Page 54 of Crave Me

It takes her a moment to speak. “We think my ex-boyfriend is the one who set the car on fire and wrecked the dealership.”

I’ll admit, I’m not prepared to hear this and my expression evidently reveals as much.

Her cheeks flush with obvious embarrassment. “Bryant isn’t a good guy and far from stable,” she explains. “But he’s worse than I thought and has ties to the mafia.”

“I don’t see how this connects him to you or what happened at the dealership.”

“He used the same model truck I drive to crash through the building and into my office. He also destroyed that collage of pictures I showed you and wrote ‘whore’ across the desk.” She averts her gaze. “Curran says Bryant still considers me his and is trying to prove he can still hurt me.”

“What do you mean ‘still’?”

Her blanching face causes my anger to return. “Like I told you, it wasn’t a good relationship.”

My feelings for her and desire to keep her safe tempt me to press for more details. But the fragility she demonstrates holds me in place. It’s brief, but it’s there. This is a man who clearly caused her pain. I won’t cause her more. “Does Curran know he’s hurt you beyond this incident?”

“He does.” She analyzes me closely. “And because of it, he’s the one who knocked on his door along with a few other cops. Bryant was arrested, but was out in a few hours once his big-time lawyers, who he shouldn’t be able to afford, arranged his release. I filed a report, but it’s not enough, not when the security cameras didn’t capture his face, and not when an airtight alibi popped out of nowhere. All charges were dropped as of last night.” She eases away from me. “So when I told you this wasn’t the best time, I wasn’t exaggerating.”

“Why?” I hold up a hand when she frowns. “This happened after we met. What was he doing to you before?”

Wren isn’t happy that I picked up on what went unsaid. But as much as I don’t want to force her to relive the experience with this imbecile, I need to know what’s happened so I can help her.

“He called me the day you stopped in looking for a car. I probably pissed him off when I hung up on him. He also texted me, but we can’t prove it was him,” she explains. “Curran thinks he lashed out because he found out I went out with you.”

“He doesn’t want me with you,” I say.

Again, she hesitates. Her worry as palpable as the strain between us. “That’s what Curran thinks,” she admits.

“Like I give a shit,” I snap.

Her small brows knit. “Evan, I’m serious.”

I scoff. “So am I.” I mull over what she says. “How often does he contact you?”

Her brows knit as if bothered by my questions. But I think it’s more than that. “Not often enough to press charges, but enough to remind me he’s still there.” She releases a small breath. “He’s smart, Evan. But most sociopaths are.”

“Sociopaths?” I ask, although by now it’s obvious he is.

“That’s right. My problem is I found out a little too late.” She steps away and heads to the door. “Still want to hire me?”

“Yes.”

My words stop her dead. She glances over her shoulder. “Are ‘must have a psycho ex-boyfriend’ on your list of requirements for new hires, Evan?”

The reminder that he was her former lover irritates the hell out of me. Not because I’m threatened by him, not in the least. But because he clearly threatened her. “I’m not asking him to work for me. I’m asking you.”

Her dark hair falls along her breasts as she covers her face with her hand. “Evan,” she says. “I can’t do this to you.”

“Why did you come here?”

She drops her hand away as if unsure why I say what I do. “I wanted to see you.”

“To tell me goodbye?”

The misery in her demeanor is telling enough, although she takes her time to explain. “I couldn’t just blow you off, not after everything that happened between us. And I felt bad about not returning your texts.” She sighs. “The least I could do was stop by and tell you I couldn’t see you anymore.”

“Because of him?” She doesn’t reply, but I know it’s the reason. She wants to protect me. But I already assumed that role for both of us.

I walk toward her slowly and wrap my arms carefully around her waist. “I don’t want to say goodbye. Not to you.”

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