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“All right,” she says, but she does so with a firm step backward, before she places me and Adam in profile, her arms folded. “Do we care if Waters knows Walker is involved?”
“We need to stay in the shadows for now,” I say. “Adam’s a master at becoming someone he isn’t and dresses up real pretty. Can he go in as an ADA doing grunt work on the case?”
“He can,” she says. “That works.” She eyes Adam. “Does that work for you?”
“If it’ll keep Adrian from tying you up before this is over, I’m all in.”
Her cheeks flush. “I don’t think he meant that literally.”
Adam’s lips quirk. “Of course not. I’ll let you two talk.” He winks at her, the dirty bastard, and then, dirty or not, a man of his word, he makes quick work of leaving.
The minute the door shuts, I lock it again and turn to face Pri, her pink painted lips begging to be kissed, but right now, I’m thinking about Waters—her face-to-face with Waters, specifically. She’s not nervous enough about this meeting. She’s not ready and I’m to blame. I was with Waters for two years and already I’m in her bed and playing protector. If she underestimates him as she has me, she’ll end up dead.
“You aren’t taking Waters seriously,” I say, closing the space between us, my hands catching her slender waist, which is cinched tight over a pink dress that hugs her curves.
Her hands go to my hands at her waist, as if she’s almost ready to push me away, which works. She needs to read my agitation and read it well.
“I take him plenty seriously, Adrian,” she says. “I’m doing this to save lives. What is your problem right now?”
I walk her backward until she hits the sink, my legs caging hers. “I didn’t ask for immunity for nothing. Don’t underestimate me.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Because I fucked you? Do you think that protects you?”
“Okay, that’s it. I want out of this bathroom.”
“Not yet. I’m not done with you. Is that what you’re going to say to Waters? I’m not afraid of you?”
“I told you. I’m not naïve.”
“And yet, I spent the night at your house. How easily you trusted me.”
“Because it’s you.”
“Me? You don’t even know me let alone what I did to ask for immunity. I know I have a certain level of protection and I’m still asking for it, Pri.”
“I have your references.”
“Blake knows the man I let him know and I learned that from the master himself: Waters.” My gaze sweeps the curve of her breasts and lifts. “You look like an angel in that dress, Pri. The kind a man goes to sleep thinking about. He devours angels. He obsesses over how to turn them or hurt them.”
“I’m not an angel,” she bites out.
“He’s sneaky. He’ll seem like Prince Charming and he could kiss you while he’s working to destroy you.”
“He sounds like my father.”
“Not even close. Your father manipulated you because he wanted you to follow in his footsteps. Waters wants you to kneel for him. And even if you do, you’re just a disposable soldier. He will slice your throat and laugh about it.”
“I’ve read his file. You remember that, don’t you?”
“His file doesn’t tell you shit. Why do you think he wants me dead? I know what you don’t know.”
“Okay. Can you let me off the sink now?” She presses on my unyielding chest and I catch her hands. “No. I’m not done with you.”
“We’re done. Completely. I made a mistake. You made your point.”
My fingers tangle in her hair and I drag her mouth to mine, my hand pressed between her shoulder blades, molding her close. “What point is that?”
“You’re dirty. I’m just bad. There’s a difference.”
“And here I thought you liked it when I’m dirty.” I brush my lips over hers and she trembles in my arms.
“What are you doing, Adrian? I don’t want—”
“I do. I want.”
“An angel you can destroy?” she challenges.
I pull back and cup her face, tilting her gaze to mine. “Never. I will never hurt you. You know that. I know you know that.”
“And yet you don’t trust me to know better with Waters?”
“I’ve watched too many people underestimate him, Pri. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“By being an asshole? I’ve got enough of those in my life, Adrian. I don’t need another.”
“And I’ve had too many people die in my life. I don’t want you to be next.”
She studies me, searching my face. “He really affects you, doesn’t he?”
“You really affect me. I don’t want your trust in me to impact how you see him.”
“Then next time, just say that.”
There’s a knock on the door. “We have a line out here,” Adam calls out.
I lean in and kiss her and she really is the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. “Change this damn dress,” I order. “Wear something black and baggy.”
