AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked. “Did you get any rest?”
“I did, though I had some pretty crazy dreams,” she replied, walking across to the bag and opening it up. “This is great. Thank you. Jeans, sweats, tee-shirts, even my cosmetics bag, but just how many days—?”
“Your status has changed,” Marco declared, interrupting her. “You’re no longer staying here as my uninvited guest.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Come and sit next to me,” he insisted, patting the bed.
Though she couldn’t refuse him, his voice had been soft, and his smile warm and engaging. Hating how seductive he could be, but reminding herself he could change in a heartbeat, she climbed up and settled beside him.
“You’re now under my protection,” he murmured, putting his arm around her shoulder, pulling her against him. “Someone ransacked your apartment. God forbid they come back and you’re there.”
“No, that wouldn’t be good,” she muttered, “but I can always stay with my friend.”
“You’ll be safer here, and don’t worry. I’ll take care of whoever did it.”
For the umpteenth time since she’d stepped from her car in the forest, her heart skipped. “But, uh, how can you find out?”
“I’ll have help. We’ll go back into town, you can see what’s been stolen, and call the police.”
As her heart went from a skip to a leap, a hot blush crossed her face.
“That idea doesn’t appeal to you?”
“All that red tape? A police report? Cops going through my stuff?” she muttered. “No, it doesn’t appeal to me at all, though I do appreciate the suggestion.”
“But if there have been other robberies in the area they’ll have some information. Once I have a lead or two I can put the word out. As I’m sure you know, I have friends on the street. It won’t take long to find the culprit.”
“I really don’t want to involve the police,” she repeated, dreading the thought.
If the police were called in, she’d have to answer awkward questions, and sign a report under penalty of perjury. Besides which, she didn’t think for a moment the break-in was related to a robbery. It was more likely people in Marco Moretti’s world had gotten wind of her snooping.
“I see,” Marco murmured thoughtfully. “Then we have a problem. I can’t let you go back knowing you could be in danger, but you don’t want my help to catch the bastards.”
Her stomach in knots, and knowing the argument was one she couldn’t win, she searched frantically for a way to end the conversation.
“You know what, you’re right,” she declared, looking up at him. “I’m being shortsighted. I do hate the thought of dealing with cops going through my place and making a statement, but maybe we can arrange for a detective to come out on a less official visit. Can I think about it?”
“Sure, and I understand. I don’t like cops crawling through my home either, though I should be used to it by now. I don’t know why they keep serving me with search warrants. They never find anything.”
“What’s your surprise,” she asked, hoping to change the subject, “or was that it?”
“A visit to my club, but I had planned to combine it with a stopover at your place.”
The butterflies in her stomach suddenly burst to life.
“I have my own space there.”
She sighed.
Somehow he always managed to pull an ace from his sleeve.
“Hey, bringing the police in isn’t a condition,” he said softly, “but until I know who’s behind it, you’ll be staying here. Regardless, you should still see the damage.”
“Yes, and I’m anxious about that.”
He cupped her chin. “You know, Steph,” he whispered, “I meant what I said earlier. You really are a very bad girl.”
