“Absolutely. Betrayal of any kind…” I didn’t bother finish the sentence. I could tell by the way she looked into my eyes that she knew what I’d almost said.
Nodding, she pulled a shirt to her face, closing her eyes. I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyelashes skimmed across her cheeks. Even in the gloomy lighting of the cramped room, the illumination was beautiful.
As was the rest of her.
I was invading a very private moment, which forced me to lay claim to the emotions I hadn’t experienced with my father. While my mother had tried so very hard to remain stoic, a positive and strong force in the family after our loss, I’d held her more than once. The fact she’d sobbed in my arms hadn’t brought my own despair, instead continued rage that right now I was forced to realize had never dissipated.
Over a year later and I was still an angry man hungering for revenge.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult.”
The sadness in her voice tugged at everything decent inside of me. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t know me.”
“I guess I still don’t. But you don’t know me either.”
“Other than that you’re a gypsy at heart with a true belief in black magic and you’re a fiend for brownies, what else do I need? I’ll toss in my guess that you believe in fairies and Santa Claus too.” My attempt at a joke was met with a curious look on her face.
The short laugh she offered was forced, but I’d take it anyway. “And you’re a grouchy man who has no understanding of real emotions. You keep yourself closed off to protect yourself and the people you care about. But I also need to add you should always wear jeans instead of a suit.”
Even when she was despondent, she had a filtered view of the world, permanent rose-colored glasses attached to her pretty face. If only I had that outlook on life. “And why is that?”
“Because jeans make you look hot.” She slowly turned her head, her hair hanging in her face, but the smile she carried was enchanting as fuck.
Of course, my cock was aching all over again.
The red blotches on her face returned, but she forced herself to look away.
“You should get some sleep. We’ll leave early in the morning.” I glanced toward one of the bags, moving toward it. I activated two of the burner phones while she watched everything I was doing.
With her nose wrinkled, she peered up at me when I handed it to her. “Here’s a burner phone for you to keep. I want you to take one of the bags and have it ready in case we get separated. You can use the phone to get to safety. Don’t trust anyone but the police. This also isn’t about keeping tabs with your friends. Only use it in case of an emergency.”
“Hold on. What do you mean if we get separated?” She tentatively took it from me, her hand shaking.
“Things happen, Fleur. While we’re taking every precaution to keep from being located, the men determined to hunt us down are much more sophisticated in their technology than you understand. Now, I want you to set up the bag for to-go purposes. A few clothes, your ID, cash.”
“You’re terrifying me.”
I grabbed the weapon she’d found in Danny’s bag, turning it over several times before checking the magazine. It was fully loaded, not a shot taken. An oddity, but perhaps he’d just reloaded before being ambushed. “You should stay alert with thesurroundings and everyone you run into. If your fear keeps you on edge, then keep the terror furrowing inside for now. Mistakes occur when people become complacent.”
She continued watching my every move when I pulled my wallet into my hand, tugging out a business card.
“Something else. This is my brother’s private cellphone number. If anything happens to me, contact him first. Alexander and my other brothers will protect you as I would, like family. Protect the card at all costs. That’s your lifeline. Alexander will come to you no matter where you are or what danger it places him in. You can trust my family with your life.”
“Why would they eagerly want to help me?”
Leaning over, I pressed my lips against her forehead. “As I said. Because you’re family and they know I care about you.”
“Why do you?” She studied the card, fingering the name of the corporation as she did.
As I lifted my head, the look of defiance she wore was an artform cultivated from years of enduring the foster system. And whatever shit Zane had put her through. I’d had enough time to contact Alexander while she’d been asleep, putting him on notice about her corrupt ex.
With no computer access for fear of discovery, I had hopes that answers as well as evidence could be provided by the time we rolled into New Orleans.
“Because you’re a quirky woman.”
She rolled her eyes in a way that kept my rapt attention. Every gesture was adorable, a true telling of the woman who continued to intrigue me. “You’re a highly intelligent man with a voraciousvocabulary and all you can think of as an answer is that I’m quirky? That doesn’t give me a single warm and fuzzy. Not one.” She held up her index finger for emphasis while gripping her other hand around my jersey.
I allowed her to pull me onto the bed, her fingers firmly wrapped around my shirt. I pinned her against the bed with one leg while propping my head on my hand. There was something very self-indulgent about being able to peer down at her, basking in her beauty. With her damp hair fanned out across the comforter like a copper-colored halo, I enjoyed the moment without answering her.
