“No, I’m not going to do that.”
“Why? Look, you were having fun, and I’m fine. You know me, and I don’t like to have an audience. I’ve already overreacted.”
“No.”
“Riley, honestly, I’m fine.” She smiled up at him, trying her best to appear strong.
“I think it’s best that Louisa takes the rest of the night off,” Frank said. “I’ll make sure she gets home.”
“No need. I’ll deal with her,” Jacob said. “I’ll make sure she gets home safely, and I know a diner that serves late. I’ll feed her as well.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I wasn’t asking,” Jacob said.
She gritted her teeth, hating the way he was being bossy. The last thing she wanted was to spend time with him, but she also refused to spoil Riley’s night.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m more than sure. Go, have fun, and enjoy your night. I imagine you’re going to be like super busy soon.”
Riley stared at her for several seconds.
“Go,” she said.
“I love you, little sis.”
“I’m only a few minutes younger than you.”
“Those few minutes count. Call me when you get home.”
“I will.” She watched Riley leave the office, and Frank made his excuses to leave. When they were gone, she slumped in her chair, and just gave up to the fear that was consuming her.
Jacob gripped her arm, and she tensed, crying out. Quickly moving out of his reach, she turned to face him, shaking.
He held his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
She wiped away the tears that were refusing to stop falling. Lou hadn’t cried in so long.
“You hurt him?” she asked.
“Yes. He put his hands on you, and now I wished I hadn’t let him walk out here alive. He’s made you cry.”
She bit her lip, trying to contain her emotions. It was hard with Jacob staring at her as if he could see right into her soul.
“Have you killed people before?”
“Do you want me to lie to you or pretend?”
“I want the truth.”
Jacob’s jaw tensed up as she watched him grit his teeth. “Go out on a date with me.”
“What?” She frowned.
“Go out on a date with me, and I will answer any and all questions you want.”
Lou didn’t know what to think. “If I say no?”
“I don’t give you a single answer, and you won’t have a clue what Riley is up to.”
“Will you kill someone in front of me?”
He smirked.
“Why are you smirking?” she asked.
“You know, we’ve been talking for a couple of minutes and you’ve stopped shaking. I’d say I was good for your health.”
“You’re not good for my health. You’re an asshole.”
Jacob closed the distance between them, and Lou had no choice but to take a step back. He kept advancing, and she kept backing away until finally her back was against the wall. His hand moved above her head, and the jacket he wore couldn’t hide the thick, corded muscles in his arms. Biting her lip, she tried not to show her fear, and a little arousal as well. No man had ever done something like this with her before, chased her. That was what Jacob made her feel, chased. In a weird way, he made her feel special.
“I’ve hurt men for calling me less,” he said.
“Less what?”
“Less than an asshole. I’m not a very nice person.”
“I know that. You’ve killed people?”
“Go on a date with me.”
Lou tilted her head to the side, forcing herself to keep looking him in the eye. She shook her head. “No.”
He leaned in close so that his lips were touching her ear. “Are you a chicken?”
Jerking back, she placed her hands against his chest. “I’m not going on a date with you. It’ll just give you an excuse not to tell me the truth.”
“Or maybe I’ll show you too much truth. Your parents, they’re not good people.”
“I know that.”
“No, you don’t. You know what you think you know.”
Her heart started to pound. “You’d take me with you? No hiding?”
“No hiding, but you’ve got to promise me you won’t run to the cops.”
Lou frowned. “Why take me around if you risk me going to the cops?”
He twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers, and the back of his knuckles brushed along her cheek. She tensed up, not knowing what he was going to do. Jacob was confusing to her. Lou didn’t want to give him anything, and yet he was determined to take. He annoyed her.
“You want something, to know the truth about your brother, and what he’s doing. I’m willing to give you the answer you want.”