Page 36 of Lord of Debauchery

“Touché, and that’s a question that needs an immediate answer. It seems someone is determined to find out how we respond when backed into a corner.”

“I know you’re a big bad dude and all, but games like that are little more than herding cows into their slaughtering bins.”

The woman could make me smile like no other. “Excellent point. Which means I need to reverse the score.”

“And how do you plan on doing that when you don’t know what you’re dealing with?”

“Camden was also a Marine. He was one of the good guys for a long time. What I’ve learned from him has been invaluable. What I’ve told you about my family’s corporation has all been true, but unlike the military, we’re often forced to use less than scrupulous methods of getting what we want.”

“And you think the United States government didn’t invent those tactics? Don’t fool yourself. There’s a fine line between right and wrong, the gray area now used more often than not. If you find me a one hundred percent honorable man, I’ll give you a million bucks.”

“I didn’t know you were so jaded. How sad. You’re far too young and beautiful to be so hardened. Life is just beginning for you.”

“Don’t let youth fool you, Beckham. Some people live a lifetime by time they’re twenty-one.”

“Ouch, but very true.” As Jeff placed the first aid kit and two drinks onto the table in front of us, he shifted his gaze from one to the other. “Clothes, comin’ right up. Unless you want to take a shower.”

“Hopefully, our ride home will be short and sweet. The change of clothes is fine for now.”

She waited until he’d backed away before gingerly tugging the shirt from the loaned sweatpants. “Try and hold up your arms as much as you can. I’ll be gentle.”

“I assume you know what you’re doing?” I did as she asked, sucking in my breath as another jolt of pain tore through my right side. Damn, the motherfucker had to hit me on the dominant side.

She finally unfroze her face from the combination of being angry and worried, the smile capable of lighting up the moment. “How quickly you forget I have dozens of hidden talents.” She was so gentle in removing my shirt, the pain was minimal.

“No, I assure you I’m not forgetting anything. You are… amazing.”

“No, I’m just a girl who was attempting to make a better life for herself.”

“Why do I have the feeling you’re running from the girl you were before?”

She lifted her gaze briefly before easing me forward on the chair, examining the wound. “Don’t believe everything you think you know about me. I’m not that complicated.”

“And I think you’re wrong. You’re beautifully complicated in all the best ways.”

The hint of a warm pinkish blush drifting up her cheeks was an indication she wasn’t used to being complimented. What kind of man didn’t shower his lady with words of adoration? I was incensed, another odd feeling passing through me.

I wanted to strangle whoever had pushed down her self-confidence. At least I had an inkling why she pushed so hard in every other aspect of her life.

“It’s clean. You were lucky. Too lucky if you ask me.” She turned toward the kit, flipping it open then taking a gulp of her drink. Only then did I notice just how much her hands were shaking.

“We’ll get through this.”

“There is no we, Beckham. I’m here because you’re requiring me to and nothing more. I don’t think I need to say this, but I will. What happened between us will not happen again. Do you hear me?”

Her jaw was clenched but there were tears in her eyes. Ones of fright. Ones of horror. And ones of exhaustion. But I sensed what was troubling her the most was the odd closeness we felt. “You’re here where I can protect you.”

“Maybe you can’t. What makes you think they won’t be waiting around every corner?”

“Because that’s not how they operate.”

“Oh, and you suddenly know that for certain?”

The woman was exasperating as hell. “No, little fighter. But I will find out everything I need to know to eliminate them from the face of this earth.” She smiled after I issued the words as if challenging me. I rubbed her face, the tingling sensations reappearing.

“Were they all branded?”

“I didn’t take time to check their bodies, but they were dressed the same.” I hadn’t bothered to think or care about that.

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