The last thing she needed was him to cause her more trouble. He’d promised to take care of her and TJ, and the only way he knew to do that was to keep his distance and try and draw the fucker out.
“I know you have a job to do, but you can sleep here. Or I can come to your house—”
“No.” His answer was harsher than he’d intended.
Her brows knit together, rejection flashing in her gaze. He leaned farther and whispered against her lips, “It’s not safe.”
Her arms clung tighter to him as she stood on tiptoes, melding her sweet mouth to his. This girl, always giving. But how much more could he afford to take before she had nothing left?
Her nipples hardened against his chest and he groaned. He wanted nothing more in the world than to get lost in her tight little body. His palms swept to the backs of her thighs, lifting her up. He carried her over to the counter without breaking the kiss. Their hands moved, pulling, cinching, burning. Their tongues tasted, warring, searching. She gasped as he pinched her nipple through the thin cropped tee she was wearing.
“TJ?” He panted, his breath stolen by the heavenly creature in his arms.
“Upstairs.” She moaned as he kissed down her neck.
“Dinner?”
“Keeping warm in the oven.” She sucked his earlobe into her mouth, raking her teeth over it.
It’d been almost a week since he’d had her. The pressure built, need and want overpowering him. He fisted her dark curls and kissed her, hard and unrelenting. Her hands ripped up the hem of his shirt as he ground against her center. She moaned, gripping his hips, rocking into him, taking what she wanted.
“You’re so fucking hot,” he growled.
“I need you, Bently. Please.”
He forced himself away, every cell screaming in protest. His body was an all-out inferno of desire.
“Upstairs,” he ordered. His restraint was only holding on by a thread. But the last thing they needed was her brother walking in on him fucking Belle on the kitchen counter.
She smiled and hopped down. “Give me a few minutes. I got you something special.”
His cock screamed for attention, pressing hard against his zipper. He smirked. “You’ve got five minutes.”
She giggled and swayed that perfect ass out of sight and up the stairs as he took a few deep breaths. He glanced at the clock on the stove before opening the fridge. Bently pulled out a beer. He drank the whole thing in a few gulps. Time’s up, Angel.
He stepped up the stairs, pulling his T-shirt off and unbuckling his belt before he got to her bedroom door. He knocked before he opened it and froze. Belle lay on the bed facing him with her eyes closed and blood trickling from her head. Every muscle in Bently’s body went rigid. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as his hair stood on end. A dark figure hovered behind her holding a gun to her head. Bently grabbed his gun.
“Nah ah ah. I wouldn’t do that unless you want her brains all over this room.” Joseph Canoby Jr’s blue eyes flashed with amusement.
Bently swallowed and kept his palms open in front of him. “Alright, man. This is between you and me, right? Why don’t you let her go and we can settle this?” Bently stepped to his right. Joe pressed the barrel of the gun into Belle’s temple. His heart raced as he searched for any sign of life, exhaling with relief at the steady rise and fall of her rib cage.
“How about you move over there next to the window. Put your gun on the floor and kick it to me.”
Bently lifted his weapon carefully, doing as Junior instructed. He was completely powerless. Fear wound tight, constricting his chest as his breaths grew shallow.
I need to draw his attention away from Belle.
Junior walked around and picked up his gun, shifting it to his empty hand. He smiled. “Maybe I should kill your girl with your own gun. How would that feel, Sheriff?”
“You want to hurt someone? Hurt me,” Bently pleaded.
Junior chuckled, his eyes burning with hatred. “Oh, I will. First, I’m gonna start with your girl here. She looks like a good fuck.”
Bently stepped forward, his fists clenching. Rage burned him from the inside out.
“Stay back, lover boy, or I put a bullet in her,” Junior warned, his evil smile widening.
Belle groaned and reached for her head, coming to. He needed to find a way to get her out of here. But one false move and she’d be dead. He had to keep Junior talking.
Belle’s eyes fluttered open and she jolted upwards only to gasp and lie back down.
“Now the real fun can begin.” Junior chuckled.
“Bently!” Belle called, her confusion turning to panic.
A knot formed in his chest. “I know, baby. I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”
“I wouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” Junior snapped, pressing the barrel of the gun to her cheek as she winced.
“I’m the one who killed your father. I’m the one you want. Point the gun at me.” Bently stepped closer to the bottom of the bed.
“So, you know who I am. Took you long enough.”
Bently risked another step closer to the window.
“Get up, bitch. You and I are gonna go somewhere a little more private,” Junior said, directing Belle.
She pushed to her elbows, but winced at the attempt of movement. She held her head and dry heaved.
“I said get up!” Junior yelled.
Bently’s fingernails cut into his palm as he restrained himself. He softened his voice. “Just do what he says, baby. You can do it.”
Belle’s eyes flashed to his—a mix of fear and trust reflected back. Her eyes darted to the door to his left. Her worried gaze conveyed her unspoken message.
Where is TJ? Did Junior do something to him?
Belle stood slowly on shaky legs. Her balance tipped as Junior climbed over the bed,
