Page 46 of Into the Woods

I whirled so fast that she lost her balance. Without hesitation, my hands grabbed her around the waist to steady her. “No.”

She tipped her head back to look at me but didn’t fight my hold. Instead, she placed her hands against my chest. “He’s going to get suspicious if I don’t go back out there.”

“I don’t care,” I gritted out.

Sighing, Becca turned to the waitress. “Please tell him I’ll just be a moment.”

With a nod, the waitress scurried away.

I drew in a deep breath, readying for a fight.

Her fingers dug into the cotton of my black t-shirt. “Let me go back. I’ll finish dinner, and he’ll drop me off at home. I’ll tell him I think we’re better off as friends.” She shrugged with a sad smile. “That’ll be the end of it.”

I snorted in disbelief. “You really think he’s going to let you go?”

“Yes,” she replied, guileless and innocent as ever. She truly didn’t understand the walking temptation she was. “Even if—” She cut off abruptly, her face going pale. “Oh, no.”

“What?” Panic spiked in my blood, and I dragged her closer, eviscerating the scant space between us.

“Cami, my cousin,” she croaked out, her eyes huge, “she’s dating Alex, Eric’s brother. Is he involved in this? Is Cami in danger?”

I looked back at Rook. We knew who Alex was. He’d never been flagged in our system, but it wasn’t a stretch to think that Eric’s brother could be involved as well.

Rook grimaced. “It’s not like these guys have a fucking membership roster. We haven’t gotten any intel that he is. Just Eric.”

Becca let out a scoff. “Please. Of the two of them? Alex is the asshole. Wait—maybe it’s really Alex, and he’s framing Eric?”

“Then why is Eric here, talking about an auction, with these guys?” I reminded her gently.

She visibly deflated. “Oh, right.”

“Which is why going back out there is a horrible idea,” I added.

“Actually…” Rook mused, rubbing his jaw.

I glared at him, wishing like hell I’d gotten mutant laser beams I could shoot out of my eyes at him. Was he fucking serious?

He pressed his lips together. “I don’t like putting innocent people in danger either, little brother, but we can’t afford for these guys to get spooked for any reason. They’ve already pushed the auction date back because of Barnes’s murder. They push it again, they may cut their losses.”

Fuck. That meant they’d get rid of the women currently being held somewhere in Paris like livestock waiting for the auction block. They wouldn’t keep them alive indefinitely. No, they’d kill them and focus on the next auction.

“I’ll be okay.” Becca’s soft voice didn’t waver.

I stared down at her, searching those gorgeous green and gold eyes for any sign of fear or panic. Any hint that this was too much. If it was, I’d walk away with her right now.

That was why what I felt for her was too dangerous. Why I’d never be the hero. Because if push came to shove, I’d let the world burn to protect her.

“I have a tracker,” Rook spoke up. He held up a small device and handed it to her. “Keep this on you so we know where you are.” He looked at me. “You can follow her home. Make sure she’s safe.”

I groaned and looked at the ceiling.

“I’ll be okay,” Bex assured me, giving me a small smile. “I mean, you’ll have my back, right?”

“Always,” I vowed.

“Then it’ll be fine. Trust me.”

Her I trusted.

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