Page 85 of Under Control

“There’s something else I should have told you,” he began, watching her carefully. “Delta gave me an intel report from LAPD. Someone snitched about what happened to your parents. Petrov killed them.”

Her face grew white, and he could see the deep loss in her eyes.

He continued, “I’m sorry, Dani. I should have told you as soon as I read the report.”

He could feel her backing away, shaking. Her hand slipped away from his, and he feared that he would never have her again.

“I didn’t know…that you knew.” She leaned back, her body trembling, and her eyes darted to the window. A tear rolled down her cheek.

He sat up in his bed and pain ricocheted through his back—but he didn’t give a fuck. Reaching out to grab her once more, he held onto her waist, afraid she’d run.

“I won’t keep things from you again,” he let out in a hoarse voice.

She bit her lip, cold and detached.

“I’m—” he started, but her angered face turned to him, cutting him off.

“Iknowabout the intelligence report. IknowPetrov killed my parents.” She snapped at him. “I know becauseIwas the snitch.”

“What?” Carrick looked shocked, trying to process what she’d said as he pulled her back to him by her hand. “What do you mean?”

Fire in her eyes, she ground out, “I was in the car when it happened. I survived.”

On pure instinct alone, Carrick dragged Danica’s body onto the bed. Without asking permission, he took her mouth with his, breathing a thousand apologies. How could he have been so stupid? She was stronger than anyone he’d ever met.

“Stay with me,” he exhaled between kisses.

She let him continue kissing her, and finally, after a minute of being held, she reached up to his shoulder and caressed his skin. Her touch sent a fire across his chest—but it was a damn good heat. That warmth hit his bones and rushed back up to his eyes. When he looked down on the beautiful brunette in his arms, she shot him a little grin.

“No more secrets.”

He nodded, conceding—willing to do anything to get her back. “Never.”

He kissed her again, taking her tongue into his mouth like he was never again going to kiss anyone. Her taste was delicious and immediately forced his cock into an uncomfortably hard place—one where he just wanted to fuck the shit out of her in his hospital bed. But before he could act, Delta’s echoing voice came closer to the door with what sounded like the doctor in tow.

“Come home with me.” Carrick gripped her ass tightly while Danica squirmed. “I need a nurse.”

A little something seemed to cross her lips, but she quickly corrected herself and furrowed her forehead.

“I’m notthattype of nurse.”

As Danica pushed off the bed, Carrick couldn’t shake the fantasy of what he wanted to do to her when he healed.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Danica

Danica stood outside Carrick’s Sunset Beach home on the back patio, waiting for him to come out. They’d been back from the hospital for a few days, but he’d spent most of the time sleeping it off—recovering from the bullets they’d taken out of him and ridding his system of the painkillers. If he’d wanted her to play nurse, she hadn’t been able to do much except trying to spoon-feed him homemade vegan soup and smoothies, which he’d complained about.

Finally, today, he’d held her hand and asked her if she wanted to go out with him—like, out of the house. He had something he wanted to show her.

She stood outside his place, waiting, in dressy shorts with a tucked-in soft white blouse. She’d taken extra care in her outfit, using a few things Aunt Kathy had dropped off for her. Carrick’s aunt had impeccable taste, which had started putting it all into perspective. She’d been behind all the décor. That was now obvious.

Combing her long brown hair through her fingers, Danica nervously adjusted her blouse.Tucked in or left out?She gazed at her reflection in the sliding doors, trying it as half tucked in. She didn’t know why this particular outing felt so important, but it did.

The sliding door opened, and a slick, scheming smile affixed to a familiar handsome face appeared.

“Ready?” He licked his bottom lip as he looked her up and down.

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