Denver curses, his eyes flicking guiltily to mine.
“You texted me,” he grits at Jenson. “You took your eyes off her.”
“You text when you’re with her,” Jenson says, lifting both brows.
“Not when we’re in public. When there’s any chance of anyone else being near her, she isallI focus on.”
“We were in Brad’s studio. Relax, man.”
I stare at the two of them, facing each other like bulls, nostrils flaring.
I’ll give it to Jenson; he doesn’t back down easily when Denver’s in scare-you-until-you-shit-your-pants mode. Even Monty is looking uneasy and comes to stand beside me.
“How did you get in?” I ask Denver.
He finally drops his glare from Jenson for longer than a second to look at me. The tension eases a fraction in his brow as he meets my eyes. “I picked the lock. Took me seconds. You didn’t put the extra bolt in place.”
The accusation in his words makes heat spread in my stomach. His attention snaps back to Jenson.He’s going to rip into him again if I don’t stop him.
I fake a light giggle. “Oops.”
I study the side of his face for a reaction. A pulse throbs in his temple and I swear he growls from the back of his throat. Something about the way he’s so caveman over my safety, even though I know it’s just his job is…not unpleasant.
“Oops?” he hisses, his lips curling from his perfect white teeth as Jenson is forgotten and he turns his body, raining the full force of his pent-up inferno down on me like green fire. “Oops?” he repeats, towering over me like he’s about to swallow me whole. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“It’s fine, relax.” I pout, trying to shrug it off.
“This isn’t a joke, Sinclair. Someone out there might mean you serious harm. Jesus, do you want to end up kidnapped, or worse? Do you want your father to bury another child?”
His eyes widen the second it leaves his mouth.
“Jesus,” Jenson utters.
I pull back my arm and slap Denver hard across the face.
“How dare you!”
My palm stings, but not as much as my chest does. I suck in shallow breaths as my lungs tighten. Memories swim in front of my eyes. Of my brother’s smile. Him laughing. Of fire. And two graves, side by side.
I whimper, my throat on fire. “Of all the things, how could you say that?”
Monty whines at my feet and Denver’s entire demeanor shifts from white hot anger to icy desperation.
“Sinclair, I didn’t mean?—”
“Get out!” I cry. “Both of you. Leave me alone.”
I scoop Monty into my arms, my tears falling onto his neck as I hold him close and flee to my bedroom. I slam the door and lean against it, erupting into sobs. Monty nuzzles and licks at my face, trying his best to give me comfort.
The deep rumble of their voices carries from the living area. Then the sound of the front door opening and closing is followed by silence.
I walk over and sit on the end of my bed, one hand reaching up to touch my diamond necklace, as I keep Monty wrapped inside the other.
“Sinclair?” There’s a gentle knock at the door.
“Go away, Denver. Unless you want another slap.”
His sigh bleeds through the door. “I’m sorry. I should never have said that.”
