Blown? Must’ve been some op. Man, when he started talking, he really kept the words rolling. “You’ve been working on your communication skills,” she said, stretching her aching shoulders and trying to grab on to reality.
He gave a short nod. “I have. I’ve found people do what I say if I actually say something.”
“I figured you were just the strong and silent type,” she said, taking a couple of steps away from him. This near, he was just too much. His size, his intensity, his strength. She needed space.
“I am. Watching is more beneficial than talking.” He ruffled his dark hair as he made his way to one of the computers and pushed a button on its keyboard, still facing her. “I need some information. Richie’s last name, his gang affiliations, and any friends of his you can identify.”
“Wait a minute.” She hovered, eyeing the front door as well as the entry to the kitchen. “I need to know.”
“What?” He paused in typing and looked at her, his focus digging right into her head.
She swallowed. “How—I mean, how dangerous are you?” It was probably stupid to ask him that question, considering she truly didn’t know the answer.
He cocked his head to the side. “I’m a killer, Noni. Have been for most of my life. I’ll take care of Richie if I have to.”
Her stomach dropped. All the way. Her lungs seized, but she couldn’t move. She couldn’t run.
His gaze narrowed. “Isn’t that why you tracked me down?”
Slowly, numbly, she shrugged. “I knew you were dangerous and relentless in pursuing somebody.” But a killer? Her search for him had held a romantic element, and she knew it. This guy was all edge—no romance. “Am I in danger?” Her voice quivered, but she had to know.
“Yes.” He didn’t move. Didn’t even seem to breathe.
She blinked. Rapidly. “From you?”
His eyes darkened. “No. With you, the only thing I’m capable of breaking is your heart.”
Cold swam through her. The arrogance. “You think you broke my heart?”
His lip twisted. “I know I did.” His tone was low with what seemed like self-hatred. Dark and raw. “I’m sorry.”
Those words. She’d needed those words and hadn’t realized how badly. “Thank you,” she said, going on instinct. “Then how am I in danger?”
“I’m in danger, and anybody close to me is fair game for an enemy who will keep coming until I’m dead. Until everything I care about, everything I dream about, is taken away and I want death.” He looked back down at the computer, intensity pouring from him.
Whoa. Okay. Denver didn’t have one bit of hysteria in him. His words scared her, but curiosity still rose up. “Who’s after you?”
“Irrelevant. As soon as we get Talia back, you have to forget me. Now. Back to Richie.”
She could live forever, and she’d never forget him. Not for one second had she been able to pretend he didn’t exist. He still needed to explain more. She had a right to know everything. But he was correct. They had to find Talia. “I have files on everything.” She threw her pack at Denver, and he easily caught it before it smashed him in the face.
He didn’t so much as frown. “Thank you.”
She swallowed. They were in the same room. After a year of hurting for him, he was right here in solid form. More than solid. She hadn’t imagined his hard body or intense charisma. He owned every room he walked into with no effort. She’d never met anybody like him, and here he was. Her body tingled, her heart ached, and her mind spun. Yeah. Denver was definitely here. “What now?” she asked, her eyes gritty and her throat scratchy.
“I’ll do some research.” He pulled out a chair and sat down to start typing almost absently. “There’s one bedroom, and you can have it. The sheets are clean. None of my, ah, team slept here.”
Everything inside her stilled. “Are you kidding me?” How surprising that her voice stayed soft when every nerve in her body had just flared into full anger.
He paused and looked up from the screen, his brows drawing down. “No. It’s past midnight, and you should try to sleep. We might have to get on the road early.”
She blinked. Once and then twice. Heat flared down her throat to explode in her lungs. How could he be so calm? So clueless? “You’re not done explaining.” Her voice shook, but she’d forced the words out.
He lifted his head, and awareness smoothed out his expression. “I’m done. Period.”
Pain. Yep. Definite sharp knives ripped right on through her chest, and she had to fight to keep from blanching. “You said you cared about me.” Pride could screw itself. She wanted answers.
He rose to his feet, his gaze alert on her. “I did. I do.”
