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“You’re sure?” He gripped my leg so hard he’d be leaving behind a bruise.
I tried to shove him away, but his hand didn’t budge. “What the hell, Craig? You’re acting crazy.”
He let go of me as if finally realizing what he was doing. “There’s nothing you want to tell me? Because if I find out later you’re keeping something from me, so help me, I’ll?—”
“You’ll what? Not take no for an answer the next time you bother me?” I bit out, on the verge of tears. Crying wasn’t something I did often, but he was pushing every limit I had. “You should’ve stayed away from Rebecca,” I added, still angry on Carter’s behalf about not only the accusations he killed Rebecca, but the fact Craig had taken advantage of an inebriated woman.
Craig quietly stared at me, then his brows snapped together. “You know.” He looked up at the ceiling, his chest puffing out from a deep inhalation. “How much do you know?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not in the business of blackmailing people.”
My words had the intended effect, his attention cutting to my face as if I’d finally gone ahead and hit him. “Rebecca and I were close friends.”
“A friend she didn’t tell her husband about?” I defiantly crossed my arms over my chest. “There’s a name for that.”
He ignored me and leaned in, his ashy breath hitting my face. “If you see that man again, do yourself a favor and run. He’s dangerous.”
“And that man has never made me feel uncomfortable, but you do.” I turned and went for the handle again. “Maybe look in the mirror, because it’s you who’s a threat. Probably to our nation as well.” At the feel of his hand on my shoulder, urging me to look back at him, I went still but didn’t give in to his request. “Get off your high horse. You don’t belong there, and you know it.” I swallowed, trying to keep my courage going. “Stop whatever crusade you’re on to take him down. Carter’s been through enough.”
He pressed his chest against my back, fisting my ponytail and jerking my head to the side to drop his mouth over my ear. “You want to fuck him, don’t you?” His hot breath at my ear as he tugged my hair had me closing my eyes. I was about to enter fight-or-flight mode, and while I knew how to defend myself, I also doubted I’d survive a matchup with this man. “That’s what it is. You have a crush on him. Always have, haven’t you?” His free hand slid around to my throat, but he didn’t squeeze. “You’re not such a good girl, are you?”
“Let me go,” I demanded.
“Although, you’re a woman now, not a little girl, even if you still dress like one.” Another tug of my hair, and I cringed when I felt his teeth graze my earlobe.
“Let me go, or I’ll tell Carter about this.” Shit, why’d I say that?
“Please do. Call him. Go ahead. I’d love nothing more than to see if that man would come running in to save you.” He let go of my ponytail, then pressed a button, unlocking the doors. “But you don’t have his number, now, do you? Because he doesn’t want to fuck you back.” He tsked. “Too bad for you.”
“Just stay away from me and my mother.” I hated the break in my voice as I opened the door, not wanting him to know he’d managed to scare me and get under my skin.
Once on the sidewalk, I was about to close the door, but he reached his arm out to hold it open.
His eyes met mine as he murmured, “I’ll be seeing you around.” Then he pulled the door closed, and I waited for the limo to leave before I faced the bar again.
Sierra came outside, her two guards right behind her but keeping their distance. “You okay? You look pale.” She handed me my purse, which I’d left inside, then hooked her arm with mine. “What’d he say to you?”
My head was spinning. “I just want to get out of this town. Go bury myself in my research again.” I had to meet the new owners of the company tomorrow, and then I was off to wherever they decided to send me. Hopefully somewhere far away from here.
“Talk to me,” she pleaded.
“Your husband told him we were here.”
“What?” She let go of me and removed her phone from her Birkin handbag.
“Don’t call him. It’ll make things worse.”
She frowned, then shoved her phone back in her purse. “What’d Paulsen want?”
I tipped my head, studying her. “He wants what everyone wants,” I whispered, my skin breaking out with chills again.
“And that is?”
I closed my eyes. “What they can’t have.”
16
CARTER
