Chapter 27 #3
“I’m going to wish what?” Parker spits his words to Dalton.
“You’re going to wish that you were never born.”
“I know who you are, Dalton Leone,” Parker says, eyes narrowed.
“I know all your secrets, and I know all the ones that the cops want to know as well. You’re not the only one who can hire private eyes.
” He smiles evilly. “And I also know about your son and the Bratva, thanks to public adoption records, and I know Igor’s friends are looking for little Toby.
” His eyes narrow. “So, I’d be very careful about how you threaten me. Or I may have to give them a call.”
Dalton steps back and looks at him. “What did you just say to me?” he asks in a low voice. It sounds even more threatening than when he was angry.
“I just …”
“What did you just say to me? Did you threaten me and my son and my woman?”
I swallow hard at those words because since when did I become his woman? Not that I am going to say anything at this moment.
“I just was talking, is all.” Parker takes a step back.
“You’d better get out of town,” Dalton says, “because you’re not going to like the man that I become.”
I’m not sure what it is about what he said, but Parker starts running.
Dalton hurries back to me. “Grab your clothes. Now,” he says. “Tell me, have you heard from him?”
“Who? What?” I jump up quickly.
“Parker. Have you been communicating with him?”
“No. I mean, he’s been texting and calling me from numbers, but I keep blocking them, and he keeps texting me and calling me and—”
“You didn’t tell me?”
“No, because I thought I could handle it, but—”
“You’re coming home with me,” he says.
“What are you talking about? I can’t. I—”
“You’re not safe right now. This man is a psychopath. I’m going to have to contact the cops so we can take care of you. But right now, I don’t trust him or what he’s going to do. You need to live with me for a little bit.”
“Dalton, there’s no way—”
“We’re not arguing about this. You hear me? You are coming to my house.”
“I am not coming to your house.”
“Why not? We make love anyway.”
“Not in your house,” I growl at him. “This is not an option. I am not moving in with you.”
“You don’t have a choice, Sage. The man is crazy.”
“I will buy pepper spray.”
“Are you out of your mind? I will not let you be alone right now. The man is stalking you. He’s a sociopath.”
“Just my luck,” I joke, but he doesn’t laugh. “Will I at least get my own bedroom?”
He starts laughing then, like I’m crazy. “No, my dear. You will be in my bedroom in my bed. That’s the only way I can ensure I can look after you.”
“I don’t need you to look after me.”
“I’m your protector whether you like it or not.” He grabs me and pulls me toward him and kisses me hard. “You hear me, Sage?”
“Just now you were practically begging me to …”
“Hey.” He grins. “Don’t worry. We’ll finish when we get back to my place.”
“That’s not what I was talking about, Dalton.”
“Uh-huh,” he says as he grabs his shorts and pulls them up. “Man, I’ve got such blue balls right now,” he says, shaking his head. “That man sure knows how to turn up at the most inopportune of moments.”
“What are you going to do to him?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “It’s for me to know and him to find out.”
“You’re not going to kill him, are you?”
He eyes me and shakes his head. “I’m not about that life anymore. I would never take another person out. I’ve actually never taken a life before. I need you to know that.”
“Okay, I believe you,” I say softly.
“But Parker is going to realize that he messed with the wrong woman and the wrong man. I am going to ensure we get that man imprisoned.”
“Oh.”
He smiles at me. “Brett isn’t just a pretty face, you know?”
“Don’t tell Rosie that.” I sigh.
“He’s not such a bad guy, you know? Maybe, just maybe, he’d be good for her.”
“No, she needs someone who doesn’t have issues. I want my sister to have the best guy, a lighthearted guy, and Brett does not seem like he’s that sort of man.”
“Touché,” he says, “but maybe the lighthearted guys aren’t the honest ones. Maybe the lighthearted guys aren’t the ones who would give up their life for you.”
“I don’t know if I want him to give up his life for her.”
“I know,” he says, “but sometimes, what we want isn’t what we get.” He pauses for a second and then touches the side of my face. “Are we good, Sage? Like, really good?”
“About the earlier stuff, yes. I’m not very happy about having to come and stay with you, but I will admit that Parker does seem like a little bit of a psycho, so for now, I will acquiesce.
” I cross my arms and glare at him. “But I’m not happy about this.
Don’t think it means more sex. In fact, it may mean none. ”
“You trying to hurt my feelings, Sage? Or are you just attempting to lie? You can’t resist all this.”
He flexes his muscles, and all I can do is laugh.
“Just watch me.” I shake my head. “Two strikes, Dalton. You lied about being Bradley, and now you’re making me live with you. Don’t take my kindness for weakness. I like you, but I still don’t know if I trust you.”