Page 45 of Filthy Dirty Dom

“Why would you be sorry? This isn’t your fault. You saved me.”

“Those men were professionals. I think they came after you because of me.”

“How do you know that?”

“There was one guy outside. I took him out, but not before he referred to you as my girlfriend.”

“Oh.” Obviously she and Alex weren’t dating—they were friends who had hooked up and shared the most intense night of her life in a sex club. Still, she could see how someone observing them might think that. “What did the person on the phone say, Alex? Did he mention my name? Your name?”

“He asked, ‘Do you have her?’”

“Then this is more about me than you. We’ve hung out, it would be natural to assume we were dating. It could be one of Branden’s enemies. Maybe it’s Raj’s men.” Mason Raj was Leslie’s stepsister Deena’s biological father. He’d been abusive to her, a threat to the entire Duke family, and he’d been killed by Dex, another one of Alex’s bodyguards before he could kill Deena.

“Those are possibilities,” Alex conceded.

But she could tell he wasn’t convinced. Not by a long shot.

Alex knew Leslie was trying to help, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was somehow related to him. To his past. To the horrible things he’d done in a quest for vengeance.

Now the worst thing he could have imagined was possible – that his past had brought danger to Leslie’s doorstep.

To the doorstep of her entire family.

“While we wait for our things to arrive, I’m calling your brother. Do you want to wash up? Lie down?”

She hesitated. “I’ll wash up,” she said quietly.

She stood and headed toward the bathroom.

“Leslie.”

“Yes?”

“Keep the door open. Don’t go anywhere, and do not answer the door if anyone knocks.”

She swallowed and nodded. A rush of warmth flooded his heart at her expression, her eyes so lost and confused. “Tell me you understand.”

She raised a brow. “What, you think I’m a child and need to be coddled?”

“No. I think you were just attacked and saw me kill three men in front of you. I think you’re holding up but still in shock. And I just need to be sure there’s no room for misunderstanding.”

She sighed. “Fair enough. I understand.”

He waited until she went into the bathroom, leaving the bedroom door open, before he placed his call.

“How is she? Talk to me, Alex.” Branden said, his voice urgent. Luke had obviously done what Alex asked and given Branden a rundown of the situation so far.

“She’s safe, Branden. We’re at a hotel.”

“Put me on video.”

“No.”

“Damn it, Alex, I’m the one who pays your bills, so do as I—”

“Trust me,” he said. “I’m not giving anyone any ammo they could use against Leslie. If you so much as guess where I’m at, that puts Leslie at risk on the off chance someone gets to you. So no, I’m not telling you where I am or putting you on video until I get a clearer picture of what the hell is going on.”

“And what the fuck is going on?”

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