I don’t like that.I want her tied to me.I want her linked to me.She can’t get away.
“Benedict was a protector.A cop.He was doing his job.He just wanted to make sure no one else was in the house.”
“He could have done that once the rest of his team in blue arrived.”Deliberately, Atlas walked toward her.She was staring at the gleaming, white floor.His hand reached out, curled under her chin, and forced her head back.When she looked up at him, tears swirled in her eyes.He did not like tears in her eyes.
One teardrop rolled down her cheek.
Fuck that.“You told him to get out.You told us all.”If it hadn’t been for Lily, Atlas and all his men could have died.
She swallowed.Wet her lips.“Why was the front door unlocked?I checked it—that door wasunlocked.Just like the back window that Benedict used.Why leave them unlocked?Unless you wanted others inside.”
“But we were locked in the basement.”He’d tried the door at the top of those narrow stairs.The prick had locked him and Lily in the basement.
“Yes, we were locked in.”A nod.“Because we were the main target.Or, at least, you were.Anyone who came to help, though, they were going to die, too.”
Only his men hadn’t died.Because of Lily.
I didn’t die.Because of Lily.His hand moved to brush away the teardrop.
“Don’t.” Her hand flew up, and her fingers curled around his wrist.“He deserves tears.Tears mean that someone cares Benedict is gone.”Her grip tightened.“He was a good cop.I met him shortly after coming to Dallas.He…he knew exactly what I was, and he never judged me.”
Another tear leaked down her cheek.This time, Atlas didn’t make the mistake of trying to wipe away that tear.If she wanted to cry for the detective, then so be it.But in his experience, tears didn’t always mean a person cared.Tears could be faked.And you could grieve as if your very heart was being ripped from your chest even as your eyes remained stone dry.He knew that bitter truth because he’d grieved that way before.When he stood at his mother’s grave.
When he stood at his father’s grave, though, he’d been laughing his ass off.
Because I am a twisted SOB.
His gaze slid down.Over her.Like him, she now wore a white hospital gown.Their clothes had been taken away by cops.Evidence.Bagged and tagged.
He and Lily had been thoroughly examined.Because the doctors had been worried about potential brain injuries, Atlas and Lily had been subjected to CT scans to rule out brain bleeding and fractures.
After the tests were complete, the doctors had wanted to keep Atlas and Lily separated.He’d refused that request.He’d given his own order.She stays with me.
Atlas was used to giving orders and used to having them obeyed unconditionally.Considering that he’d donated a wing to the hospital not too long ago, the doctors had acquiesced to his demands.Lily stays.She doesn’t leave my sight again.
His attention shifted to the small, delicate hand that curled around his wrist.Darkening bruises could be seen on her skin where the handcuff had bitten into her.One line looked particularly vicious, as if the handcuff had nearly sliced right into her.
“No worries about that,” Lily murmured.“I bruise easily.”
He was worried.But he filed away the comment about how easily she bruised.“I’ll have to be very careful with you in the future.”
“I doubt we’ll be handcuffed together again.”She let go of him.
“One never knows.”He reached for her wrist.Careful now, because he understood that Lily needed care, he lifted her hand up.
“What are you doing?”Husky.Uncertain.
He brought her wrist to his mouth.With gentle care, he kissed the darkening bruise.
“That is not going to make it better,” she murmured.Her voice had turned huskier.
His gaze collided with hers.Tension.Heat.Need.Desire pulsed between them.He could feel it.Atlas wondered if she did, too.He wondered even more if she would admit that truth.
“That is not gonna make it better,” Lily repeated with a little sigh.“And it could make things exponentially worse.”
Perhaps.They should be clear, though.“You were stalking me, Lily Gallo.”
She winced.“Stalkingis such a negative word.”Tear tracks were still on her cheeks.“I was simply trying to get you to have a meeting with me.There are things I wanted to discuss with you.I needed your attention.”
