Page 24 of Reignite

He sat back in his chair putting way too much distance between us. “No, I’m not.”

An uncomfortable tingle started around my heart and worked its way up behind my eyes. “Why not?”

“Angel, this is your… dream doesn’t seem like the right word. This club is you. I can’t take any part of that away.”

Gray had been the one who suggested we open a club together. What in the hell happened to the ‘we’ part? “You’re not taking anything away from me. We’re in this together. Aren’t we?”

He pushed back from the table and stood behind his chair. “We are, but I’m here to support you.”

“You’re my partner.” In more than the business, I thought. I was counting on that fact.

“I am, but in this I have to be your silent unnamed partner.”

None of this was going the way I’d imagined, and I was absolutely baffled to the reason for it all. “Why?”

“To keep you safe, Angel.” I heard the plea in his voice for me to understand.

Fuck. That.

“How does paperwork keep me safe?”

Gray blew out a frustrated sigh. “From Foster Bennett.”

“Foster?” Mierda. All my fears and worries about when Foster might retaliate and all he’d done was hold up the permit for the club. I didn’t know that for sure, but he was the most likely suspect. That was a weak move, because he was a weak man. I wasn’t going to be afraid of him anymore.

“He’s like a seagull. Flies in, shits all over everything, but if you don’t feed him he doesn’t stick around. We proved that in Austin.”

Gray paced into the living room and back. “I know him and his twisted mind. The dressing down you gave him, plus stealing Lilly away—”

“I did not steal her. I won her freedom from him.”

“He won’t see it that way. He’s going to seek revenge.” Gray shook his head, ignoring me. He’d already made up his mind and this time I wasn’t submitting for it.

“Being a silent partner isn’t going to keep me safe from any weak revenge he tries to enact on me. I need you by my side.”

“He won’t be seeking revenge on you. He’s out to get me. I understand now that he has been since he lost Serena. He knows there is one way to do that. Through you.”

No. No way. “He can’t hurt us.”

“He can. He can hurt you badly, and Angel,” Gray wrapped his arms around me, looking so deep into my eyes I felt he was a part of me. “That would kill me. You’re the bright light in my dark soul. I can’t lose you, and I can’t let him hurt you in any way. Ever.”

“Oh, Gray.” Hidden behind the passion and the protectiveness was a deep dark fear. More than ever I knew I had to bind him to me to soothe those inner demons. I wanted to blurt my plans out, ask him to marry me, to wear my collar.

But Gray never reacted well to my knee-jerk plans. He needed time to get used to an idea. I had to prep him for it. He’d never agree so long as he felt we weren’t safe.

I had to find a way to eliminate Foster Bennett from our lives.

Forever.

No, no. I wasn’t going to kill him. But I had an idea about what made him this lonely, unhappy, vengeful man. I needed more information to confirm my suspicions.

Gray squeezed me tighter in his arms. “If Bennett ever understands how important you are to me, that you’re more than another lover, he will do everything he can to destroy you.”

The doorbell rang and I had to tear my gaze from Gray’s. Nine forty-five. Hawk and Lilly must be early.

“This discussion is not over, Gray. There has to be a better solution.” I think I knew what that was.

It’s always about a girl.

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