Page 80 of Whisper Of Attraction (Whisper Lake 3)

“I am calm. I am calmly telling you that you need to leave now.”

“Brynn—” Wilson reached out to touch her and she jerked her arm away from him.

It was everything Axel could do not to grab this guy by the collar and toss his ass back in the SUV, but he knew that if Brynn wanted help, she’d ask.

“Don’t touch me.”

He started to lift his hand again, obviously not taking her seriously.

“If you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police. I am not your daughter. I never want to see you again.”

“Brynn—”

“Does Bianca know that she has a sister? Does your wife know you have a grandchild?”

That did the trick. The color drained from Wilson’s face. “Are you threatening me?”

Axel could not believe the nerve of this lowlife. He’d never wanted to cause physical pain to another person as much as he did now. He was praying that Brynn’s dad would give him a reason, any reason, to put his fist through his jaw.

“Yes.” She smiled widely, recognizing that the power had shifted. “I am. If I ever see you or hear from you again, Trish will be getting a call from me.”

Axel could see that Wilson wanted to say more, to fight back, but instead he turned and started back to the car.

“And that goes for Ryder, too. Do not ever contact him.”

Wilson hesitated but continued walking. His driver held the door open and when he closed it, Axel could’ve sworn that he’d seen a smirk on the guy’s face. He was probably happy someone put his asshole boss in his place.

Nerves like he’d never felt before flooded his stomach as they watched the SUV turn the corner.

When he shifted to face her, she was still staring off after it. “Brynn—”

She lifted her hand and shook her head. “I’m going to ask questions and you’re going to answer them. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Do you work for my father?”

“I work for Elite Protection which was contracted by WITSEC. Your father had it in his agreement that you and Ryder would have protection.”

“Why didn’t you tell me who you really were?”

“You were only cleared to know if you were compromised.”

“What do you mean ‘cleared to know’? I was the one that you were protecting?!” Her voice was rising.

“I know. I wanted to tell you. But in the contract it said that—”

“Screw the contract! We slept—” She lowered her voice and looked around to make sure no neighbors were out. “We slept together. Twice. Well…more than twice…but two times.” she stammered. “You know what I mean. On two occasions.”

He started to smile. This would be a lot easier if she weren’t so damn cute. “I know. And I tried to tell you. I was going to tell you.”

She let out a huff of air, clearly telling him that she thought he was full of shit.

“I did try. I started to tell you the first night and you said you didn’t want to talk. You just wanted to feel.” Her lips pursed. She knew he was right. “And then, last night, I was going to tell you when you got the call from the hospital. And I swear, that’s what I was coming to tell you now. I swear, I was going to tell you.”

“There were other times you could’ve told me.”

“You’re right.” And as he accepted that truth another hit him. “I was under strict orders not to. Wilson is a clueless, deadbeat but he did specify that if you knew you were under any protection that was in any way connected to him, you would do everything in your power to get out of it. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t leave you vulnerable, if there was even the slightest possibility that you would be harmed.”

“I just…I don’t know…I thought you were…I can’t…”

She looked so lost, so shaken up, that he wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that he loved her. That no matter what else had happened he loved her. He’d fallen in love with her and even if she couldn’t forgive him and never wanted to see him again, that would never change. But he didn’t think she wanted to hear that now.

“Brynn,” he reached out to her, but like she had with her father, she jerked her arm away.

“Don’t. I don’t…” she shook her head. “Just don’t. I have to go…my mother…and don’t come…don’t try to talk to me…I need…I just…I need time…” Her sentences were coming in fragments, as she turned and walked into the house looking heartbroken, shell-shocked, and disorientated.

All he’d ever wanted to do was protect her from anything and everything that wanted to hurt her. He never thought that would mean protecting her from himself.

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