Page 67 of Becoming His Pet

“Bernie. I’m staying with Greg. Why don’t we just follow you?” she offered.

Bernie laughed. “Greg’s not coming with us, Elenora. He’s staying here. Alive or dead is up to you, but he’s not coming with.”

“What?” Nora’s voice cracked. “Why would you—you aren’t making any sense.”

“Nora. I left the car running,” Greg stated, keeping his weapon trained on Bernie. His shoulder burned from his stance, but he’d keep it up for as long as he needed until she was away safe.

“Greg. Let me make this clear for you. I looked into you. Deeply. I’m aware of that little bar you own with your brother and his pretty wife. I’m also fully aware that their sweet little girl goes to work with Mommy and Daddy nearly every day. It would be a fucking shame, an atrocity really, if something horrible were to happen to that bar while they were all there.”

Greg’s finger froze on the trigger.

“It’s okay. Bernie, I’m coming with you,” Nora announced with uncertainty laced in the words.

“No, Nora! Stay!” Greg demanded. His mind reeled. If Bernie found them, he sure as hell found Blake and the girls.

“It’s fine, Greg. Bernie won’t hurt me.” Her assurance didn’t hold up against Greg’s gut. Bernie wasn’t one of the good men.

“Nora, you don’t know what you’re doing. Just stay put.”

But she was already moving. The gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she made her away around the car to where Bernie stood.

“She knows that I’ve always taken care of her. I’ve never lied to her. I’ve never held secrets from her,” Bernie snarled. “Unlike you! Does she know how you fucked up your last mission? How three of your soldiers were killed because of your orders?”

Greg stiffened. Bernie really had done his homework, but not enough to find the official report. The unofficial report, the one given to the public, didn’t mention the insubordinate actions of those fallen men, but it didn’t matter. He’d been in charge. He’d been the one in command on that mission. If he’d been paying more attention to the three men at the back, planning their own actions, wanting to go their own route, he could have stopped them. Their actions got them killed, but he’d been their ranking officer—their deaths fell on his shoulders.

Nora stopped moving. “What’s he talking about, Greg?”

“Nothing. It has nothing to do with you or what’s going on here,” Greg answered, not daring to look away from the men still pointing guns at him. She would have to believe him. “Nora, don’t go with them. Get back over here.”

She was slipping away from him. All the time he’d been demanding her truth, her full disclosure, and he’d been the one holding back. If he’d been forthcoming, if he’d told her what happened, why he really hadn’t re-enlisted, she wouldn’t be torn about who to believe. She’d easily choose him.

Bernie sighed with a fake look of disappointment. “Fine, I guess I’ll tell her. Greg was hired to find you. He works with the feds, trying to take down the Santinelli family. You think it’s just coincidence he happened to be at the flower shop the same time the hit on Antonio was taken care of?”

What the fuck?

It was almost laughable, the bullshit spewing out of his fat face.

Greg looked at Nora. “No. Nora, he’s lying.” If only he’d had the backing of the FBI, he could have kept Nora locked down in a much safer location. He wouldn’t be staring down the barrel of some street thug on the side of the damn highway.

Nora’s jaw dropped, and her brow wrinkled. The confusion, the mistrust, it was all warring inside of her now, right in front of him, and he couldn’t get to her to help.

“Nora. He’s fucking lying,” he said again, firmer this time. How the hell could he convince her? She’d been raised with the idea that the FBI was always a few steps behind the Santinellis. It didn’t matter that her father protected her from the life as much as he could, keeping her hidden away from his friends and associates, she knew the risk of his work.

“I heard you on the phone. You were talking to someone, taking orders or something. I heard you.” She spoke softly. “Yesterday, when I was in the shower,” she continued.

Greg thought back, what conversation had she overheard? He’d made a few calls while she had been in the shower.

“Nora, no. I can explain that. I’m not working with anyone.” Which call had she heard? He hadn’t been taking orders from anyone. He’d spoken with John briefly and then Blake. Which conversation had she listened in on?

“Why were you at the flower shop then?” Nora asked with a narrowed gaze.

A bubble of laughter burst in his chest, but he managed to keep it in check. The entire situation was completely fucking absurd.

“Because I was running errands for Aubree. She needed carnations for Bella’s swim class graduation.” Life had been so simple then. Grab milk, check. Gas up the car, check. Ordering carnations for the three-year-old’s swim class had been his undoing.

“Elenora, you need to come with me now. I need to get you somewhere safe. When I meet with the Santinelli brothers tomorrow, I’ll explain everything and we can figure out what happens next. But you must come with me now.” Bernie held out his hand.

“Nora.” One word, but with it a plea. To believe him. To trust him.

---