Page 81 of Demanding Mob Boss

I leap toward the SUV and yank the backdoor open, throwing myself inside while it's still moving. The truck lurches to a stop and Arlo comes rushing up, panting. "Okay, that works. Let's get you home."

Scooting as far over on the seat as I can, I ignore my seatbelt.

Arlo climbs inside and seems to realize I want my space because he settles near his door as well.

"Buckle up," Tommy says from the front.

The idea of being trapped by the seatbelt has me shaking my head side to side and chanting, "No. No. No."

One of the bodyguards curses, but the car starts picking up speed. They aren't going to force me to put on the seatbelt. I let out a breath and then suck in another.

"I want to see Cian."

No one says anything. They aren't going to take me to the Doyle Building.

I grab my phone out of my purse and send Cian a text.

Me:I want to see you. Tell them to bring me to you.

He doesn't reply immediately, so I send another.

Me:Please.

We arrive at the street where we usually park near my building. The bodyguards get out of the car, but I stay where I am. I'm safe here. I'm not safe out there. They know my name. They know where I live. They can come for me again, and this time I can't expect their captain to save me.

I don't know why he told them to let me go the first time, but what are the chances I'll get that lucky again.

My door opens and I scramble to the middle of the seat.

Arlo's face twists. I don't try to read his emotions. I'm too stressed right now to deal with anyone else's feelings. I want a shower, but I know it won't make me clean. I'm dirty now. He touched my boob. Like Cian.

No, not like Cian. Grieves hurt me with his touch, but no one else except Cian has ever touched my breasts. I shudder when I remember the feel of the awful man's hands on me. And that drag of his hand across the apex of my thighs. He didn't touch my skin there, but I feel dirty there too.

Tears spill over my eyelids, running hotly down my cheeks.

I hate being touched by almost everyone. Being touched like that has me feeling like I want to crawl out of my skin.

My phone dings. I lift it to see. A text from Cian flashes on the screen.

Cian:I told them to take you to my place. I'll meet you thereas soon as I can.

I nod, but don't text back. Instead, I message Ini and tell her to spend the night at Mrs. Hart's tonight.

She calls and I swipe to answer, wondering if I'll get any words out.

"What's going on, Anna?" Ini asks, worry lacing her tone. "It's that criminal you work for, isn't it? He's got you mixed up in his business."

"No." I'm not mixed up in Cian's business.

The cops said they wanted to talk to me about him, but that's not his fault. They're bad cops. Good ones wouldn't have done what they did to me. That other detective, and the captain…I think they're good cops. They wanted to protect me.

Why didn't Cian protect me?

Cian told me he didn't want me associated with him to protect me from his enemies, I remind myself. Are the detectives working for his enemies?

"Where are you going to be?" Ini asks after several seconds of silence.

"Cian's place," I get out.

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