Page 72 of Worth the Risk

Bella’s eyes widened in reaction. “I’m not playing games, Dan. I’ve never been married, and no one abused me...” She spoke steadily at first, but her voice trailed off at the end to barely above a whisper.

She should avoid Vegas and gambling that required a poker face, or she’d lose her shirt.

“Maybe not physically but emotionally perhaps,” he suggested, his tone softening.

Bella walked to the window, her back to him. He couldn’t see her face, but he could tell from the tension in her shoulders and the stiffness of her spine she was struggling with something.

Growing increasingly incensed, he exclaimed, “We could be here all night playing guessing games! It will be faster and would piss me off a helluva lot less if you would tell me what the fuck is going on.”

Her eyes wet with tears, she glanced over her shoulder. “You’re right,” she said, her voice shaking. “I have secrets. But I can’t tell you what they are. If you want to end things, I’ll understand.”

His heart sank at the thought of letting her go. He didn’t want to end things with her. They had a connection and were explosive in bed, and he’d only scratched the surface of the submissive and kinky adventuress buried inside her. However, he refused to play games without deriving pleasure from them.

He cut the distance between him. No matter the tears and the fear, they were doing this.

“You’re not married,” he stated. “That’s a relief. There’s not a stalker ex-boyfriend I’ll have to deal with, is there?”

“No. I’m single and have been for a while. It’s nothing like that.”

As she turned away, he grasped her arm and pulled her around to face him. “Eyes on me, Bella,” he said firmly. When her blue gaze lifted to his, he laid his other concern on the table. “Are you in trouble with the law? If that’s the case, I’ll do everything in my power to help you. The club has an excellent attorney—”

Bella shook her head, interrupting him before he could finish his sentence. “No, no. I have broken no laws that I’m aware of,” she assured him.

Was he mistaken, or had she put an emphasis on I? There was one other worst-case scenario. “Are you in danger, baby?”

“Not right now.”

For a split second, he stared at her in disbelief. Then he spoke in a rush, overwhelmed by fear and confusion. “My god, Bella. What the hell kind of answer is that? You’re safe now, but what about later? Are you saying what’s hanging over your head might come crashing down in an hour, a week, or next year?”

“I can’t tell you, Dan. You’ve got to believe when I say that it’s for the best.”

“And from that cryptic remark, I can only assume sharing your secret could put others in danger.”

“Yes... No.” She covered her face with her hands and whispered, “That’s just it. I don’t know.”

“Well, that sure puts my mind at ease,” he drawled with heavy sarcasm, at a loss for how to help her and them. “I don’t know how we move forward if you can’t tell me what’s going on.”

Bella nodded, her voice muffled by her hands when she replied, “I understand. It’s better if I go and you forget you ever knew me.”

Dan felt a pang of guilt at contributing to her distress. If they were in a scene at the club and making her cry was his intent, his dick would be hard. But this wasn’t playtime.

“Tonight, you discovered I used to be a cop. Did you also learn what I am now?”

“You work for Rossi Security. I’m an idiot for thinking someone like you would be a bouncer at a kink club.”

“You’re not an idiot, Bella. But if you don’t confide in me, you’re not being smart. Rossi takes on clients like you because we specialize in security and protection. I can keep you safe, baby. But I need to know who or what you need protection from.”

“I’m afraid,” she confessed.

“Of what?” he asked gently.

“That when you learn the truth”—she paused, her voice breaking with a fresh wave of tears—“you won’t look at me the same way or ever call me beautiful or baby, again.”

He took her wrists and pulled them away from her face. “I can’t imagine that happening, but I’ve told you how I feel about honesty. I’ll give you some time to think about that,” he said gently, although his voice grew stern when he continued. “But I won’t tolerate being stood up again with no explanation.”

Her lashes were wet and spiky when she blinked, clearly confused. “Wait, so you’re not breaking up with me?”

“Not right now.” Him using her words from a moment before made her flinch, and he felt like a piece of shit for doing so. With a tug, he pulled her against his chest and held her close, rocking her. He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t kind.”

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