Warrior (First to Fight #1)(46)
“Is there any reason why he would want to hurt you?”
“Chad? I don’t think so, I mean, he wasn’t happy with me the last time I saw him because, well, I broke things off between us. But he’s not the kind of guy that would hurt anyone.”
“We’ll take that into consideration, but he’s one of a few suspects with a vehicle matching the description of the assailant’s. We’ve brought him in for questioning just to be safe. Is there anyone else you can think of that may have a grudge against you?”
I shake my head. “No one at all. I’ve barely even left the house over the last couple of months.”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s our guy either, but we want to be sure. The other is an out of state vehicle. Some low-life named Mason Smith, lives in the next county over. He’s a local thug. Drug dealer. Has a group of women that he pimps out on occasion.”
“I guess it’s too much to hope that you’re bringing him in for questioning, too.”
“He wasn’t at his residence when they went by, but we’ve got men out looking for him. In the meantime, just keep aware. Set your alarms and check your locks, just in case. There is something about this that isn’t sitting right with me.”
“Of course. I appreciate the update. I know you’re doing all you can.”
Ben walks Logan out. When he returns, I send him a relieved smile, “I’m so glad we finally have some leads. I’ve heard of Mason before. He lives on the other side of town. I highly doubt Chad could have anything to do with this. He’s not the brightest crayon in the box, but he couldn’t hurt a fly.”
He watches as I flit around the living room, tidying up things that don’t really require tidying. “You can’t be so sure of that.”
“Mason is a drug dealer. If anyone has anything to do with this, I’d bet it would be him. Besides, Chad and I were really just beginning to see each other. Even after he saw us the other night, he wasn’t that upset. Even when I broke things off.”
Ben blocks the kitchen doorway with an arm as I try to squeeze through with a handful of dirty dishes. “You’re delusional if you think he wasn’t pissed off when he found me with my hands all over you.”
“Your hands weren’t all over me,” I scoff.
“Baby, my hands were full of tits and ass. Any man who walks in on that, especially with a woman like you, they’re going to be pissed off.”
I look at him sharply. “A woman like me?”
“Yeah, a woman like you.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means if I were in his shoes, I would have been pissed off, too.”
“So you’re saying that you would have gunned me down in a parking lot if you saw me with another man?”
“I’m saying any man can snap, given the right circumstances. Losing you,” he says, staring deep into my eyes, “that would definitely throw any man over the edge.”
I don’t even know how to respond so I duck under his arm and distract my racing heart with rinsing out the dishes. Desperate to change the subject, I blurt, “I bet you’re relieved that you don’t have to keep staying over here, huh?”
Ben follows me in the kitchen, leaning against the island behind me. “What do you mean?”
“Well, the police have some leads now. All they need to do is bring the guys in for questioning, then this will all be over. Do you want me to help you pack?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Ben turns me around to face him. I keep my gaze steady on his neck. “I’m just saying that now that they’re making some headway on the case, you can relax a little bit. Get back to your own life.”
“I don’t f*cking think so.”
“You...don’t f*cking think so...what?”
“You’re delusional. We just had the conversation about keeping you safe until this man is behind bars. That doesn’t change because there have been a few developments.”
“Ben, this is getting ridiculous. I’m fine. We’re going to be fine. You don’t have to stay here. If you’re worried about me keeping the baby from you, you don’t have to be. You’re welcome to see him anytime you want. We can go see a custody lawyer and get started on that if it makes you feel any better.”
Ben leans his weight on the kitchen counter and crosses his arms across his muscular chest. “It’s not about the baby, Olivia. It’s about you and me.”
I flush and move to leave, but he cages me against the counter. “You mentioned that before but…things are just too complicated right now. I have to focus on Cole. I think it’s probably best that there isn’t a ‘you and me.’” I can’t entertain the thought of Ben and I again, even though my body is screaming otherwise. I would only lose him again. Like I lost my father and—
“Let me take you upstairs and I’ll remind you of all the reasons why there should be,” comes Ben’s voice, low in my ear.
And that’s exactly why I can’t go there again. With one sentence, he solidifies my conviction and pours a bucket of ice cold water over my traitorous body which was once again heating up at Ben’s sinful words and close proximity. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can take Ben up on his offer right now and he would more than deliver on his promise. Attraction, sex…they’ve never been an issue between Ben and I. But I need more than that now. Cole needs more than that. And we can’t have both.