“But you hate me.”
“Our girl believes you’ll think she started the fire for some masterminded plan,” Sinn chimed in.“Like a fucked-up Hallmark movie.”
“I don’t.”Saint cupped her face.“When I heard which building was on fire, all I wanted to do was make sure you weren’t hurt.”
“But you believe—”
“I know what you are going to say, and no, I don’t believe you burned down your apartment.Or that you’re working for Lucifer.”His thumb brushed over lips.“Now, where’s the girl who swung that bat with beautiful precision?”
“How did you know that?”
He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his cell, and played the video.Because of the endorphins streaming through her body, most of the night was a blur, but she saw how ferocious she defended a girl who didn’t deserve to be defended.
“This is the woman I couldn’t stop watching,” he said softly.“She’s fierce.Battle tested, and nothing can stop her.”
She stared into his eyes, trying to determine if he told the truth, and all she saw reflected back was honesty.
“Sometimes it’s hard to keep my chin up,” she admitted in a near whisper.
“I know.”He brushed a few strands of hair off her brow.“Maybe one day you’ll trust us enough to let us know why.”
Without thinking, she leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on his lips, but before she pulled back, his hand slid around to firmly hold her head.He angled and fit his lips over hers, teasing them apart until his tongue swept inside to dance with hers.She breathed in his scent, an intoxicating blend of male and raw sexuality.Kissing had aways been a dominance move from her ex.Something that rarely gave her pleasure.However, Saint was completely different from her past experiences, and before she knew what was happening, she raised her arms to encircle his neck.He sifted his hand gently through her hair and gripped it lightly to pull her closer to him.Her head tilted back as she placed her hands upon his chest.They broke for air, and her heart thundered in her ears as she drew in deep breaths.
She stared up at him in wonder.How had these two men managed to turn her world upside down?
“I won’t apologize for kissing you,” he murmured.“Only for not asking permission.”
“I’m pretty sure I kissed you.”
“Then, permission granted.”A ghost of a smile broke over his face.“No more talk of hurting yourself, okay?”
“Okay,” she replied.
“You are fierce,” he continued.“And the bravest goddamn woman I’ve ever known.”
“You don’t really know me.”
“I know enough,” he said.“No more talk of being weak.Or passive.Or a fool.You can stay here as long as you need to.Understood?”
Her heart just melted into a pile of goo because it had been a while since someone showed her such caring.Not since Joe, actually.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You can stay in the same bedroom.”
Tiredness smacked her between the eyes, and oblivion beckoned.She nodded, and Saint lifted her up to take her to her bedroom.She wanted more than anything to sleep and not remember all the bad shit going on in her life.Maybe ...just maybe her luck was about to change.
****
“One of us will haveto be with her at all times, so let’s make this quick,” Sinn said in a low voice, keeping his eye on the door.
Saint frowned.“What did I miss?”
“She asked if I would kill her, and when I declined, she offered money.And when I declined again, she said you’d do it because you hate her.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Saint growled.He ran a hand over his face.“I find the timing of this fire very suspicious.I don’t think it’s coincidence that she’s attacked, almost taken by a soon-to-be-dead motherfucker, and then the very next day, her apartment complex burns down.”
Sinn frowned.“You think they’re related?”
