Page 37 of Unlawful Seduction

I almost laughed. I had no way of knowing whether she’d initially been working with the mystery assailant and had killed someone right in front of her, but she was concerned about my health. I wasn’t certain what to think about her motivations other than she was either a damn good actress or she was clueless what the hell was going on. “I’m fine.”

Exhaling, she pressed her fingers to the gash, a single, very slight tic of fear appearing in the corner of her mouth when she pulled her hand away. “I’m fine also. Just get out.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

That was the moment she looked me directly in the eyes, matching my stern gaze. Few men were capable of doing so and she’d done it several times since we’d met.

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s apparent you’re in danger.” I decided to follow my gut on my thoughts. It was entirely possible the two of us had been seen together, which would present a problem. A serious one. Whoever was behind these attacks would use her to get to me. Fuck. This was the last place I wanted to find myself.

It took a few seconds for her to process what I was saying.

Mallory struggled, attempting to free herself from my hold. She was no real danger to me, but for some reason, her actions made me grip her that much more forcefully. As anyone in her situation would be, her breathing was ragged, perspiration clinging to her upper lip. I was forced to grab her wrist again to keep her from hurting herself any further.

She pressed her free hand against my chest and the magnetic draw of our combined chemistry sparked.

“You killed him. Why?” she asked and I was further impressed by her demanding tone. Plus, I was drawn to the way her jaw had clenched as well as her ability to resist reacting to the shot of electricity.

“Isn’t that obvious? He had designs on killing you.”

“Why?”

“I was going to ask you the same question. Now, if you’ll step away and promise not to reach for any other weapons, I’ll let you go.”

She eyed me warily just like she should be doing, but nodded. I sensed her terror, but she was far too busy attempting to figure out what was going on to allow the fear to crowd out her curious mind.

That would come when the adrenaline rush wore down.

I let her go.

I also underestimated her.

She tried to slap me.

My reaction instant, I grabbed her around the waist, spinning her body so her back was against my chest. “Perhaps you misunderstood me.”

“Not in the least. Why are you here?”

“I think you should be thankful that I was.” The scent of her hair was far too enticing.

“Thankful? You killed a man. You broke his neck. I don’t know what to think.”

“Then that makes two of us, Doc.”

“What does that mean?”

“That means I’m curious as to why a man you obviously knew fairly well attempted to kill you.”

Her breath hitched. “What? What are you talking about? I don’t know him.”

I dragged her with me toward the body a second time. “Now that you’re calmer, why don’t you take a good look at him.” I was so used to dealing with fucking assholes, men with zero conscience and no humanity that I treated her as I’d done with dozens of enemies and traitors over the years. I forced her to witness the fate of those considered damned and useless.

I turned her once again, wrapping my fingers around the back of her neck, manipulating her head so she’d be required to stare down at the dead man’s body. No one had ever accused me of being a nice guy, but the moment I processed his neck was twisted at an entirely incorrect angle, I pulled her away, this time easing her around gently to face me.

Seeing the look in her eyes would tell me almost everything including the truth.

They were glassing over, her pupils becoming dilated. Fear could very easily do that to a person, but as I watched her reactions, a strange and entirely new sense of protectiveness washed through me.

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