He glanced at the paused movie.“Remember when I told youabout Isaiah Vakhrov?”
The mob guy.How could I forget him?I nodded.
“As far as I know right now, there’s no evidence pointing tohim having a hand in this, but I’d be willing to bet my retirement it was him.”Colton lifted his hand, sighing as he scrubbed his fingers through his hair.“It’s messed up, you know?These guys have their set of moral codes, twistedmoral codes, and while those guys killed someone, murdering them isn’t theanswer.”
“Agreed,” I whispered, shivering.“I…I don’t even know whatto say.”
“There’s really nothing to say, but with the one dead, theshooter is probably going to be on the run.If he’s smart that is.”
My gaze flipped to his as pressure squeezed my chest.“Whatabout the guys who warned me in the parking lot?They won’t think I rattedtheir guys out?”
His jaw hardened as his gaze turned icy.“They’d have to befucking idiots to think you had anything to do with this.”
But they had been idiotic enough to approach me in the firstplace.Another shiver tiptoed its way over my shoulders.I hadn’t forgottenabout them or the fear they’d induced this past week.It was just something Itried not to think about.I didn’t like the idea of living with that kind offear.
Maybe that wasn’t wise.
“There’s one more thing.Hart was able to pull some morephotos of those who match your description of the shooter,” he explained.“We’dlike you to look at them as soon as possible.”
I nodded again.
Colton reached over, placing the tips of his fingers undermy chin.He lifted my gaze to his.“I’m going to make sure you’re safe, Abby.”
“Is that why you’ve been spending so much time with me?”Themoment that question left my mouth, I wanted to dropkick myself in the face.Icouldn’t even believe those words came out of me.It was like they existed in adark, stupid as hell place that I had no control over.
His brows lifted as he stared at me.“Come again?”
Oh God.My cheeks heated.“I mean, I know I’m a witness andkeeping me safe is a part of your job, but I…” I mentally strung together anepic amount of curse words.“I don’t even know what I’m saying.”
Colton dropped his hand.“I think you kind of do, Abby.”
Uncurling my legs, I nervously smoothed my hands over theskirt of my dress.Was my question a Freudian slip in a way?Of course it was.Because that stupid as hell, ugly part of me still couldn’t fathom Colton beinghere because he was sincerely attracted to me, even after what had just gonedown between us.
I was an idiot.
His eyes narrowed.“Do you really think that me being herehas to do with what happened last Friday?”
“Well, that’s how we crossed paths—”
“You know that’s not what I’m getting at,” he interrupted.“And I know that’s not what you were trying to say.You think I’m here, withyou, with some kind of ulterior motive?”
A sick feeling expanded in my chest.“I don’t think…” Itrailed off because if I was being honest with myself, I was lying.
“I’ll do anything to keep a witness safe and to get the jobdone,” he said, shaking his head.“But I wouldn’t go that damn far, Abby.I’mhere and have been here with you simply because I want to be.I’d think thefact that I had my hand between your thighs ten minutes ago would be proofenough of that.”
Warmth infused my cheeks as I bit down on the inside of mycheek.A moment passed.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
It was my turn to shake my head because I did need toapologize.“But I do, because…because saying something like that isn’t sayinggreat things about you as a person.”I let out a long breath.What could I say?That I was trying to improve my confidence?That I just… “I’m stupid.”
One eyebrow rose.“You’re not stupid.That’s not theproblem.”
A slice of unease lit up my chest as I glanced at him.Hewas staring straight ahead, his gaze fixed on the wall.A numbness settled inthe pit of my stomach.
His shoulders tensed.“You’re a beautiful woman, Abby.Andyou’re smart and kind.You’re funny.”He turned to me, a distant gleam in hiseyes.“And it’s a damn shame you don’t see that.”
The numbness spread like icy drizzle, coating my skin.Underneath it, embarrassment burned.Were my hang-ups that obvious?I squeezedmy eyes shut.God, this was humiliating.
