Letting her anger get the better of her again, she stomped her foot. “I know I lost it. I would’ve told him.”
His gaze went to her foot, then back to her eyes. The sides of his mouth twitched, fighting a smile. “It’s not about you losin’ it. It’s about you going to New York where your dickhead of a dad and ex-fiancé can fuck with you.”
Her heart stopped beating. For a moment, she relived the moment, watched it unfold again and again. Then her heart started pounding again, so loud she swore he could hear it. He didn’t move away from her; he stayed close and kept his eyes on her.
She’d been a bitch for no reason. That didn’t sit well with her. She released a breath. In doing so, her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I think I misunderstood.”
“You gonna let me in on what you misunderstood, Allie?”
He said her name again, and he said it so softly like he cared. She loved it, loved how he said it and how it made her feel.
She didn’t want to admit it because she felt like an idiot, but she did anyway. “I thought you told him about my temper tantrum.”
“Your what?”
The words were harsh and loud causing her to jump away. “My temper tantrum.”
He lifted a brow and nodded, what she understood to mean a silent command she continue.
“I was upset, and I let it show.”
He shook his head once. “Not gettin’ you.”
“Women aren’t supposed to show when they’re emotional. They’re—”
“Who the fuck said that?” he shouted so loud she jumped again.
She hesitated. The real question? Who hadn’t said it? Everyone had: her father, her mother, Wyatt. The list went on.
His eyes widened and flared. He clenched his jaw so hard she thought he’d crack his teeth. “Right, your dickhead of a father and that shit of a fiancé you had.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You feel it. You show it. Get me?”
She nodded.
In the distance, a bike roared. He moved away from her but never lost hold of her eyes.
Chapter Seven
Her brother wouldn’t take no for an answer, so Allie was on a flight to New York with him
and
Jace. It meant the flutter in her stomach had been on overdrive for the last several hours.
She hadn’t wanted to interrupt Tyler’s life more than she already had, but deep down, she was glad he’d insisted. She
needed
him. Had he believed her, she would’ve come up with a plan to avoid the unavoidable—seeing her father, seeing Wyatt, but she didn’t have much hope any plan would work. Men like her father and Wyatt didn’t take no for an answer. Lucky for her, neither did her brother. The difference? Tyler had her best interests at heart. He let her choose, and his instincts were dead-on. When he sensed she needed him, nothing stopped him from being there.
She fiddled with her music player attempting to soothe her nerves, but it didn’t help. Tyler glanced at her every so often. His eyes would soften, and he’d smile. Jace noticed, too. His gaze snapped to her hands and hardened, and then he’d spare a glance at her face. Not even then would he hide the hardness in his expression. He let her get her fill until she looked away.
She had no idea why her brother wanted Jace with them considering her father wouldn’t come near with Tyler around, considering one look from Tyler and Wyatt would run for the hills. Her brother was that scary when angry. Still, Tyler told her Jace would go with them.
After she explained what happened, he’d been so angry she hadn’t wanted to upset him more, and she hadn’t even asked why. Why Jace agreed to come when it became more and more apparent with each of his glances, every one more menacing than the last, he didn’t like her and he didn’t want to be there, she had no clue. Because of her nerves, she didn’t put much thought into it either.
The plane landed with a small thud. Instinctually, she reached for the arm rests, gripping them for dear life.
“Still scared of flying?” Ty teased.
She laughed softly. “I’m not scared. I’m terrified. There’s a difference.”
He chuckled. “Think you’re cutting off Jace’s blood supply, Allie.”
She shifted. Her gaze shot to her hand on Jace’s forearm. She flushed, looked up to meet his gaze, and mumbled, “Sorry.”
For some reason, he grinned, revealing a heart-stopping smile. She released him, then quickly looked away. Before she knew it, they deplaned and hailed a cab. Tyler opened the door for her, and she climbed in. Jace entered through the other side. Tyler slid in behind her, and she scooted farther, making room until she felt Jace’s arm against her, the natural heat of his body mingling with hers, tempting her to seek more of that warmth and curl herself against him.
Tyler instructed the driver to drive to the police station. Twenty minutes later, they arrived. Jace opened his door, stood, and held out his hand to help her out. The action was mystifying, so gentlemanly and unlike any man she’d ever dated.
