Page 34 of Wicked Rush

“Please don’t tell me that you’re trying to protect Giordano.”

“God, no,” she sighed. “I’m talking about…you know…clearances. I have them. You have them, right?”

“Of course, but if there is something illegal going on, you can report it.”

“It’s complicated.”

Lars gave a small laugh, irritated that she’d even try to explain it away.

“No, please, you’ve got to listen to me. You keep telling me to trust you. And God, you have no idea how much I want to. But this thing, it’s dangerous. There’s something I need in the office.”

“Something that doesn’t belong to you.”

“Technically, no.” Braelynn speared her fingers up into her thick locks, twirling it into a ponytail. “And I can’t tell you who I’m giving it to either. Just me telling you this much could put you in danger.”

“I’m going to make you another deal.”

“Does this involve handcuffs?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Only if you want it to.” He gave a small grin, hoping that she was starting to feel well enough to leave.

“I refuse to answer that.” The corner of her mouth ticked upward but she couldn’t manage a smile.

“Let’s pack up some of your things. Come stay with me for a while. I’ll take you to Bart-Aqua.”

“You can’t come in with me.”

“I didn’t say I’m coming in with you. I said, I’d take you. They might not let me in but I’m sure as hell not letting you go by yourself. You go in and get whatever you need and then get out. After what happened here today, there’s no way I’m leaving you alone.” Corporate espionage. Lars suspected she was stealing information. Why and for who were two questions he had no answers to. Whoever wanted the information was either threatening her or possibly willing to kill her as well. “I get you don’t want the police involved, but I need to think on this. I know about classified information, I really do. That’s my business. But whatever you’re involved in…”

“Please,” she begged, concern in her voice.

“Hold on. Let me finish.” He held up his hand. “For now, I won’t. But I’m not going to lie. If I need to call them I will. I have a friend in the department…I reserve the right to call him if anything else happens. Killing an animal? Someone who does that kind of thing? There’s something seriously wrong with them.”

“Lars.” She took a deep breath, her eyes flashing to his. “When this is over…you need to know, I won’t be able to stay in San Diego.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Why are you helping me? I didn’t even thank you for what you did for me at the beach…at your house…” She flattened her palms on the floor, preparing to stand.

Lars struggled to answer the question, aware he should probably call Dean and leave the situation in his hands. Whatever she’d gotten herself into wasn’t his business. While Lars had initially told himself he’d needed resolution to the shooting, holding her in his arms at the charity event and later touching her in the pool had sealed his fate. He couldn’t stop thinking about her slick skin against his. With the spark of desire ignited, he considered that he wouldn’t be satisfied until he was buried deep inside her.

“Why?” she pressed.

“It doesn’t matter why,” Lars lied. He’d told Braelynn that he needed the truth from her before they had sex. But the more time he spent with her the less he thought he’d get it. He considered that if he just fucked her, he’d get over his obsession, and could let it all go.

Braelynn went silent at his response, and Lars suspected she knew he was having second thoughts about helping her. She reached for the blanket and he blocked her hand.

“Go pack your things. I’ll take care of this.”

“But I should…”

“Leave him. You should pack.” More irritated with himself than anything else, Lars ignored the desire to comfort her. The small connection between them broke as she turned cold in response to his demeanor.

Braelynn shook her head as silence filled the room. She stared down into her hands, stained with fur and blood. “I need to take a shower.”

Lars watched as she ascended the steps, aware she hadn’t agreed to do what he’d suggested. She was stubborn, involved in something way more dangerous than she was capable of handling. He resisted going to her, taking her in his arms and telling her it was going to be all right. He’d told her that he wasn’t going to call the police but the more he considered what had just occurred, the more the idea appealed to him.

Lars called up the steps to Braelynn. Nearly twenty minutes had passed, and she hadn’t said a word. He’d already pulled his car into her driveway, placing the remains of her pet inside the trunk. Lars retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and scrolled through his phone numbers, his finger hovering over Dean’s. If he called him, he’d take over the situation, keep Braelynn safe, but he’d also arrest her. He clicked it off, deciding that although they’d only been together for less than twenty-four hours, losing her wasn’t an option.