Fever (Breathless #2)(54)

Kaden closed the phone and then turned his furious stare in Bethany’s direction. Trevor stood just behind him, arms crossed over his chest, a scowl firmly planted on his face.

Kaden advanced, stalking toward her until her kitchen felt small and suffocating.

“Do you mind telling me what the ever-loving f**k you thought you were doing today?” he seethed.

“I—”

He yanked up his hand, evidently not finished.

“Trevor and I were frantic. Mr. Crestwell was losing his mind. He hired us to protect you. He hired us to ensure your safety. Do you mind telling me how the hell we’re supposed to do that when you pull a stunt like you did today?”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Tears burned her eyelids but she blinked furiously, determined not to break down in front of these men.

“You’re sorry.” He blew out a long breath. “You could have been raped, killed, horribly injured. Take your pick. And you’re sorry. Jesus.”

The blood drained from her face. She started to explain that she’d been perfectly safe when the door banged open again and Jace strode in, his features set in stone. He looked cold. Unmovable.

He spared only a quick glance in her direction before turning his attention to Kaden and Trevor.

“Thank you. You both can go now. I’ll take it from here.”

“And do we report in tomorrow morning?” Kaden asked.

Jace hesitated a long moment. “I’ll let you know.”

Bethany couldn’t breathe around the panic knotting her throat. This was it. Jace was going to toss her out. They were over. He was pissed. It was just as well. The longer she existed in this fantasyland, the worse it was going to be in the end. Better to end it now before she forgot what her life was really like.

Kaden and Trevor left the apartment after both directed meaningful glances in her direction. They both said the same thing. Stupid. Foolish.

Her mouth wobbled and she clamped her lips together. She wasn’t going to make a fool of herself. She’d face this with as much dignity as she could possibly gather.

She carefully put the phone back on the bar and then walked toward the bedroom, Jace’s gaze following her every step.

“I’ll just get my stuff,” she said quietly. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

She went into the bedroom, fighting against the surge of tears that bathed her face. And then she realized she had nothing to pack. No things to collect. This was all Jace’s. Stuff he’d bought her. Even if she took them with her, she’d have no place to put them.

Then a firm hand closed over her shoulder. He turned her sharply to face him and then looked taken aback when he saw her tears.

“Mind telling me what the f**k this is about?” Jace demanded.

“I know you’re angry,” she said in a low voice. “I’ll be out in just a few minutes. I’d appreciate a cab, but if not I can walk.”

His jaw clenched and bulged and a look of utter fury entered his eyes.

“You think I’m kicking you out?” he asked in an incredulous tone.

She flinched. “Aren’t you?”

He swore. “Goddamn it, Bethany. You and I are going to have a long talk. This has been a f**king day from hell and I’ll be goddamned if I’m going to end it with you walking out on me.”

She blinked in surprise. “You don’t want me to go?”

“Does it look like I want you to go?”

Her mouth went dry. “But you’re so angry. A-a-and you didn’t ask Kaden and Trevor to come back tomorrow.”

“Would it do me any f**king good?” he snapped. “You aren’t exactly complying with their protection.”

She flushed and looked away. “I’m sorry.”

“Fuck it all, Bethany, I thought you’d left me today. What was I supposed to think? You took off. No note, no phone call. You wouldn’t answer your phone or my texts. I was in a f**king panic because I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“No!” she said in a stricken voice. “I wasn’t leaving you! I just had something I needed to do. I came back.”

He nodded. “Yes. You did. And that’s the only reason why I’m not completely losing my mind here. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that you took off to God knows where without the men I hired to protect you. I made it abundantly clear that you weren’t to go anywhere without them. What about that did you not understand?”

His grip tightened on her arms and he hauled her against his chest. She stared up at him wide-eyed, her tears forgotten. He looked furious, absolutely. But not for the reason she thought. He thought she’d left him?

She reached up to touch his face, seeing for the first time the fear that accompanied his anger.

“I wasn’t leaving,” she whispered.

“Thank f**k for that,” he muttered. “But Bethany? You and I have a hell of a lot to go over. I’ve tried to play this as delicately as possible but f**k it. Not doing that anymore. It’s time we do this my way.”

Chapter twenty

Jace had to let go of her and take a step back, putting distance between them. His breaths hurt, squeezing from a chest so tight it felt as though it was in the grip of a vise.

He had to get his shit together.

First things first. Before they could work out the evolution of their relationship—hell, he’d been patient for a week. Yeah, it wasn’t much time, but for him? It may as well have been a f**king year. He’d never waited this amount of time for something he wanted. But before he could lay down the terms of their relationship, they had to address the reason she’d taken off, without protection, without telling anyone shit.