Page 21 of Cruel Ice

But, there they were. Face to face.

Parker raised one eyebrow. “Wanted to come by and update you on the scene at Marley’s place.” He craned to look over Declan’s shoulder. “Marleyishere with you, isn’t she?”

“She’s sleeping.” And she needed to remain undisturbed. The woman had been up for well over twenty-four hours. Declan didn’t like the shadows that darkened her eyes. He also sure as hell hadn’t liked the pain that he’d seen flash in those eyes—and on her beautiful face—when she saw the wreckage at her home.

I knew they’d go after her.The minute Marley had saved him, she’d put a giant target on her back. Now, he had to protect her. At all costs.

He didn’t need a PI. Hell, he had a whole security team. No BS. But he did need Marley close. And if hiring her got him what he wanted…

Hello, my new PI.

“Sleeping, huh?” Parker rocked back on his heels. “And here I thought she’d be out tracking down the guys who took you. Being a one-woman army as she tries to prove that she’s a real PI.”

The detective was such an annoyance. “Sheisa real PI.”

Parker’s gaze slid to Declan’s face. “I can’t help you when you’re withholding information from me.”

I don’t particularly want your help. I will locate the bastards on my own.After all, what was the point of having limitless resources if you didn’t use them to hunt your enemies? But he couldn’t say that to the detective. “We called you as soon as we realized what had occurred at Marley’s place.” Because Marley had insisted on informing the detective. “She believed the wreckage at her house was tied to my abduction. If the perps left evidence behind, Marley was under the impression that you and your colleagues could find that material.”

“That’s what crime scene teams are for.”

He was well aware of what crime scene teams were for. “I believe we went over all of this at Marley’s place.” Time to shut the door in the cop’s face. “So unless you’ve come to give me new information…” Declan began to push that door closed.

Parker’s hand flew up and slammed against the wood of the door. “I get that you don’t like cops.”

Oh, he got that, did he? Declan had been mildly worried that the detective wasn’t aware of that important fact.

“I alsogetthat you aren’t some squeaky-clean businessman.” Parker’s nostrils flared. “You think I haven’t seen your record?”

“Mysealedrecord, you mean?” Because any crimes he’d committed as a minor should have been thoroughly sealed. Plus, of course, there was the fact that certain powerful individuals owed him—so those people had made sure Declan’s past was as dead and buried as it could possibly be.

Just as dead and buried as my bastard of a father.

Parker’s gaze had drifted to the scar that sliced over Declan’s face. “Self-defense,” Parker murmured. “At least, that’s what people say.” A pause. “Are they going to say the same thing when the bodies of your abductors turn up? And isn’t that therealreason you’ve got Marley close? You know they’re pissed at her for interfering. So pissed that they broke into her place and left that lovely knife shoved through her photo. They’re coming after her, so you figure you’ll be there when they do show up to punish her. And you’ll have your chance for some ice-cold vengeance.”

He hadn’t heard the creak of the bedroom door opening behind him. The suite was huge. The sprawling area included a dining room, a kitchen, a den, and two bedrooms. Plus, a grand piano and a pool table because, why the hell not? Marley was currently sleeping in the bedroom down the hallway to the right. Or at least, she should have been sleeping.

Unless Parker’s incessant pounding on the suite door had woken her.

But I didn’t hear the creak of the door to let me know she’d tiptoed out of the bedroom.

As for the charge that Parker was leveling at him…Declan rubbed his chin. “Unless I’m mistaken, I believe thatIam their target. They kidnapped me once, after all. I don’t need to use Marley as some sort of bait.” He was doing the exact opposite. Trying to protect something that was precious. “I got away, so it stands to reason another attempt will be made on me. Marley is part of my protection deal.” No, she wasn’t. “When they come after me, I have to make sure they are stopped.” Permanently.

“You’re withholding intel,” Parker gritted out.

Prove it, cop.

“You want to hunt them on your own. You want to make them pay for what they did.”

Declan let his eyes widen. “Well, I can assure you, I am a bit unhappy with being drugged, kidnapped, and nearly tortured todeath. Don’t know many individuals who would be thrilled with those events.”

Parker glared. “The cops can handle this.”

The cops had better get out of my way. This shit is personal.

“I know you remember more from last night.” Parker was a dog with a favorite bone. “You sent your goon running from the hospital fast enough. Gave him orders, and he took off like a hound on the hunt.”

“Tell me you’re not referring to James.” Declan winced. “He will be horrified to hear that you called him a goon. And then a hound. Offended to his very soul. He will never like you again.” Not that James had probably ever liked the cop in the first place.

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