Close enough to keep her on a leash.
I groan and push back my hair. “Fucking stop it, Bronx.”
After I drain the whiskey, I stagger to my feet and wander to the window where the blush of dawn creeps up behind the city.
On the ground, garbage trucks rumble, early joggers sprint along the waterfront, and the daily grind of office workers begins. I've been awake for almost two days, and now, with this idea rolling around in my head, I forget about sleep.
I'm wired. Focused. Locked onto something I can't let go of.
My phone buzzes on the coffee table. I pick it up to see Kingston’s text flash across the screen.
Any progress?
I shootoff a quick response.
Working on it. I have to find some leverage.
I slide the phone into my back pocket and stare out at the sky, thinking about a woman with blue eyes and a brother she'd die for.
A woman who easily slipped into the most secure vault on the planet, fought me off like a vicious wildcat, and headbutted her way to freedom.
“I'm coming for you, Tierney Blake,” I say. “And this time, when I get my hands on you, I'll be ready.”
5
TIERNEY
“Don’t go home yet.”
Damien circles my waist from behind and pulls me into him.
“I stayed all weekend and you need to be up early for work tomorrow.” I try to peel his hands away, fighting the reflex that snaps up as instinct.
I could easily break his arm, flip him, and cut off his breath before he has time to understand what’s happening.
While I let that training fade, I must go rigid, because he senses it and lets go. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” I ask, brushing it off as I pivot to face him.
There’s a look on his clean-shaven face, a flash of hurt behind his pale green eyes.
“Freeze up like that.” He folds his arms across his chest. “It’s like you don’t want me touching you half of the time.”
“I was doing more than touching you this morning.” I cock my head and reach for his face, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Don’t read into it. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
“Yeah,” he says. “Stuff you won’t talk to me about.”
I sigh and grab my duffel bag from the bench by the front door.
“Are we really doing this again, Damien?”
He shrugs. “I love you, Tier. But if we’re talking about a future, I need more than half-truths. Maybe being shut out isn’t something I’m willing to live with anymore.”
I drop my gaze, my hair falling forward as I close my eyes for a beat, violent memories seeping out from the dark corners of my mind.
“What if I tell my da I want to travel?” I say, lifting my head again. “I’ll just… take a break. We could head off for a few months.”
He steps closer and thumbs my jaw. “Just me and you? No Declan Blake dragging you back every five minutes?”
