Page 14 of Malicious Wedding

Carson chases after me. I don’t get far before he grabs my arm, pulling me toward him. “Stop running off. Are you really this suicidal?”

“It’s funny you mention that. From my perspective, getting in a car with the man that’s responsible for my entire family getting killed would be the suicidal choice.”

“I’m trying to keep you safe.” He glares at me, standing close, and I can’t help but breathe him in. It’s like the man’s oozing sex pheromones, and I’m reminded why I used to avoid him all the time when I was younger. I didn’t understand these feelings back then, but I sure as hell understand them now.

It’s pure, animal lust. A very stupid, very brainless lust, but still.

I want to taste his mouth against mine.

What the hell is wrong with me? I just lost my family, and all I can think about is kissing the guy I blame most of all.

“I just want you to leave me alone, okay?” I try to push him away, but he’s not letting go. “Do you want me to start screaming? In front of a bunch of cops?”

His lips curl. “You think they’ll stop me?”

I hesitate, glancing back toward the precinct door. “Why are you doing this, Carson?”

“Because I might lose your brother. I lost most of your family. I’m not going to lose you. Now, please, get in the car. I’ll give you a ride back to the bar and on the way we can discuss what to do.”

I have two options. Kick him in the shins and run away or get in that back seat. There’s no way in hell I’m going to escape him, and he’s right, the cops aren’t going to do a damn thing about a Crowley dragging some random girl away in broad daylight.

Which leaves me only my dignity.

“Fine,” I say sharply. “But once I’m back at Smoke, you can leave me alone, okay? I don’t need your help.” I walk to his car and climb inside.

He gets in beside me. I buckle up as his driver heads out.

“Whether you like it or not, you do need my help.” He leans closer, talking low. “And I think you do like it.”

“I haven’t seen you inyears, Carson, and you come storming back into my life with murder close behind, and you think I like this?” This man must’ve gone insane.

His head tilts to the side. “I understand this isn’t ideal.”

“Isn’t ideal? I swear, you’ve taken one too many hard punches to the face if you’re trying to undersell the worst day of my life.”

He takes a slow breath. “This isn’t easy for anyone, but at least you have me here to make sure you don’t end up dead too. As much as you pretend to hate it, this is a blessing.”

“You arefarfrom a blessing. You’re more like genital warts.”

“Ah, yes, there’s that lovely mouth of yours. I missed it.”

“I missed you like cancer. Drop me off at the corner up here. On second thought, I think I’d rather get shot in the face than sit next to you.”

His hand clamps down on my thigh. “Ashlyn.”

“You’re the reason this all happened. You do realize that, right? You and your stupid gangster family.” I try to brush him off but it’s like pushing a thousand-pound statue for all the good it does. “Would you stop touching me?”

“No, I will not.” He stares hard, his lips too close, his skin too warm on my leg. God, why am I attracted to this man? Why do I find that sultry, needy look of his so damn sexy I could scream? When really, all I want to do is get out and run and keep on running until I leave this whole city behind.

But I have responsibilities here. Bottle of Smoke, everyone that works there, they depend on me to keep the business going.

“What do you want from me, Carson? Haven’t you done enough already?”

“No, not even close.” His stare is unnerving, almost predatory. “I told you already, but I’ll repeat myself, because I know today is not a good day. I am going to protect you.”

“You keep saying that. And yet I don’t feel protected. If anything, I feel like I’m locked in a cage with a very hungry grizzly bear.”

“You think I want to eat you up?”

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