His gaze locked on hers, she placed her hand in his, tough, calloused, and masculine. His fingers tightened around her hand, and heat shot up her arm. He pulled her up and out of the cab easily. She forgot where she was, what she meant to do as his gaze bored into her. No other man had this effect on her. He was the first. She sure as hell hoped he wouldn’t be the last. Even now, after his kind gesture, he didn’t seem fond of her. The corded muscles in his shoulders were tense, his mouth tight.
“Allie.”
She jumped at the sound of her name, turned, and found Tyler staring at her. It hit her then, where she was and why. Striding past him, she went into the police station. Her brother hot on her heels while Jace retrieved their bags from the trunk of the cab. She went to the reception area and asked to speak to Detective Mason. A moment later, a lean man in his early thirties wearing a pair of khaki Dockers, shirt, and tie greeted her.
He held out his hand. “Ms. Holden, I’m Detective Mason.”
She took it and shook it firmly. “I wish I could say it’s a pleasure, but this is a bit of an inconvenience.”
The door opened, then closed behind her.
Detective Mason’s eyes drifted to it, his posture tensing. “Can I help you?”
She turned and spotted Jace, blocking most of the doorway and holding two duffel bags. “You help me by helping her.” He sat a chair away from Tyler, dropping the bags at his feet.
“A friend?”
She faced Detective Mason. “My brother, Tyler, and his friend, Jace.”
He nodded. “I’d like to talk to you in private, Ms. Holden, if you don’t mind.”
He led the way into a small room, and she took a seat. He sat across a wood table in front of her.
“As you can see, I’m not missing. I’m here, but I only plan on staying a night. My brother didn’t kidnap me. His friend didn’t kidnap me either. I left because I wanted to. Are we done?”
His gaze intensified, piercing her, but then he smirked. “In a rush?”
“Yes, I want to go home.”
He straightened and leaned closer. “I can argue your home is New York. You’ve lived here your entire life.”
“My home is wherever I want it to be, Detective. Right now, it’s not here.”
“Can you explain why a woman would leave her home, her job, her life from one night to the next without planning ahead?”
She could. She just didn’t want to.
“You’re running from something, Ms. Holden.”
Allie lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m running from a life of lies, Detective Mason, and it’s none of your business.” She stood and turned on her heel.
“Where’d he hit you, Ms. Holden?”
She froze, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it’d beat out of her chest. She wanted to run, but knew it’d do no good. He was a cop, after all, and a good one. He’d read her from one look. Maybe even before that.
She swallowed, faced him, and sat.
His expression softened. “You can press charges.”
No, she couldn’t. It wouldn’t make much of a difference anyway. Wyatt was one of the top defense attorneys in the state, loaded, and had friends in high places. It would be her word against his. She’d be vilified. “I just want to go home, Detective.”
“You’re a smart woman, graduated top of your class at Columbia, but I’ll tell you this anyway. Being gone isn’t going to erase what happened. It won’t make it hurt less.”
She nodded.
“You can go, Ms. Holden. I won’t keep you longer.”
She stood and headed toward the door. When she reached the threshold, she turned and found him staring her way. “I’m sorry I was rude.” She smiled weakly. “Thank you, Detective.”
He smiled, shaking his head. “I deal with crooks, rapists, and murderers. You were a breath of fresh air, Ms. Holden.”
Her smile widened.
****
A knock sounded on her door. “About time,” she mumbled under her breath.
After their trip to the station, they headed to her Manhattan apartment. Tyler insisted she box up her stuff and arrange for it to be shipped. She agreed, considering she needed more than a duffel bag of clothes and the few things she’d recently bought, so she spent the better part of the afternoon doing that while Tyler and Jace watched a football game on TV and drank beers. Half an hour ago, Tyler left to pick up dinner, and Jace jumped in the shower.
Glad for the packing break, Allie straightened and hurried to open the door.
The breath rushed out of her, her heart stopped dead, then started pounding again, loud and fast. “Wyatt,” she whispered, cursing herself for not looking through the peephole.
