Rules of Protection (Tangled in Texas #1)(9)

I paced the floor for a while, then stopped to look at myself in the mirror. Holy hell. My curly blond hair resembled a raggedy bird’s nest, my makeup was streaked, and my clothes were dirty and disheveled. Even my boobs looked crooked.

Casually, I glanced behind me and saw the green light shining on the camera in the corner. They were still filming me, but being alone in an interrogation room for hours does something to your mind. Apparently, it made me lose mine. I kept my back to the camera and my body close to the mirror as I reached into my blouse and adjusted my boob.

It was a familiar problem, since one of my breasts was a large B, while the other was a small C. It wasn’t a noticeable difference, and most women have one breast that’s larger than the other. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. No explaining that to men, though. Every time I’ve tried, I always got the same response. “Un-uh! Prove it! I want to see for myself.” Even Dale, who had more interest in a man’s hacky sack than a pair of tits, said the same thing.

Men are idiots.

Tired of standing, I sat in the chair and laid my head on the table. I could barely keep my eyes open, but every time I closed them, Sergio’s face stared back at me with a blank look. I thunked my head on the smooth surface, trying to get the image out of my mind. Then the door opened and closed.

“Thank God,” I said, lifting my head. “I want to get this over with—” I stopped breathing, and the room grew eerily still.

Jake stood there looking at me, measuring me up. The butt of a gun peeked out from under the edge of his jacket. The panic that had settled in my bones from earlier resurfaced, as if Jake himself had pushed the big red button.

His lips curled into a disgustingly sarcastic smile. “Rough night?”

Instinctively, I jumped out of my chair and screamed. He hurried to round the table as I ran to the other side near the door. He stopped coming forward when I picked up a chair and held it in a throwing position.

“Don’t you dare,” he said, his face knotting with anger.

Yeah, like I was going to listen. I threw the chair, but he turned at the last second, and it caught him in the shoulder. I tried to run out the door, but didn’t make it before Jake grabbed me.

With warp speed, he shoved me against the wall, pinning me there with his body, making it hard for me to breathe. The intensity in his eyes told me he positively seethed with rage. That’s when the door flung open as Officer Stevens burst into the room. Jake let go of me and backed away slowly with his hands in the air.

“We have the whole thing on camera,” Stevens said. “Do you want to press charges?”

I looked at Stevens stupidly. “Of course I do! Arrest that sonofabitch!”

Jake and Officer Stevens traded puzzled looks before both men burst into hysterics. I’m talking the kind of laughter that can easily make you wet your pants and not care because it’s that damn funny.

“I was talking to him,” Stevens said, still chuckling.

“What?”

The officer wiped his watery eyes. “Ma’am, you just assaulted a federal agent. This man here is Special Agent Jacob Ward. He works for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

I glanced over at Jake. “FBI?” He grinned and cocked his eyebrow at me. “Fine. Officer Stevens, I want this agent arrested for kidnapping and assault.”

The smile slid from Jake’s face. “I didn’t kidnap or assault anybody.”

“Yes, you did. Me! You forced me to leave the club with you, then you assaulted me.”

“Are you insane? That was self-defense. You spun around and attacked me. I was nice enough to hold back and keep myself from hurting you. And I didn’t kidnap you. There was no gun to your head when I asked you to leave with me.”

“Ask? You didn’t ask! You threatened to kill my friends!” I pointed at Stevens. “Add that to the list, as well.”

The officer looked confused. “I’m going to step out for a moment and let you two work this out.”

Jake nodded. “While you’re at it, get the camera turned off and clear the boys out of the viewing room. I need to talk to the witness privately.”

Viewing room? Oh God, don’t tell me I…

The officer hurried out the door as Jake picked up the chair I had thrown. He set it back in place, then motioned for me to sit. Before I did, I watched the green light on the camera change to a red, blinking one. Holy shit! He really was a federal agent.

“Viewing room?” I whispered, biting my lip.

“Yep, we were making arrangements for you when you started fondling yourself. Then most of the men in that room had to make their own arrangements…if you know what I mean.”

“I wasn’t fondling myself.”

“Hey, I can’t help it if that’s what it looked like.”

“Oh God.” I rubbed at my temple, trying to alleviate the headache that came back. “Someone should’ve told me a viewing room sat on the other side of the mirror.”

“Do you live in a goddamn cave? Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a cop show with a double-sided mirror before.”

“Of course I have. I wasn’t thinking. I was more worried about the camera. Excuse me for being stressed out.”

“It’s understandable.” Jake eyed me for a moment. “You’re in a shitload of trouble, you know.”