Black Listed(56)
She moved out of his arms, hating to break their connection but knowing it was necessary to prove her independence. “No. I need to go without you.”
His lips pressed together. “It’s not safe.”
No, it wasn’t. But even if she and Sawyer wore bulletproof vests and stayed inside their locked hotel room, they weren’t safe. And they wouldn’t be until they found and stopped that person who was responsible for cutting their brakes. Still, she didn’t bother saying that to Sawyer.
“Asa will protect me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m still not one hundred percent sold on his innocence.”
She crossed her arms and glared at him. “Well, that’s too bad then, because it doesn’t matter. I’m going to see him whether you like it or not.”
He took her by the arm. “I don’t like it. But I won’t stop you. I’ll take you there and stay in the hotel lobby.”
She squeezed her eyes closed, knowing what she was about to say would upset him and regretting that she had to say it. But she couldn’t tell him she was planning on giving the black list to Asa.
“No. I want to go by myself. I need some space, Sawyer.”
“Some space from me,” he said harshly.
“I’m not running from you or trying to push you away, but I need time to think. I’m not used to having someone hovering day and night. And there are things I can’t talk about with you that I can with my brother.”
His eyes softened. “About your past.”
“About my past. The present. My future.” She couldn’t talk about it with her friends or Sawyer. Going by what Asa had confided in her about Thea, she knew he’d understand and help her make the right decisions for all of them. At least, that’s what she was hoping. “I want to share it with you, but until I work it all out in my head, I won’t be able to.”
“And you think your brother can help you do that?”
“I think if anyone can, it’s him.”
He sighed, nodding. “Fine. I’ll take you to your car, and if everything on it checks out okay, you can drive yourself to see your brother. But I want you to text me when you get there and when you leave.”
She swallowed nervously. Would he ask about the inevitable lapse between the time he dropped her at her car and the time she arrived at her brother’s hotel? “I will. What are you going to do?”
His gaze sharpened on her as if he’d caught on to her anxiety, but he didn’t mention it to her. “I’m going to call work and put out the dozen fires that are burning and then see if I can’t track down the hit man Winters hired. I spoke with Oz tonight while you were with your friends getting ready. He got a lead on our hired assassin.”
Irritated, she bit her lip to keep from saying something she’d regret. “And you waited to tell me about it until now?” Of course he did. He’s a man and wanted to get laid first. “What did he find out?”
“Guy’s name is Jeff Marshall. He’s from Detroit. No bank account. The wire from Chad was actually a cash pickup, wired to a check-cashing store in Detroit. Rowan managed to hack into their records to get Marshall’s information. Unfortunately, the address he gave was bogus. He’s got priors for assault, armed robbery, and drug possession.”
Sounded like Chad had picked a winner. She could only imagine what kind of person would kill for a couple hundred bucks. “Should we be glad he doesn’t have any priors for murder?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
She hadn’t fooled him. His expression grew somber as he gathered her back into his arms and held her tightly. “I think we’re facing an unknown. Whether he’s our guy or not, you cannot let your guard down until we find out. But I won’t let him hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He tipped her head back, his eyes dark with the solemnity of his vow. “Trust me.”
Chapter Eighteen
HE LOOKED THROUGH the telescope poking out of the trailer’s window and watched her walk out the front door of the mansion that housed a fucking sex club. He hadn’t realized that’s what it was the first night he’d spied on her at the wedding. But he’d scouted it out since then and seen all sorts of deviants coming in and out of there at all hours of the night.
He should have known that Hayes would sink his kinky claws into her. She was too easily manipulated.
She’d thought she’d beaten him, but no one got away with besting him. He’d teach her in the long run.
He always did.
His head pounded, the beat like a drum inside his brain, and the voices chanted their scheme. It was almost finished. She’d be so proud. He’d built it with his own two hands. She’d thought him worthless. Stupid. Lazy. She’d tried to con the master.