I whipped around in my seat, expecting to see a monster lurking behind me.
But instead, all I saw was a wall of muscles and tattoos with rage written into every fiber of her being. Her lip curled as she crossed the threshold, looking ready to rip the cabinets right off the walls with her bare hands.
But something in her expression faltered as we locked eyes. Her footsteps stammered and then froze, stranding her just a few steps past the doorway.
Her words were directed at my saviors, who were shrinking behind me, but her eyes never left mine. “What the fuck is she doing here?”
6
DOM
It can’t be her.
Stopped in my tracks, I tried to blink away the vision of the red-haired woman in my kitchen. But she was still there.
There are thousands of women with red hair. And even more women that my two wards would be willing to bring back to my house.
“No guests.” I growled as I crossed the kitchen, trying to keep my distance from the stranger. “You know the rules.”
Making my way to the fridge, I tried to calm my raging chest. My heart was pounding harder than horse hooves in mud.
From her spot on the stool, Spencer chewed her food. “Dude, I think we can make an exception. You should’ve seen the way her ex boyfriend touched her at the bar. Not cool.”
“Don’t care, she’s not supposed to be here.” I didn’t bother looking at the girl. Even if everything in me wanted to study her face, to confirm I didn’treallyknow her.
Leo stepped in, leaning against the marble island. “Seriously, Dom? This guy was dangerous. We couldn’t leave her with him.”
“Should’ve taken her somewhere else.” I slammed the fridge door closed, a protein shake in my hands. I’d planned on goingto sleep, but if this anxious dread in my chest didn’t go away soon, I’d have to hit the gym again.
It isn’t her.
Trying to shake the flashes ofherface from my mind, I crossed the room to the doorway. “I want her gone by the morning.”
“Dom…” Leo started, but I didn’t bother to turn around.
There was no point. She’d be gone in the morning, and I wouldn’t have to think about this again. It was a thought I never wanted to have, a consideration I’d never made.
Didn’t even think they’d ever leave a mission.
Before I disappeared from the kitchen, I looked over my shoulder at Callahan and Spencer. “Clean up your mess.”
Of course they thought I was talking about the dirty pans on the stove and the greasy plates on my pristine counters. But they needed to get rid of her. Not only did they desert a mission, they brought someone into my home.
I forced myself out of the room, becoming paranoid that this woman might actually know me. That the longer I stood in that room, the more jogged her drunk memory would become.
I tried to shake the feeling as I climbed the wood stairs up to my suite. They would never be stupid enough to bring her here.
Butifshe was who I feared she was, remembering me would only lead to ruin for both of us.
7
KIERA
I couldn’t shakethe way she’d looked at me — and then the way she’d avoided looking at me at all. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d think she was afraid of me.
But what kind of threat did my five-three, never-hit-the-gym self pose to a tattooed behemoth like that?
“Sorry about Dom. She’s allergic to fun.” Spencer closed the dishwasher with her foot, hand towel still draped over her toned shoulder as she turned to face me.
