Dangerous Protector (Red Stone Security #14)(30)
She couldn’t believe he’d showed up but she was grateful he had. Emotion clogged her throat but she shoved it back down. Now wasn’t the time to lose her cool.
“My cell’s in my jacket pocket,” he said.
She fished it out as they hurried back to her place, and avoided looking at Gina. She immediately called Carlito, her pulse hammering in her throat. If Enzo was truly at Gina’s, the cops could arrest him now and her nightmare would finally be over.
Chapter 9
Tegan sat in the cushy chair in front of Carlito’s desk, watching Aaron pace back and forth like a caged wolf. After the cavalry had arrived and arrested Gina—and subsequently the SWAT team had stormed the woman’s rented house and also arrested the not-so-dead Enzo De Fiore—they’d been taken to the police department. The FBI were currently foaming at the mouth trying to take De Fiore into their custody while Gina—whose real name was apparently Grace Gambino—was being interrogated by Carlito and another detective.
Tegan had answered dozens of questions from a detective and so had Aaron. They’d been separated, of course, but as of a few minutes ago, they’d basically both been dumped in Carlito’s office.
Aaron had barely said two words to her. Watching him now felt like watching an angry predator. He wore a beige cable-knit sweater and dark slacks. The sweater sleeves were shoved up to his elbows, showing off all those sinewy muscles and striations. But he wouldn’t look at her, as if he couldn’t stand to. Instead, he simply paced. The divide between them was shredding her up inside but she wasn’t sure what to say.
She’d been held at gunpoint, and had discovered the man she’d thought dead was really alive and after her again. She’d been so certain she would die. Right now she was about to crawl out of her skin at the silence. It was the first time they’d been alone since he’d tackled Gina—gah, Grace.
Finally, she couldn’t handle it anymore. “I didn’t mean any of those things I said!” She didn’t mean to shout, but the words just came out angry and desperate as she surged to her feet. She couldn’t take this silent treatment. She was barely keeping it together as it was.
He stopped pacing to turn and look at her. The little flecks of amber in his eyes seemed to be almost glowing, which she knew was ridiculous, but he was angry and it was clear in every line of his body. “You think that’s why I’m pissed?”
“I…yes.” She faltered because he was looking at her as if she was out of her mind.
He took a few steps toward her, but his movements weren’t normal. No, he was stalking her, as if she were a little bunny and he were the big bad wolf that was going to devour her. “You left a f*cking note.” His voice was eerily calm.
“Well…yeah. I didn’t want to just leave.” And she couldn’t use her stupid cell phone. Gah, she really needed to get a TracFone for emergencies. Or maybe she could even start using her own phone now. It was too soon to know yet what threat was still out there.
“A pathetic f*cking note that had me going out of my mind. You should have waited until I’d gotten back and we could have come up with a game plan.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t wait. I knew you’d try to talk me out of leaving, and likely succeed. If anything happened to you or Dillon because of me…” Her voice cracked on the last word as the memory of that voice mail message played over in her mind. “You didn’t hear that message! It was awful. He threatened Brendan and Kimmy. I…” She couldn’t continue, couldn’t force any more words out as her throat closed up.
“No! Don’t f*cking cry!” His expression was a mix of anger and horror as he took another step toward her. “Please don’t cry, baby.”
“I’m not crying,” she muttered, wiping away the tears that started to fall down her cheeks. Damn it. What the hell? Until recently she almost never cried. Now it was like her tear ducts were permanently malfunctioning.
Suddenly his arms were around her, his quiet strength soothing her as he pulled her close. “Hell, Tegan, please don’t cry.”
She sniffled against his shirt before turning her cheek against his chest. His heartbeat was solid, steady. “I didn’t know what else to do. I just knew I needed to get out of your place. I couldn’t make you guys a target.” She’d do it again, too, but left that part out, knowing it would just annoy him.
He stroked a gentle hand down her back, up and down, the action soothing and sweet. “I got a call from Carlito right as I got your note. Felt as if my world had imploded. I…thought you might just go on the run again.” He stepped back but kept his arms around her, never letting her go. “I thought you might be gone for good,” he rasped out.
She looked up at him. “I wouldn’t have done that. I called Porter and he said he’d set me up with a safe house. I was going to call you as soon as I settled in.”
His expression was tight. “I thought I wouldn’t see you again. I panicked.”
She knew he’d dropped Dillon off at his parents’ place before storming over to hers. Thank God he had, too. “You saved my life. I don’t know if I ever thanked you.”
He made a sort of growling sound before he kissed her, hard and definitely claiming. At least that’s sure how it felt. This man completely owned her when he took her mouth, kissing her until her knees felt weak and she was clutching his shoulders for support.