Page 95 of Illicit Temptation

He bristles at my threat. “The Crests have powerful allies who can crush her brothers.”

“You tell your boss that fucker just signed his death warrant,” I ground out, but I’m ready to lose it. “And you too, if you’re there.”

“Go fuck yourself.” The guy in the back slams the door closed and the car speeds off.

With Shea tucked under my arm, I shove my gun into my jacket and squeeze my fist closed to staunch the blood. “You’re okay. I got you, love.”

Jesus Christ, this was my fault. Kieran must have had intelligence that Crest was planning something. And Scava knew about him, too.

Fuck!

Those two must have talked behind our backs and Crest got the heads-up somehow.

I walked right into it.

Not wanting to draw any more attention to us, as much as I want to just lift Shea and put her over my shoulder, I steer her by the waist to a nearby bodega.

The smell of coffee beans overwhelms me as I hug her. “You’re safe, my love.”

“Is it over?” She whimpers into my chest. “I can’t believe that happened.”

“It’s over. I promise.”

“I want to go home. Please, Trace.” She sniffs.

Getting out of here is a good idea. Some people in thebodega are staring at us. They’re possible witnesses to me hanging on to the hood of the car driving erratically.

I first need to make sure the coast is clear, and that Shea is okay. I turn my focus on her with a post-traumatic assessment. Other than mascara stains on her cheek, she looks unharmed. “Did that man touch you?”

“He held me too tight. My ribs ache a little,” she answers, wincing and holding herself.

“He didn’t touch you in a sexual way?”

“No,” she scoffs.

I hold her tighter and look out the storefront window for any suspicious activity. The scene on the street appears normal again. “Has anything like this happened to you before?”

“No.”

I exhale, hoping she either has good luck or good sense. Or maybe it was her name that kept her safe. Not anymore. Scava sends men to spy on her. Crest tries to abduct her.

A fire burns through my veins imagining what would have happened if I wasn’t so close. If she made this trip by herself, she’d be in that car. Gone. Alone, scared, thinking no one could find her.

“How’s your breathing? Do you need your inhaler?”

“No,” she says, sounding stronger.

In a moment of weakness, I consider bringing her to Lachlan for safekeeping. I’m one man. She’s trusted her brothers her whole life to protect her. Even if it means facing their wrath that we went against Kieran’s orders.

Clearing my throat, I offer, “Do you want your brother, Lachlan, love? Will that make it better?”

“No,” her voice wobbles. “You. Only you.”

Fuck...

As quickly as Shea fell apart, she comes around just as fast. The shaking stops minutes later. My eyes stay on theman behind the counter. He nods, suggesting he understands we’ve been through something terrible by the look of the blood on my sleeve and the near-hysterical woman in my arms.

Juice, I mouth to him and moments later, he brings me a bottle. I reach for my wallet, but he waves me off.

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