Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(85)

Fuck. Just...fuck. “Was he able to tell you anything?”

Justice tugged at an ear. “Poor guy can barely whisper. Last I saw, he was trying to write some stuff out for Sahara, but the pricks broke a few of his fingers too, so—”

Rocking, her arms wrapped around herself, Cat said, “This is all my fault. They were hurt because of me.”

Before Leese could speak, Justice did.

“Bullshit. That’s just stupid talk and I’m betting Leese will tell you so.”

She looked up with big tearful eyes. “They wanted me.”

“Yeah, but that ain’t the point.” Folding his arms over his chest, Justice glared at her. “Whoever worked over Enoch is a chickenshit coward. Hell, Enoch’s not much bigger than you, and you’re an itty-bitty thing.”

She blinked up at Justice. “I don’t see—”

“You’re not a coward. Just the opposite from what I can tell. So don’t piss me off by comparing yourself to them.”

Shaking her head in confusion, she said, “I didn’t—”

Miles asked, “Should I be hearing any of this?”

“Probably not.” Leese took Cat’s arm and drew her from the chair. “Justice is right, but we’ll work all that out later. Right now you need to meet everyone, and then I want to get you someplace safe.” Where he could hash it out with her. She needed to completely trust him. Nothing less would do. Not anymore.

With a lame cough, Justice said, “Those other two? They’re in comas.”

Frustrated anger boiled inside Leese. “You’re fucking with me. Both of them?” He needed one of them alert enough to answer questions.

“’Fraid so.” Justice glanced at Miles, shrugged and spilled his guts. “You crushed the bones in the one guy’s arm. It’s pretty fucked. But I’m guessing you kicked him in the head too?”

“After he shot me.”

“Well, he’s out and who knows if he’s going to come around?”

Fascinated, Miles looked from one to the other as he listened.

“The other one has some serious damage to his windpipe. They stuck a tube down his throat so he could breathe and they’re keeping him out on purpose.”

“Son of a bitch.” Leese felt grim, but after all the violence, resolve coursed through his veins. “The penthouse is a crime scene so we can’t go back there.”

“Sahara said she’s moving you both to her place. It’s a huge house. Plenty of privacy.”

Leese stared at him, distracted. “How do you know what her house looks like?”

Tugging at his ear, Justice admitted, “I just spent a few days there myself. Got snowed in.”

No way. “You stayed with Sahara?” Huh. Hadn’t seen that one coming. “For days?”

Pointing at him, Justice growled, “Get that thought outta your head right now!”

“What thought?” Leese asked, just to make him squirm.

“Stow the innocent act. You know what you’re thinking, so don’t bother denying it. But it’s not like that. The lady scares me, and besides, there ain’t a single speck of chemistry between us.”

“Amen,” Sahara said as she breezed in.

Justice went comically rigid, his gaze frozen forward.

That didn’t stop Sahara from hugging one of his arms. “Justice was a complete gentleman, his presence made me feel safer and I appreciate him as a valued employee. Period.” Her attention settled on Miles, and she went into assessment mode. “Hello.”

Wearing the smallest of smiles, Miles said, “Hey, yourself.”

Hoping to hurry things along, Leese did introductions. “Miles, meet Sahara Silver, owner of the agency. Sahara, Miles Dartman, a friend.”

“My,” she whispered, her gaze going all over him. “A fighter?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Justice tried to subtly shake her off, but she didn’t let go. He glared down at her. “I don’t want to be a party to your flirting.”

Sahara hugged him again, then said to Leese, “We need to talk. Do you suppose these two could keep Catalina company for just a minute?”

Miles and Justice both agreed, but Leese said an emphatic, “No. She’s not leaving my sight. Not here.”

“Very well.” Sahara turned to the guys. “If you’d both excuse us?”

“I’m waitin’ right out here,” Justice warned, then, while avoiding Sahara’s gaze, he explained, “I’m sort of her protection for now.”

“Interesting.” Miles followed Justice, saying, “Guess I’ll wait with him.”

“So gallant,” Sahara enthused, but the second they were gone, she closed the space to stand very near to Leese. “Those bastards hurt Enoch bad. He has two broken ribs, broken fingers, a concussion and he was nearly strangled to death. His throat is going to need time to heal. He wasn’t able to say much, and writing is difficult, but he did manage this.” She pulled a folded sheet of paper from her pocket and smoothed it out.

Keeping Cat close, Leese read the broken scrawl. They wanted Cat. Would kill to get her.

Cat drew in a deep breath. “I’m so sorry. I thought I was protecting you—”