“Thought you might need one. I brought my laptop with me. It’s yours for the duration,” Scorpion volunteered.
“You think of everything,” Reaper said, laughing.
“I just knew you’d want to see what you were dealing with. By the way, I heard from Mustang. His buddy assures me that your Mr. Porter is on the up and up. That’s not how the assholes knew where to search for you.”
“Really? Then how?” I asked, my mind churning away.
“Shit. Let’s just hope that evidence is enough to take Giordani off the streets for good,” Reaper said before exhaling.
“Trust me. It’s enough to put him away at least for a few years. It’s not good enough since he killed that man in cold blood, but at least it’s something. As long as the assholes in Chicago will do their jobs, then maybe the streets will be safer.” My exclamation was followed by another look shared between them. Damn it. They couldn’t understand the situation. They were honorable men who had spent their careers helping people.
“Makes sense, Mitch. You should be aware that Sheriff Robertson had a conversation with that DA of yours.”
“Really? Isn’t that risky?” I asked, although at this point, what the hell was either one of us supposed to do?
“Maybe, but I doubt the sheriff would be stupid enough to give away any real information. However, she also seems to believe that Mr. Porter is on the up and up.”
I felt the tension swamping my system. I also found it difficult to continue looking into his eyes. As I tried to back away, he grabbed my arm, keeping me close to him.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he demanded.
“There’s nothing to tell. I had only a few minutes to leave.”
“But you said that’s not your truck.”
Uh-oh. “No, it belongs to the single friend I have in Chicago.”
Another look was shared between the men.
“You had to give her a reason why you wanted to borrow her truck,” Reaper said in a controlled manner.
“Actually? I took it without her knowledge.” That was the truth.
When Scorpion laughed, I shot him a look. “I’m serious. I’ve borrowed her truck before. I knew where she kept the keys. She has another vehicle anyway.”
“Well, we can add thief to your list of wrongdoings,” Reaper half whispered.
The men remained quiet. I took the opportunity to break away from Reaper. “Are we staying here?”
“For tonight. In the morning we’re going to have a nice little visit with the sheriff. Mr. Porter sent her several pictures of the various men working for Giordani. If any of them attempt to cross state lines, they’ll be found.”
I laughed softly as I started to walk into the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“To get a drink. Is that at least allowed?”
“I could use one,” he answered. “Scorp?”
“I gotta get back. I still have a bar to run. Remember? I brought a rifle with me ‘cause I figured you were going to stay here tonight. You might as well have double barrel protection.”
Double barrel protection. My God. We were in a war.
“That’ll work,” Reaper said half under his breath.
“Call me if the shit hits the fan,” Scorpion added.
My head ached, my intuition telling me that something very bad was going to happen tonight.
I didn’t bother listening in on their conversation. Every part of me shook as I found a bottle of bourbon, foregoing the wine. My nerves remained on edge. I was certain I’d seen someone out in the woods, watching and waiting. While I’d found nothing, no tracks or even broken limbs on a tree, my instinct refused to stop nagging me.
Hell if I knew what I would have done if I’d seen one of them. I poured two glasses, methodically placing several cubes of ice into them. My actions were robotic, the chill from before still skittering throughout my body. I just wanted this to be over with. I stared out at the waning light, another early night cascading over the city. I’d spent the day alone thinking, trying to plan what my life would be if Dante was arrested. Could I live in Chicago? Could I dare do something bold?
Sadly, I didn’t have a final answer.
I sensed Reaper’s presence behind me, and I inhaled, the scent of him so manly and full of testosterone. When I felt his fingers rubbing down the length of my back, my breathing ragged.
“You know Giordani is going to attempt to find you. It might be tomorrow or even next week, but he will find a way to attempt to get to you.” His voice was softer than usual, yet the husky vibe made me drag my tongue across my lips.
“I know.”
“I hope you also realize that if that motherfucker lays a single finger on you, he will die.”
“You can’t risk your life for me, Reaper. That’s not fair.”
“You’re worth the risk, Mitch. You’re worth fighting for.”
I hadn’t expected the words, or the sentiment that I felt coming from his mind as well as his heart. No one other than my parents had ever fought for me. I felt tears springing to my eyes, but I refused to give into the anguish that had nearly crushed my soul.
“I’m not sure I’m worth the trouble or the anger you’d been forced to feel. I am sorry, Reaper.”
“Nash. You can call me Nash.”
He turned me around to face him, lifting the drink from my hand. As he took several sips then lowered his head, I knew I couldn’t resist this man, not on any level. Not for any reason. I’d been pulled into his cowboy world, a city girl with no understanding of rugged country life. But I could learn. Right?
As he pressed his lips against mine, gently pushing them open, I wrapped my arms around his neck. He was the kind of irresistible man who would never take no for an answer. He’d simply take what he believed
