Page 45 of Temptation and Tyranny

She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks. I could feel the dampness on my shirt, her tears soaking through and wetting the skin over my heart. It wasironic, but I pushed the thought down.

Pussy shit.

I helped her up, hiding the grimace when I put weight on my leg, and then held out my hand. She took it, and I couldn’t help but give her a reassuring squeeze. For a second, I thought I might have ruined things forever between us, and that thought scared me more than any player in my dangerous world might.

Instead of going back up the stairs, I placed my palm on the control panel of the elevator and rode back up to the top floor. I didn’t want her to see me struggling with the stairs; I didn’t want her to know how weak I was, how vulnerable my injury made me. She had known exactly where to aim—my bad leg. The one spot guaranteed to bring me down. I had crumpled, cursing through gritted teeth as white-hot pain shot through the injury. The progress I’d made in therapy had scattered like ashes in the wind.

The doors opened, and I gestured to the couch. She walked over and sat, and I tried to walk as smoothly as I could.

“Oh my god, Cooper! Your leg! I’m so sorry, I was scared, and I knew it would give out on you—”

Her tears started anew, and I quickly sat next to her. “No worries, baby. I’m strong.”

She blinked, looking up at me with those mossy green eyes. “I had just discharged you, and now I’m sure that you’re going to need more therapy. Oh my god, how could I have done that? As your physical therapist—”

I silenced Allegra the best way I knew how. The way I typically silenced a woman. I pressed my lips against hers, and she instantly quieted. For a split second her mouth was still, but then she moanedagainst me and worked her lips with mine. I felt myself harden instantly, almost as if my body remembered the taste of her and knew what was in store if we kept going. But I pulled away, knowing that she needed comforting tonight, and I felt like sleeping with her right now would be taking advantage of the situation.

God. If only Steele could see me now…

Allegra’s sweet voice brought me out of my thoughts. “Are these men going to continue to come after me?”

“Not if I can help it,ma belle. I’ll track them down and make them pay.”

She shivered at my words. I didn’t know if she was afraid of me, or my threat. But it didn’t matter.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, trying to find a safer topic.

She nodded, laying her head against the back of the couch. She tucked her knees up to her chest, and she looked so petite sitting there. When she was angry, she seemed so much bigger, but now she was a shrunken version of herself.

“What would you like? I’ll have one of my guys grab anything you want.”

“Your guys?” she questioned.

“Yeah, someone on my payroll.” I left it vague, not wanting her to know just how many people I had around to do my bidding.

She bit her lip, thoughtful. “Pasta? And some bread, too. And a slice of tiramisu? I already had dinner, but—”

A grin reached my ears. I was glad she wasn’t the type of girl to order a salad and sparkling water. “Your wish is my command.” I pulled out my phoneand texted Mario. He was always around to help with whatever I needed—weapons, clothes, women…and apparently, tiramisu.

“Do I really need to stay here tonight?” she asked.

I pulled a decorative blanket off the arm of the couch and set it on her lap. Appreciatively, she cuddled up, finally looking more like herself. “I think it’s best. Just until I can get the proper security set up.”

She hung her head, and I could instantly tell something was wrong. “What is it?”

“I—I don’t have the money to pay for security. I have some savings, but—”

“This is my mess, Allegra. You are absolutely not paying for it.”

“But—”

“No buts. I don’t want to hear another word.”

“But—”

I glared.

“No, it’s not that, it’s just—my cat. She’s alone in the apartment. She’s not used to being by herself in the evenings, and I haven’t fed her yet—”

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