No in Between (Inside Out #4)(59)

“Go home, Michael,” I bite out. “There’s nothing for you here.”

His lips twist evilly. “I guess we’ll see about that,” he replies, a snide arrogance in his tone that makes me want to slap him, but he’s already turned away. He’s leaving, but he’s not gone. I have failed to get rid of him.

“Are you okay?” Jacob asks. If he’s been in a fight, his perfectly pressed suit and flawless face show no sign of it.

“Did he hurt you?” Kelvin asks, stepping closer, and I realize I’ve never seen him in a suit before. He heads the local Walker Security team, which makes him Jacob’s boss.

“I’m fine,” I assure him, and it’s remarkably true. “And I have Jacob to thank for that. He refused to leave my side even when I was with the detective.”

“Good thing he didn’t,” Kelvin comments. “Michael was supposed to be on a plane out of the city.”

“Apparently his travel plans and departure from his hotel were meant as a distraction,” Jacob says.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I say, shivering against a gust of cold wind. “Is Chris—”

“On his way to kick my ass for letting this happen,” Jacob assures me, his frustration evident.

“It’s not your fault this happened, Jacob,” I assure him, “and I’ll be the first one to tell Chris that.”

“When I’m protecting you, anything that goes wrong is my fault,” he corrects. “I should have let the detective get his ass kicked.”

The coffee shop doors open beside us, and Corey and Raf are marched out in handcuffs. Kelvin rests a hand on the wall and lifts his chin at Jacob. “What the hell happened in there?”

“The kid, Corey, seems to have the hots for Ava, and apparently called Sara a lying bitch.”

I blanch. “Me? He doesn’t even know me.”

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Kelvin says. “Sounds like he was speaking Ava’s kind of language. How’d that turn into a fight?”

“Raf, who in case it wasn’t explained is technically still Ava’s husband. Sara wasn’t the lying bitch,” Jacob says. “He claimed Ava’s the lying bitch. Then it was all fists.”

I think back to the Chanel store, when Ava took a call from her Raf. “I thought he wanted Ava back?”

“That is not a man who wants his wife back,” Jacob assures me, cutting a look toward the police car as the back doors are closed. “I need to go talk to the detective before he leaves.”

“Go,” Kelvin orders. “I have Sara.”

Jacob takes off in a jog and Kelvin is already herding me toward the gallery, eager to escape reporters. As we walk, a sudden wave of emotion overcomes me. Fortunately, I have the short hike to beat it back down. I won’t let Michael have the power of destruction over me—not even in the form of a few worthless tears.

Once we’re inside the gallery, Ralph darts out of his office. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say, though the dull throb starting behind my eyes and in my head argues differently. “I handled the detective. But you,” I add, “need to stop letting the police intimidate you. What time is it?”

He glances at his watch. “Ten to two; time for food. How about pizza?”

“Sure,” I say, though I’m certain I won’t be able to eat since Ava’s hearing is about to start. “You know what I like. Can you order?”

“You got it. Extra cheese coming your way.”

I shut myself in my office. Leaning against the door, I squeeze my eyes shut, only to have someone start shoving their way inside.

“Sara.”

Relief washes over me at the sound of Chris’s voice. I move away from the door, giving him space to enter. He steps inside the office, shutting us in, and the deliciously wonderful power of him consumes the room, and me, with it.

“I heard about Michael,” he says, dragging me against him, and he is warm and hard and wonderful in all the unexplainable, perfect ways that are Chris. “I hate that I let him get close to you.” He leans against the door and frames my face. “I swore I’d never let him hurt you again. I thought he was on a plane. Blake’s team confirmed his travel, and watched him get into his car.”

My hands go to his. I will never get tired of having Chris hold me like this, or look at me like I’m the beginning and end of his world, as he is right now. “Jacob told me they thought he was leaving, but I’m fine. This isn’t his fault, Chris. He got sideswiped. And this isn’t your fault, either. You’re the man I love, not my personal bodyguard.”

“The hell I’m not, and Michael will find out that his bullshit doesn’t change anything. You don’t have to worry.”

But he’s worried, and well beyond the normal, bossy, protective man I adore. I see it in his eyes, and I fear my confession last night is why. “I wasn’t afraid, and I’m not about to have a panic attack, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I say. “I told you. They never happen at a logical time.”

He turns us, claiming the dominant position by pressing my back to the wall, framing my hips with his, his hands going to the wall by my head. “Don’t do that, Sara. Don’t assume I think you’re weak. I don’t. You were afraid for Ella’s safety last night. If that’s not a logical reason to have a panic attack, I don’t know what is.”