A block from Marcus’s place, I guide her into a quiet alleyway and cage her in-between my arms. She blinks up at me, startled, but not afraid. She never looks afraid ofme. The trust in her eyes nearly levels me.
“What is it, Baby?” I ask, low and quiet. “You’ve been off since we left. Just say it.”
Her blue eyes search mine, flickering with hesitation. I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, and she leans into the touch like she needs it.
“Have... have you heard anything else? About the guy, Ax? About Lina?”
Right. This is about her sister. The one she lost years ago. Maybe dead, maybe worse.
“I haven’t,” I tell her honestly.
Her shoulders sag. I can’t tell if it’s from disappointment or relief.
“I just... I can’t stop thinking about her. And I don’t trust Marcus to actually follow through. He gets distracted, and this lead is too important. I don’t want him to screw it up.”
“I got you,” I say, firm. “Even if he drops the ball, I won’t. I listen in on everything. I ask questions. I won’t let it fall through the cracks. I know how much she matters to you.”
That seems to ease something in her. The tight lines around her eyes soften.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I pull her into my chest and hold her, tight. She wraps her arms around me like she means it. Like I’m not just the hired help. And for a moment, I let myself believe it.
Reluctantly I pull back, and we rejoin the sidewalk in silence.
We’re barely out of the elevator when Marcus pounces. His hand clamps around her arm, too tight. She stumbles in her heels, and I see red.
“Where have you been? What were you doing? Who were you with?”
Her eyes flash with anger, but she swallows it fast and pastes on a smile.
“Sean and I got ice cream,” she says breezily. “That new place on Peachtree.”
Marcus turns to me, and I nod once, confirming her story. He’s lucky I don’t add a middle finger. It pisses me off that he treats her like this. Like a controlling psycho. She’s never given him a reason to doubt her loyalty. Never. And he’s also never put his hands on her like this.
I pointedly look at her arm, and he follows my gaze until he sees where his fingertips are cutting into her circulation. Immediately, he releases her.
“That sounds fun,” he says, tone suddenly bright. “Why don’t you go wait for me in the bedroom. On your knees.”
He slaps her ass like he owns it. She tenses, then melts into a flirty little kiss on his cheek.
“Yes, sir,” she breathes.
He eats it up like candy, and I want to punch him in the throat.
She walks away with a sway in her hips that makes my blood boil, but not for the reason Marcus thinks.
“Sean,” he snaps.
I tear my eyes away.
“Yes?”
“Keep staring at my girl’s ass like that and we’re gonna have a problem.”
I blink at him, all wide-eyed and innocent. “What? I’m gay, remember?”
He squints. “You sure about that? You were looking pretty hard.”
