The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(71)

“Hey, Serena, babe, it’s me. Look, I know you’re worried about the promo for the new Sweetheart book, but I promise you I have it all taken care of. I did exactly what you told me to. It’s a little unorthodox as promos go, but hey, you’re not exactly writing sweet Regency romances. I think you’re right. This will work. I’ll set it all up. Talk to you later.”

Serena’s whole body seemed to droop. Her shoulders slumped, and her head hung a bit as though some force had been animating her and now it was gone. “You won’t believe me, but that message was about a signing I’m doing at an adult toy store to promote the new book. I had to talk her into it. She thought it would be trashy, but I thought it would be fun. I even talked to a friend who makes naughty cupcakes. She’s catering it. But it doesn’t matter. I’ll just go now.”

She started to turn away. Jake didn’t like the way she looked. He’d seen the same blank, glassy stare on victims of trauma. When he’d been in the service, he’d seen the exact vacant look in the eyes of men and women who’d just had their houses blown up by a bomb. It was as though they couldn’t really process the horror of what had just happened.

She seemed a little dazed and unsteady on her feet. For the first time since he’d seen that damn video, he felt uncertain about just what he’d witnessed.

“Serena, do you need help?” He wasn’t going to let her fall over no matter how angry he was with her. God, just looking at her was making his heart hurt, and for the first time he had to really consider the fact that he might have to forgive her. Really forgive her because she had become necessary. He started to reach out. She really needed to get ice on that wrist.

“Don’t touch me.” She stepped away, her jaw clenching. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

“Serena, would you like to explain yourself? I’m willing to listen.” Adam’s voice came out on a shaky breath, as though he knew he was walking a tight rope, and he was pretty sure he didn’t want to fall off.

“Listen? You’re willing to listen? Fuck your listening, Adam because I’ve been listening to both of you, and I don’t like a word I’ve heard.” Her fists were clenched at her sides, her face a deep red. She was crying again, the tears running down her cheeks. She looked young and vulnerable and so f*cking fragile in Adam’s shirt and those glasses she hid behind. “You want the truth? I’m everything you’ve ever thought I was. I’m just a greedy slut. I used you both, and now I’m really upset that you found out because I haven’t hit the Times yet and I was really hoping to hit the Times. If you hadn’t found out, I was planning on faking my own rape and torture so I could move up on the best seller list. So congratulations to you both. You were right. I was always a wretched whore. Jake, you should go back to sulking, and Adam can go forth on his quest to find the perfect woman. It sure as f*ck isn’t me.”

She turned, but Jake was faster. He moved in front of her, cutting off her retreat. “No, Serena. I think we’re all going to sit down and talk. I apologize for what I said earlier. I was overly emotional. Now please sit down and let’s discuss this.”

“Shove your apology straight up your ass, Jacob. Or you could have Adam do it for you. He likes to be helpful.”

Fuck, she knew where to shove a knife in. Jake watched Adam’s face go a polite blank. It was the same look he’d had when his father had thrown him out. “Serena, I’m willing to admit I might have been hasty, but you have to agree it’s compelling evidence.”

“I don’t have to agree with you. I have to go and get my things and leave.”

“I’m not going to let you do that.” Now that he was thinking a little more clearly, he had a few questions. He got the e-mails. He could even buy that Lara had paid someone to trash Serena’s car. But the snake? Really?

Adam’s cell rang. He pulled it out and answered it, his voice going to a quiet, professional tone.

“Let me go.” Serena stared a hole through him.

He couldn’t. He was panicking a little now. She couldn’t lie to save her life and the whole “I’m a whore” speech had been one long lie. What if she was telling the truth? What if she had no idea? He’d just f*cked everything up, and if he let her go, he might never see her again. Might? Hell, if he took his damn eyes off of her, she would be gone, and he couldn’t let that happen. “No. Not until we figure this out.”

“There is nothing to figure out.”

But there was a whole lot Jake needed to figure out. He needed to know just how deeply screwed he was and how hard he would have to work to get out of the hole he’d dug. “There is and you know it. Serena, you are still under our protection.”

“No, I am not. You’re fired.”

“You’re not the client.”

A bitter little smile crossed Serena’s face. “No, Lara is. But guess what, Jake? She’s fired, too. If you’re going to keep me here, you’re going to have to do it against my will.”

He felt his whole body go on alert. She wanted a fight? He could handle a fight. “That can be arranged.”

He’d wanted to tie her up since the moment he’d seen her.

“Jake, we need to take her downtown.” Adam stood with the keys to the SUV in his hand. “That was Ian. He’s got Lara in his office. He wants to talk to all of us.”