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Her hand froze. “Is that really what you think I’m worried about? Finding my way home?”
I laid my hand over the one still resting on my chest. “I know it’s not.”
She let go of me and slid off the bed to kneel at my feet. I wasn’t so far gone to not wish she was doing that for a far different reason. One I’d hoped we’d partake in that afternoon. She cupped my jaw in both her hands. “You’re not alone anymore.”
“I will not have you mixed up in this,” I snapped at her. She would obey me.
She stiffened and dropped her hands. “I’ve already explained that you can’t tell me what to do.”
“This isn’t a game, Sunshine. I won’t have you get hurt over my vendetta.”
“Jareth, let me help you,” she begged.
“No.” This was the darkness that I didn’t want to touch her soul. I had to live with these choices. She didn’t. In the best case scenario, I would just have an informed chat with Bill, but if he had anything to do with my father’s death there was no way I could hold back.
“Well, you can’t stop me. I’m coming with you.” She threw off the robe, and my eyes devoured the tight yoga pants she wore. It highlighted one of my favorite features, her luscious ass. She yanked off the pants and the tank top she wore. She was likely trying to change my mind or distract me with her body. Either way she was off to a good start.
She stomped into the closet, her mumbles only growing louder the more aggravated she became. When she stepped back out, she wore a short-sleeved floral top and a pair of dark-wash jeans. Everything she wore turned me on.
“Are you ready to go or what?” After slipping her purse over her shoulder, she sailed out of the bedroom door, not bothering to glance my way.
I stood. “You have no idea where we’re going.” I made my way over to the safe and placed my thumb on the scanner. Once it popped open, I grabbed my holster, strapped it on, and then grabbed my gun, being sure to hide it under my clothes.
“Not true,” she sang out from the other room.
Forget Bill. I was going to kill Amelia. She was the only way Hazel would have the address.
I strode from the bedroom, determined to leave Hazel behind. “What do you think you’re doing?” I pulled on a blue button-down shirt I’d left out to change into.
“I’m your backup, 007.” I was pretty sure she was smirking at me.
“I think you’ve gotten your heroes mixed up. He’s the good guy, Hazel.”
She kept sentry by the front entrance. “So are you. Besides, there’s always been the debate on whether he’s morally gray. So you and he match. At least you’re not such a narcissist.” She grinned.
“This isn’t a game, Hazel.” I narrowed my eyes. “Move.” She didn’t need to see me like this. I had to shut down and push emotions to the side when dealing with dangerous situations like we currently found ourselves in. It was taking a herculean effort to close myself off because after the last few days with Hazel, I was softer than I would have even believed possible. I didn’t want to expose her to my cold, ruthless side.
It also surprised me to realize I didn’t want to shatter the illusion of the last two days in my own mind, much less in hers. More importantly, I didn’t want her in any danger. If she got hurt, I’d never forgive myself.
Her lips pressed together and her foot rapped a quick staccato as she continued to block the door with her body. “No, it’s not. And only if it’s to come with you.”
I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck. “I can pick you up and move you out of the way if necessary.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Listen, we can both agree that killing him today is not a good idea. So I don’t see the harm in me going.”
“Hazel,” I growled, now standing in front of her. “Killing isn’t the only option on the table. I will get the information I need from him whether or not he’s cooperative.”
She laid her palms on my chest, instantly soothing my irritation. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was using Jedi mind tricks on me or some kind of magic. “We both know I’m excellent at getting people to talk and let’s face it, I’m one-hundred percent more of a people person than you are. The way I see it, I’m like your secret weapon.”
With a swift kiss on her forehead, I lifted her up and shifted her out of my way. I opened the door and strode out while texting my bodyguards to meet me at the entrance with a car.
She sputtered for a second before chasing me out the door. “Heck, no.”
It didn’t matter how fast I walked. She ran to catch up. Finally, I stopped. My legs were far longer than hers, and as pissed as I was at her decision, I didn’t want to leave her like this. She caught up and glared at me. “Sunshine, you’re staying behind.”
“Jareth, so help me. I’ll follow you if you don’t let me go with you .”
I tried a new tactic. “Tell me why you want to go so badly, even knowing it might get ugly.”
