himself to consider a repeat of last night. His policy with women was one and done. He didn’t do attachments.
“You’re going to need to be protected for a while,” Owen said when she was done with her story.
“How long?” Amy asked.
“At least a couple of weeks. I’m going to be frank with you, Amy. We’re at war with the Italians, and I don’t think it’ll be long before they are too busy dealing with us to worry about you. But you were obviously at one of their safe houses. The information you’ve given me might allow us to find it. They aren’t going to like that.”
“So, it’s bad news all around?”
“Not necessarily.” Owen turned his eyes to Brogan. “I think you should take on a protective detail. Shadow her for a while, keep her safe.”
“Wouldn’t one of our safe houses be better?” Brogan asked. “She can stay safe where they can’t find her.”
“No way,” Amy cut in before Owen could reply. “I have a life. School. Work. I can’t just disappear for weeks.”
“Then, she’ll stay with you,” Owen said, and Brogan nodded, but Amy still looked displeased.
“Why can’t I stay at my own place?”
“I need to be with you at all times,” Brogan said. “They already proved that they’re willing to come for you where you live. Your roommates will have too many questions about my constant presence.”
Amy sighed, and for a moment he thought she would continue to argue, but she eventually nodded.
“Fine,” she said. “But I need to go to my place to get a few things.”
“We’ll go now,” Brogan said, and Ruby rolled her eyes.
“You’ll get used to how bossy these guys are,” she said to Amy, earning her a smile. “But don’t let them push you around.”
Brogan just shook his head. He already knew that Amy wasn’t the type to take much shit from anyone.
They left the restaurant that Owen owned and worked out of. He took Amy straight to her apartment. She didn’t talk much on the way, and he figured she was lost in thought, trying to absorb everything going on. A small part of him knew that he shouldn’t spend so much time with Amy when he was already struggling not to become attached, but he also couldn’t stand the thought of someone else pulling bodyguard duty.
