Page 132 of Prey for You

His expression grew intense. “What’s going on is that Bridget had a meltdown today. A full-blown panic attack. She’s still being assessed for a mental break. She’s refused medication so far, but… we’ll see.”

“What happens now?”

Jeremy scowled. “What happens now is that Bridget is no longer going to protect you, and I’m here to tell you that I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she never sees you again.Ever.”

I took one step closer, then caught myself, hands clenched at my sides. “What the fuck did you do?”

But he continued like I hadn’t spoken. “Even if I lose this case, I’ll just take her away. I have the contacts to make that happen, you know. I could keep her away from everyone she’s ever known, forever. For her own good.”

Every muscle in my body went tight. “Not against her will you won’t.”

Jeremy dropped the sarcastic act and strode right up to stand at my toes. We were eye to eye and he looked about as angry as I felt. But when he spoke his voice was low, and dark.

“I just had to watch the woman I’ve been trying to protect forten fucking yearsgo through a complete mental breakdown because you had her fooled into believing you loved her. And watching her go through that after everything else she’s endured made me so angry I’m ready to use myteethif that’s what it takes to take you the fuck down.”

“I call bullshit. I say she had a panic attack, you hid her away and now you’re desperately trying to get me to tell you somethingthat doesn’t exist.She’s upset because she knows I’m not what they said—and neither is she.”

Ignoring me, he continued. “If I hadn’t made a vow to my country to abide by its laws, I would be beating the shit out of you right now,” he said, looking down my body then back up. “I’ve had a lot of experience beating people senseless, Sam. I suspect you have too. Difference is, I get promotions for doing it. You get caged. You know why? Because when I get violent, it’s justice. Just one more predator tasting their own medicine.”

“You’re fucked in the head.”

Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. “I know how it feels when bone cracks under your knuckles. It’s a very peculiar feeling. And incredibly satisfying when the bone in question belongs to a bastard like you. Are you familiar with that sensation, Sam? If not, I’d be happy to demonstrate.”

I leaned in. “The real question is, why do you care so much?”

“Because I’ve been watching out for her since she was sixteen years old.”

“You creepy bastard.”

Jeremy smiled. “Nice try. You think you’re the only one who gives a shit what happens to her? Some of us have been caring for her a helluva lot longer—and saved her from a helluva lot more. You’re a speed bump in her life, Sam. I saved her from a guy who wanted toeat her intestines.Saving her from you is going to beeasy.”

“She doesn’t need saving from me. She needs you and the rest of your government coven out of her fucking head so she can breathe and start the rest of her life.With me.”

Jeremy shook his head. “Not any more, Mister Dom. Guess who found out the truth?”

“Shedoessee the real truth. If she saw something that bothered her, I’m guessing it came from you manipulating her to try and force her in whatever fucked up direction you want her to go.”

“I’m not the manipulator here, Sam. That’s the difference between you and me. I don’t need to pretend, or lie, or deceive her about my motives. I have the backing of the United fucking States of America, and together we are going to make sure you don’t get to ruin her life.”

“You already did.”

“See, it’s a funny thing, Sam. Before you showed up, me and Bridget were tight. I watched out for her, she helped me. Everything worked pretty well—”

“Was that before or after the guy almost ate her alive—on your watch?”

“—but then you show up and everything starts to go to shit. And I asked myself why? Why didthis guyget in her head when she kept everyone else at arm’s length?”

“Because I fucking love her and she knows it. See, that’s the thing, Jeremy. When something’s real, it doesn’t matter what you say… it’s still real.”

Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. “I think you got in becauseyou were told how.”

I frowned and my body tensed. What the fuck was he—

“I knew it was only a matter of time until you showed your true colors and she got a clue. At this point I’m just angry with myself for missing it. We could have finished this a lot sooner.”

“Nothing isfinished.”

“But the good news is, the good guy won.”

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