Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(10)

“Willow is my bodyguard.” Jay didn’t release her. “She stays with me, twenty-four seven. But that isn’t information for the press, got it? So when she says that the shooter was aiming at me, we believe her.” Not a question.

Sweat trickled down Haskin’s temple. “You got some enemies, Maverick?”

Jay’s sigh was loud and long. “Yeah, yeah, I do.”

“Then you should start making a list of them.”

***

After question after question—what seemed like a million questions—the cops left. Finally. The silence in the house stretched and stretched.

Everyone was in the den. A fire crackled in the fireplace. Willow had changed into jeans and a white sweater. She stood in the middle of the room and squared her shoulders. “I’m sorry I messed up.”

Jay downed a whiskey. She was pretty sure that might have been his second. Maybe his third. “You got shot. You don’t do that shit again, understand?”

Sawyer Cage stood. His dark blue gaze swept around the room before he raked a hand through his black hair. “I think we should call it a night.” He nodded to Elizabeth. “Everyone is about to crash. We can check in and regroup tomorrow.”

Elizabeth hesitated as she focused on Willow. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Willow opened her mouth to reply—

“She just came back from the dead,” Jay announced. “Why wouldn’t she be fine?” He slammed down his empty glass. Then he marched toward Willow. His body was too tense, and his face was locked into angry lines. “Don’t do that shit again. Don’t you ever risk yourself for me.”

It hadn’t been a risk. The Lazarus subjects could come back from death, provided they didn’t take a bullet to the brain. Because she was a walking zombie now and she—

“I am not worth it.” Jay was right in front of her. His eyes gleamed. “No bullets. No blood. Promise me.”

She wasn’t going to make any promise.

“Definitely time to call it a night.” West appeared behind Jay. He slapped a hand on Jay’s shoulder. “You know you can’t handle your whiskey for shit.”

Jay turned his head and met West’s stare. “She died. In my arms.”

West sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh, man, hell, I’m so sorry. It made you remember our sis—”

“I never forget her.” Jay shrugged away from his hold. “It’s two a.m. Definitely time to call it a night.” He nodded toward Elizabeth. “Thanks for your help, Beth. As always, you’re a lifesaver.” His lips twisted. “We’ll pick up this mess again tomorrow. See just who came gunning for me. Maybe it’s Wyman. Maybe it’s one of the other dozen bastards who want my head on a platter. Either way, we’re done for the night.” He motioned toward the door. “Limo is still out there. The driver can take you all home.”

Everyone filed out. Everyone but Willow.

And West. His stare lingered on Jay, and there was no missing his worry. “You all right?”

“Just another sin to add to my soul.” Jay’s voice was mocking. “Get some sleep, man. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Reluctantly, West filed out. Jay turned away from Willow. He headed toward the fire. Stared at the flames.

Willow found that she couldn’t move. She felt absolutely rooted to the spot. And her gaze was on Jay’s broad back.

“Why did you do it?”

His voice was so rough and hard.

“Why the hell did you take a bullet…for me?”





Chapter Three


She didn’t answer his question. Jay stared into the flames, rage tight in every cell of his body. “Wasn’t it bad enough that I was using you as bait?” He couldn’t look her in the eyes. Just couldn’t do it. “But you risked yourself for me, too?”

The floor creaked beneath her footsteps. She was coming closer. Her scent—lavender, the woman liked lavender body lotion and he’d freaking bought her a truckload of the stuff, literally—swept over him. His eyes squeezed shut. “You dying wasn’t part of the deal. We were supposed to lure Wyman Wright out into the open. You weren’t supposed to be hurt.”

“I don’t stay dead. We both know that.” Her voice was soft, confused. “Why are you reacting this way? I saved you. You should be grateful.”

Grateful? Something inside of Jay just snapped. He spun around and found her close enough to touch. So he did. His hands flew out and wrapped around her slender shoulders. He pulled her against him, hating that he was being rough but unable to hold back his fury. Fury at her. At himself. “Your blood was all over me. I saw you die. I wasn’t grateful. I was fucking in hell.”

Her eyes were wide. Stunned. “But…but I came back.”

His hold tightened. “You think watching you die is easy? That shit ripped me open.” He was still raw. “Never again.”

“Jay—”

“Promise me.” He’d asked for that promise before. Now he demanded it. “You never do that again. Swear it.”

But she shook her head. “I won’t.”

What?

“You’re not being reasonable. This isn’t like you.” She pulled out of his arms. Stood staring at him, her expression confused. “You’re the logical one. I mean, I understand Sawyer. He’s like me. The darker emotions live in us. They thrive inside because of what was done to us. But you…” Her words trailed away as she shook her head.