Page 70 of Wicked Rush

“Why would he do that? You guys are tight.”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head, removing a defrosted pastry crust from its box. As he pressed it into a pan, he continued. “I’m really pissed, and I might be making excuses here for both of them, but maybe it’s as simple as clearances. The thing with Braelynn. She’s been honest that she hasn’t been telling me the truth, or at least the whole truth. The entire time she’s been telling me that whatever this is it requires specific clearances. And even though I have access to top secret information, you know how it works. Just because I work on certain government projects, that doesn’t mean I do or even should have access to everything that goes on at Emerson.”

“Yeah, but still. Garrett, you’d think he’d say something, or at least hint to you that he knew her or was helping her.”

“Or was hurting her,” Lars interrupted. “Who knows? All I know is the night of the party, he had a long conversation with Brae. And at the time, I don’t know…I just thought he knew about her from the shooting, that she worked for Bart-Aqua. I had no idea he actually knew her. And you know,” he paused, a thoughtful expression washing over his face, “he kept warning me off of her. Telling me not to talk to her. To keep away from her. Even that night at Altura, he was really pissed I’d brought her. And at the time, I just chalked it up to him being mad I’d brought someone who worked for Giordano. No, no. This is much more personal. He knew her. And he lied to me.”

“And she lied to you too,” Seth pointed out, looking into his mug. “Which brings us back to me asking what’s going on with you and her. Last night…”

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Lars took a cleansing breath. He was angry about everything that had gone down, but making love with Braelynn had been incredible. In spite of the secrets, he admired her courage and determination. Sexually, she’d been adventurous, trusting him to introduce her to forbidden pleasures.

“Are you serious? You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Seth laughed. “No fucking way!”

“What the hell are you talking about? I am not,” he huffed. Opening the oven door, he slid the pan inside and slammed it shut.

“You totally are.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lars reached for the oranges he’d picked off a citrus tree in the yard earlier in the morning. He began slicing them in half, attempting to ignore Seth’s accusation.

“Oh you do. But whatever, man. Deny it all you want.” He gave a broad smile. “I have to say, I never thought I’d see the great Lars Elliott going down. The girls at Altura are going to be pissed. And you fell for a civilian. She doesn’t even jump.”

“Yet,” he countered.

“Ah ha! I knew it. You think you’re going to keep her, don’t you?”

“Keep her?” He cracked a small smile. It was ridiculous that he’d begun to fall for her, he knew. “She’s a grown woman. She’s leaving me anyway.”

“What do you mean, she’s leaving you? She just got here.”

Frustrated, Lars set the knife down and pressed his palms to the cool granite. “The people she stole from. Giordano. He’s a very bad guy and so are the people he hangs out with. She thinks they’ll come for her again, try to kill her. And to be honest, if he doesn’t go to jail…like if there isn’t anything incriminating on that chip or in those papers, he could very well go free.” Lars stretched his neck to either side and turned to face Seth. “Giordano is a small-time corporate thug. He won’t leave the country for her. His reach won’t go that far. Whoever shot at her the first time, whether it was him or maybe he has business associates, I don’t know…doesn’t matter…if she stays here, and he’s free, he’ll go after her. He almost killed her once. He’ll try again. But if she’s out of the country, she’ll most likely be safe.”

“So let me get this straight. You, someone who like never falls in love, just found a woman who he’s into, and you’re just going to let her go? Just like that?” Seth snapped his fingers.

“It’s complicated.” It would crush him. But to protect her, he might have no other choice but to let her go.

“And last night?”

“What about it?” Lars plugged in the juicer and began pressing the oranges into it, the juice spilling into a pitcher.

“I know we’ve shared women before, but Lars…”

“I’m not saying I can do it forever, Seth.” Squeezing fruit, he continued his task.

“Why are you doing it with Brae? She’s not like us.”

“This thing we do,” Lars began, turning back to Seth, “we work hard. Then we turn around and do this fucking crazy shit. You know I love it, but it’s out there. And Braelynn, maybe she’ll never understand that rush, but you saw her under the fireworks. Even though she’d never even been to a place like Altura, she enjoyed it. And that’s what I lo…like about her.” Lars cursed his own choice of words, refusing to say how he felt. “So last night, we were just kind of bending rules, pushing a few limits. She’s never been with two guys. I’m not saying she’s going to always want to do this but right now, she’s safe with me. She trusts me.”

“So you’re cool with sharing her? Because you are falling for this chick.”

“I don’t know. It’s not like the other times. I’m not going to lie, this is different. She’s…she’s special.”

“You sure about this?”

“I’m just living life one day at a time, Seth. For all I know, this whole thing could come crashing down today, and if it does, she’s gone. But until then, we’re still getting to know each other, and Brae…if she’s into it, wants to explore, then I’m into it.”

“So you’re saying I have a shot at her?” Seth joked.

“Not a chance in fucking hell,” Lars stated, his expression serious. “Make no mistake. That woman upstairs. She’s mine. So if something happens, don’t go getting any ideas.”