“I mean the danger will linger long after I’m gone. You’re coming with me.”
CHAPTER 21
Fleur
“You’re out of your mind,” I said without hesitation. “I can’t go with you. My life is here.” The thought of leaving everything and everyone I knew after the upheaval I’d tolerated several times in my life was suffocating.
While I completely understood the level of danger, enough to remain terrified, I couldn’t imagine not going to my store almost every day or not interacting with the people I now considered family. Montgomery’s heavy sigh was an indication he was serious.
I squeezed my eyes shut and instantly a horrible vision of seeing the guy’s brains being blown from his head brought another wave of nausea. The asshole had come out of nowhere, pointing a gun at my head.
“Your life was placed in danger by association.” Montgomery was twisting his hands around the steering wheel, paying close attention to the road both in front and in back. He was certain the nightmare wasn’t over. At this point, I felt as if my entireworld had just been driven into a bubble or a maze with so many twists and turns, and dozens of monsters along the way, that I’d never be able to see any light at the end of the tunnel.
“By you.” Another wave of anger was furrowing in my system.He saved your life. Remember?The nagging voice had been with me from the instant I’d been pulled into the handsome man’s arms, yet I was unable to process the last two hours.
“That’s entirely possible, Fleur, but the treachery also came by way of your brother,” he insisted. “Whatever his good intentions, he inadvertently placed you in harm’s way. We’re not going to argue about this. You’re coming with me.”
“Then what? Am I going to be your house pet? Or maybe you’ll put me on your payroll as your secretary?”
I’ll be damned if he didn’t grin, even rubbing the scruff on his face as if contemplating doing just that. “Not a bad idea.”
“Bastard. You can’t disrupt my life any more than you have.” Even though in my mind I knew the proclamation he’d laid out was the only logical next move, I couldn’t envision what leaving town with him would mean. “My brother didn’t intentionally place me in harm’s way. Don’t say that.”
Montgomery’s frustration was evident in every sound he emitted, including the deep growls. “He knew better than to contact you.”
“Let me guess. Mafia 102? Another class in how to turn into a mindless monster?”
Now he chuckled while I wasn’t making a joke. Or maybe I was.
“You know he was involved with the mafia. Correct?”
My turn to sigh as heavily as he’d done. “My great ex shoved it in my face. Zane was gleeful in telling me he’d enjoy having my brother arrested. That was toward the end of our illustrious relationship.”
“What happened?”
Between my angry sighs and bitter laughs, I was certainly highlighting every dark emotion rolling through me like a freight train at ninety miles per hour. “We’ll just say he was very controlling, determined to keep me in line. Much like you’re trying to do.”
My rebellious statement brought another look screaming of restrained power. “The difference is I’ll do everything in my power to see that you aren’t hurt.”
That was true enough. “I know.” The admittance was suggestive. “You’re nothing like Zane. He was a selfish man in everything he did. Oh, he hid it well enough, but tiny fissures turned into cracks.”
“Then why were you with him?”
“I’ve been asking myself that question since I left.”
“Has he ever tried to get you back?”
“Do you mean has Zane ever threatened me?” I hadn’t dared think about something so obvious. I glanced at Montgomery, easily able to tell that’s exactly what he was thinking. He was absently rolling one finger across his lips, which he did when plotting or planning. The little body tics of a person were very telling.
“Did he?”
“At first. Yes. He said he was going to ruin me. As if I had anything to lose. A few phone calls and texts, but I changed my number, slapped him with a restraining order, and his epic tantrum stopped.” I thought about when I’d heard from him last. “Although…”
“What?”
“Do you ever have a feeling you’re being watched?”
His snort brought a tiny wave of inappropriate desire. “All the time, but not in the way you mean. I’m having Zane’s activities verified. If he has anything to do with killing your brother, it will be discovered.”
