Page 39 of Under Pressure

His velvety growl was as intoxicating as ever. He just did something to her. Then he released his hand from her mouth, spinning her to face him for the first time, apparently satisfied that he’d scared her enough.

“You!” she cried out, thumping hard on his chest. “You are worse than him.”

“I know I am,” he growled low, holding her tight. He ran his gloves up the side of her face, caressing her cheek as he stared down into her eyes. “But I still need you to trust me.”

“No. I’ll never trust you.”

The words seemed to hit him hard, and he widened his eyes with surprise as he released his grasp on her, allowing her take a step back from him…then another.

“Just how many girls are you fucking?” Kendra howled, incensed at his emotionless face.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

“Then why the hell were you there—with her?”

“Does it matter?” His angry boom carried in the alley, and Kendra took a step back, stunned.

A silence found the space between them, and he stared back without explaining who the woman was. The absence of explanation was all Kendra needed.

And that was when Kendra spun on her heels to find her way to her car. She didn’t dare look back over her shoulder at him, unwilling to fall victim once more to his burning gaze.

Chapter Fifteen

One year before

“Cheers.” Warren clinked Delta’s pint, leaning against the bar.

A younger, less-broken Delta nodded in agreement, studying the LAPD officers mixing at the bar, enjoying the round he’d bought for everyone after the obstacle course. It was the least he could do for their guests.

“We should invite them back.” Delta shrugged, keeping his gaze fixed on the crowd.

“Looking for something?” Warren pressed, spinning his pint thoughtfully on the bar. “Or someone?”

“No.”

Delta replied a little too fast, likely stirring his best friend’s suspicion. He couldn’t hide that he was waiting for a memorable blonde and her bouncy ponytail to show up for drinks. He’d made it damn clear he wanted her there. Would she show? He slung back the rest of his stout, mulling on the big question of the day. The night would be a bust if she didn’t. There was something about her, something he wanted to know better.

Warren cracked, “I didn’t think she was going to survive the course.”

“She was trying her best, man.” Delta flashed fast, correcting him. “Don’t start with that shit.”

Warren snorted. “Don’t you think it was a little out of her league? It seemed fucking careless as hell to let her run the damn thing.”

“Dude, are you expecting her to sit it out just because she’s a chick?”

Delta fired back at his friend, feeling heat rising in his throat, but he slowed his roll. He’d always been good at being the calm one. Attentive, the bartender dropped a fresh beer in front of him, giving him a second to recover.

“I’m not trying to be an asshole, but look around.” Warren motioned to the rest of the crowd. “These guys know what they are doing. She didn’t. It was dangerous.”

“I was there with her. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.”

“I saw. We all saw.”

Delta slammed his pint on the bar, staring down his friend. The ocean breeze floated through the open patio doors, blowing a tuft of his hair over his brow. He reached up, smoothing it back, narrowing his eyes on a certain voice carrying through the crowd. The staff sergeant. The fucking asshat had disappeared right as they’d jumped into the course. He’d deserted Kendra right when she’d needed help the most, and for that reason, Delta knew everything he needed to know about him.

“Be careful with him,” Warren warned from the side, keeping his voice down.

“I’m not worried about that guy,” Delta scoffed, his eyes fixated on Hunter’s weak shoulders.

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