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“Let’s talk about that.”
I steel myself for wherever he’s going. “Why does that sound ominous?”
“I was selfish to get involved with you, Pri.”
That’s why I think he’s pulling away from me and it’s right then that I realize how hard I’ve already fallen for this man. It’s only been a chance encounter and a hot night, and already he can stab me in the heart with rejection. “I see,” I manage. “I just—we don’t need to do this.” I try to get up.
He holds my knees and me in place. “I don’t think you do. I have never wanted someone to the point that I couldn’t see the risks. I put you in the line of fire.”
“I was already in the line of fire. You don’t need an excuse to cool us off, Adrian. I get it. It’s fine.”
“Is it? Is it that easy for you to cool us off?”
I blink. “You’re confusing me right now.”
“Then let me be clear,” he says, leaning in closer, the masculine spice of his cologne a wicked play on my senses. “I don’t want to let you go and it’s too late anyway.”
My brows furrow. “Too late?”
“Waters insisted on meeting with you, not Ed. He doesn’t communicate with anyone but the top dog. I believe he knows we’re together. I believe you’re a target because of me.”
I suddenly understand why he wasn’t touching me outside, in the public eye where our relationship would be in plain view. “I was a target anyway.”
“I betrayed him. I earned his trust and betrayed him. He wants me to pay. He’ll go after what I care about.”
“Just because you sleep with me doesn’t mean you care about me.” I hold up a hand. “I’m not saying you don’t.”
“I do,” he says, his voice a low rumble, almost a growl. “You know I do.”
I study his earnest expression and press my hand to his face. “I do know, but you also know that I have my own sins I’m playing to right now. My own dirty side. I’m in this all the way. I’m not scared. So knowing that, now what?”
He captures my hands. “We have options. Number one, Ed could go with me today before he goes into hiding.”
“No. I don’t trust Ed. His assistant is suddenly on an unexpected vacation, and he’s acting off. No. He might turn on you.”
“Number two. I could go alone.”
“No,” I say again. “The DA has to be represented in a firm ‘no deal’ statement. I’m going with you, so now what?”
“Number three starts with my strategy. I’m visiting Waters to taunt him. He’ll bite and he’ll force Deleon to come for me and you, on our terms and do so now. We go in there today. We push Waters’ buttons. We go home to your place and when the sun goes down, we sneak out and my men handle Deleon.”
“And we’ll be where?”
“Miles away in a place he’ll never find us, just you and me. I’ll set up secure communications for you. You can manage the case from a distance.”
“I’ll make it work, but what if Deleon doesn’t come for us?”
“He will,” he says, his tone absolute.
“Okay, well let’s say he does and all goes well. What’s to keep Waters from sending someone else after us?”
“The goal is to capture his men alive and turn at least a few against him. That might force a deal he’s not going to take now.”
“Will Deleon flip?” I ask hopefully.
“Never. It has to be some of the lessers down the food chain. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll stay off the grid until the trial, and we’ll keep our team close during the trial. But you don’t have to do this today.”
“Don’t you want to be a part of taking down Deleon?”
“I trust the guys and I’m not leaving you. We leave tonight and we do it together.”Chapter Thirty-TwoPRI
I eat the chocolate brownie sundae.
I mean, if I’m going to die soon, macaroni and cheese, chocolate, and ice cream need to be a part of my final days. And Adrian. I need more Adrian. In the process, I end up with a whole lot more Walker Security as well, which is just fine by me. I like these guys, especially as they get focused on planning, and Lucifer pulls out a MacBook to check in with the rest of their team.
By the time me, Adrian, and Adam are back inside the SUV, on our way to the Del Valle detention center where Waters is being held pending trial, I’m feeling ready for our meeting with him. That is until my cellphone rings and the caller ID is my father’s number. Just that easily, I’m twisted in knots. I’m pretty sure that alone establishes me as having enough personal baggage to fill a 737’s hungry belly. I decline the call and glance at Adrian. “Can you just confirm for me that my parents are safe right now?”
