“I don’t give two shits who you sleep with,” Brody growled. “All I care about is making sure Ro is safe.”
Those words resonated through him, and suddenly Brody realized just how true they really were. He cared about others, of course. Megan. Christian and the guys. But Ro was different. She was…more.
He hadn’t planned it.Sureas hell hadn’t seen it coming. But planned or not…unwitting or not…something inside him changed the second Ro pressed those luscious lips to his.
Like a blind man miraculously given the ability to see, he’d suddenly realized the piece of himself he never knew was missing had been standing right in front of him all along. No longer was Aurora Tennison simply a friend. She was…more.
She’s everything.
And as he stood there with his weapon shoved against another man’s head, Brody knew. He’d kill without blinking an eye if that’s what it took to protect her.
“I’m not a threat to Aurora,” Yorke vowed. “And…no matter what you decide to do with the information I’ve given you tonight…I really do hope you find the person who hurt her.”
“Oh, I’ll find him,” Brody gave his own solemn vow. “If it’s the last thing I do.”
He finally lowered that gun and slid it back into his holster, releasing Yorke with a shove. More than ready to get back to the woman he’d left standing by his bed, he left Yorke with one final warning.
“If you’re telling us the truth, your secret will remain just that. You have my word.”
“Th-thank you.”
“But…I find out you’re lying to me about this, and it really wasyouwho hurt my Ro…I will come back here.” He leaned in closer. “And I will kill you.”
“Thanks for the hospitality, Clay.” Jagger sent Yorke a wave as he, Cade, and Liam turned to leave. “It’s been fun. Hopefully we can do it again real soon.”
Brody waited a breath before pulling back and turning away. And as he and Christian followed the others out, he wondered just how soon that would be.
13
Ro woketo the sound of rushing water. Feeling like she’d washed her eyeballs with sandpaper, she blinked away the remnants of her earlier tears and looked around. Confusion struck, but then…
Brody’s. I’m at Brody’s house.
She settled back onto the pillow beneath her. His pillow. In his bed.
Drawing in a deep breath, his masculine scent surrounded her, offering a sense of comfort and safety she’d only felt when he was near. The sound of running water came to a sudden halt, and it was only then that Ro realized where it had been coming from.
The shower.
She turned toward Brody’s master bathroom. Her chest tightened when she found its door closed, a small sliver of light shining through from underneath.
He’s back.
Her gaze lowered to the digital clock on his bedside table. Three hours had passed since he and the others had left in search of Clayton, but he was back. And in the shower.
Naked.
Careful of her sore and aching arm, Ro slowly pushed herself up in bed. Brushing several strands of wayward hair from her face, she leaned her back against Brody’s smooth wooden headboard and waited.
As she did, she couldn’t help but wonder what had transpired between him and her former client. Former since Clayton had already agreed to let her out of her previously agreed upon contract after tonight’s party.
And since she’d been shot at said party…
I still don’t think Clayton did it.
Ro wasn’t sure why she felt so strongly about it, but that didn’t diminish the gut feeling she’d had from the start of this whole thing. Maybe she was wrong, but something told her Clayton wasn’t their man.
She’d shared that with Rocky earlier. The poor guy had been tasked with babysitting her, and while she felt bad about him missing out on going with the rest of his team, Ro would be lying if she said she didn’t appreciate his presence.