Chapter 2
After speaking with Detective Riley, also known as Levi, I was furious at Carlisle Hallen for not telling me what was going on. Levi said he couldn't tell me because he needed my reaction to be genuine. That had worked because I was heartbroken, but now I was enraged.
I assured Levi that I wouldn't be upset with him as the messenger. However, he knew I was angry with him. I couldn't help it. After all, he was complicit in Carlisle's silence.
I leaned over the arm of the chair and turned on the lamp beside me.
Between the bomb Levi had dropped and now, night had fallen.
I had no one to speak to. My dearest friend was away with the father of her unborn child, whom she loved and who wanted to protect her.
The man I loved was associated with the underworld.
Upon thinking this, I burst out laughing. I meant the criminal underworld of Sugar Briar, not the vampire kind. Oh, jeez! I've read too many romantasy books! I needed to get a grip tonight.
My phone chose that moment to vibrate—Carlisle.
I'm at the back door.
Babe, let me inside.
With a loud sigh, I stood and walked downstairs to the rear door of my building. I looked at the security camera.
Carlisle looked rumpled.
After entering the code Jessop had installed to deactivate the alarm, I unlocked the door for the sexy, rumpled man.
It was impossible to be upset with him because he looked so good. As he walked in, I couldn't help but notice the faint scent of his cologne mingling with the cool night air.
"Thanks," he said, arching an eyebrow at my glazed stare. I shook my head. "Of course. We wouldn't want Jane to get the wrong idea if she sees you here, would we?"
"Stop!" Carlisle growled, invading my space. "You know," he said, placing a gentle hand on my chin and tilting my face up to his, "what I'm doing is putting an end to whatever Jane and Aiden are up to. I don't give a damn about either of them."
Carlisle lowered his forehead to mine. I gulped hard, feeling a faint shudder run through me. I let out a deep breath, and to my astonishment, I burst into tears.
Carlisle seemed startled and immediately pulled me into his arms. The embrace consumed me completely, and I cried even harder.
His grip was tight yet soothing, and I felt safer than I had in a long time.
When my tears dried, Carlisle muttered, "God, Tallulah, I am so fucking sorry.
" I felt him kiss the top of my head as I struggled to gather my thoughts.
I smiled and stepped back, hiding my expression. Carlisle wouldn't let me go far, keeping his hands on my hips. After kissing my forehead briefly, he moved away and shut the rear door. "I'm going to explain everything as long as you promise me that you won't interfere."
I took his warm, much larger hand and allowed him to lead me into my living room.
As settled as I could be, I looked over the handsome man. His jeans looked well-worn. The blue Henley made me want to snuggle against his chest. His sleepy face was covered in dark stubble. It was clear that he had been running his fingers through his hair.
When my needy gaze fell on his face, I sensed the fire in his eyes. He looked at me with the same passion I felt blazing inside.
"Sweetheart, I can't think straight when you look at me like that." He let out a deep breath and slumped against the back of the sofa.
"Please tell me why you keep hurting me," I urged.
"It had to appear authentic, Tallulah. Jane had to believe that I was actually going behind your back. I despised doing it." He ran a hand through his messy hair. "You know Jane worked for me, right?"
I nodded.
"She didn't do anything illegal." He grimaced.
"However, your friend Riley visited me and suggested that I use my connection with her to get to Aiden.
Apparently, Aiden had been distributing drugs with Trevor and Jane's help.
Not just party drugs, but much harder stuff.
They did it in a way that would implicate both Jessop and me if they were caught.
"In fact, they worked for a man from Boston named Roger Stillman. He is furious with us because we helped put him in prison."
I gaped at him. "It will take me some time to process what you told me. I mean, wow." I shook my head, trying to break free from the shock that had enveloped me. "Why would Aiden want Pen, though? Surely he'd know she'd be protected."
"He doesn't enjoy losing. Pen walked away." He laughed. "And she spent the money he had hidden."
I rolled my eyes. "He's a jerk who I hope gets what he deserves." I exhaled. "Pen will be safe wherever Jessop took her, right?"
Carlisle grimaced.
"What?" I narrowed my eyes.
"They turned back and are staying at the house."
"Why in the world would they do that? Leaving town would have been safer."
"Pen wants Aiden to know where she is." He raked a hand through his hair—another indication that he was upset. "Rhodes' wife, Rosie, and her colleague, Dodge, will be arriving in town shortly. They'll stay at the house for added protection."
An unladylike snort escaped me. "Pen is not going to like having others around."
"I thought she liked Rosie and Dodge." He raised a brow in question.
"Carlisle Hallen, you are an idiot." I laughed. "Pen and Jessop need time alone to work things out."
I watched as he understood and became thoughtful. "I will stay at the hotel a little longer, which will give them some space once Aiden has been apprehended."
I grinned and carefully rose to my feet. Carlisle stared as I moved to stand between his open thighs. He seemed surprised.
"I'm not going to have sex with you until this whole debacle is over." I straddled him and settled into his lap.
He swallowed hard and rested his hands on my waist. He pulled me closer and forced me down onto the hardness rising beneath me. A delightful sensation rushed through my body. "But I'd appreciate it if you held me all night?"
"So, do you forgive me for being a bastard?" He asked in a serious tone.
"I see why my reaction needed to be genuine. I'm sad that you didn't trust me, though." I held his gaze. "Yes, I have forgiven you. But I won't if you lie to me again, even by omission. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
His lips twitched, so I raised my eyebrow. "I understand." He smiled and pulled me into his arms. "Let's go to bed."
His massive hand gripped my bottom, and I really wanted to press my lips to his sexy ones. I restrained myself.
The teasing man let me slide down his body, and I felt every inch of his erection. I stepped away and padded softly to the bathroom.
"I'll be waiting for you in bed, Tallulah," he drawled.
With the door locked, I clutched the vanity for all I was worth. He knew me. I couldn't disguise my desire for him, even if I tried.
I was irritated with myself for giving in to him. I'd had an inkling that he'd only told me the truth because Levi had told him he needed to explain things to me. Or maybe it had been Jessop.
Oh, well!
I hastily changed into my pajamas, quietly praying for strength.