Wyatt had ways to get by the front desk of her building. Namely, his good looks. Tall, just an inch under her brother’s height, but thinner with brownish, sun-streaked hair, cut short, he wore a black suit and tie. Right then, his brows were creased, the same worried expression she’d seen on TV marred his face.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, hoping he couldn’t hear the panic in her voice.
He didn’t respond. Instead, he stepped through the door, shut it, and embraced her. She stood frozen. He wasn’t much for blatant displays of affection, not in public, not in private. But it wasn’t the reason why. The last time he’d touched her, it hurt. He meant it to.
“Alyssa, I’ve been out of my mind with worry,” he whispered against her ear.
She fought not to move, but inside, she cringed.
“I’ve missed you so much.” He drew away from her slightly then finally released her.
Unwillingly to make any sudden movements, she slowly took a step away. “You shouldn’t be worried considering we’re over.” She whispered, purposefully. Making him angry would only make her more afraid.
He sighed heavily, his eyes softening before he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I know I’ve messed up, but I’m a different man now. I haven’t been with anyone since—”
“You know why this is over, Wyatt. Don’t make me remind you.”
“I’m sorry. I love you, Allie.”
“Don’t call me Allie,” she snapped.
She shouldn’t have snapped, but she couldn’t help it. He never called her Allie. Until recently, no one had ever called her Allie but Tyler.
Instead of snapping back like she imagined he would, he held up his hands. “I’m sorry—”
Thanking her lucky stars for the reprieve, she softened her voice. “I don’t want your apologies, Wyatt. It’s a little too late for that. I forgave you once. I’m not forgiving you again, especially not after…You need to go.”
That did it, what she wanted to prevent.
His eyes hardened. He grasped her wrist, his fingers pressing into her flesh in a painful grip.
She let out a small gasp. Fear and panic overwhelming, she fought, placing her other palm over his chest to shove him.
“I’m not leaving, and you’re not leaving, Alyssa.” His voice harsh and ominous. “Don’t make me—”
His words died suddenly. The next instant, his back slammed against the door. His hand still held hers. She stumbled forward, then straightened. Her head shifted. She spotted Jace.
His hand wrapped around Wyatt’s throat, the other arm resting against his chest. “Let her go, asshole.”
Relief swarming her, she pressed her lips together, silently thanking him and her brother too.
Wyatt’s gaze sliced from hers to Jace’s then back again, but he didn’t release her. “That was quick, Alyssa.”
Jace’s hand around his throat tightened. He yanked Wyatt away from the door then banged his whole body against it again, the impact causing a loud, echoing thud. “Look who’s fuckin’ talking. I’m not gonna ask you again.”
Finally, Wyatt released her.
Immediately, she took several steps away. “You need to go.”
“You’ve fallen, Alyssa. Going from me to…” His gaze shot to Jace. “This…”
Her lips parted to deny there was anything between her and Jace, but Jace beat her to it.
“That’s where you’re wrong, ’cause I got her, and I’m not fool enough to cheat. I got her, and I’m smart enough to know there’s no one like her. Classy, sweet, smart, and fuckin’ beautiful. Her skin’s like silk. Her pussy tastes and feels like fuckin’ heaven. And I knew all that from one fuckin’ look.”
Her jaw dropped.
He lied through his teeth, but his voice had been laced with emotion, like he meant it with every breath in his body. For a moment, she let herself believe he wanted her that much, and it gave her hope. Maybe someday, someone would want her that much.
She shook her head, forcing the fantasy away. Neither one of them seemed to notice. Wyatt and Jace continued to stare each other down, sharing silent not-so-nice words.
“So this is how it’s gonna go. I’m gonna release you, and when I do, you’re gonna leave, and you’re never gonna see or contact her again. You’re gonna leave ’cause if you don’t, I’ll be tempted to beat the cheating bastard outta you.
“You’re gonna leave ’cause her brother’s gonna be here any second, and if he’s sees you here, he’s gonna flip his lid. Trust me when I tell you, you don’t wanna catch that man in a temper. So I’m gonna let you go this one time ’cause quite frankly I’m thanking God every second of every day you cheated. It means she’s warming my bed now instead of yours, but don’t take this for kindness. I’m not kind, and you hurt my woman, so you see or contact her again, that face of yours is never gonna look the same, and you’re gonna have a hard time getting pussy. Get me?”