Page 67 of Under Fire

“What do you think?”

She played nervously with her lip, which was only met by his darkening face.

“You’re constantly putting yourself in bad situations,” he said. “Do you have any idea who could be hiding in these bushes?”

His words hit hard, and the underlying implication wasn’t missed. But she was an independent type. She’d gotten herself that far. She had to step forward.

“So, what happened?” She put her hands on her hips, straightening her spine. “Are you going to tell me?”

“No.” Warren snarled that savage growl in his throat.

Alisa pulled back, grasping at the broken trust between them. “First, you won’t tell me what the cop is saying, and now you won’t tell me about what happened with this guy? Why not?”

“I’m protecting you, since you are incapable.” His voice cracked, and she saw the anger in his eyes.

“Iamcapable.”

“Not from what I’ve seen, doing dumb shit that’ll get you killed. From now on, I handle things,” he said.

Her mouth dropped open in complete disbelief. She felt the fake-engagement ring digging in, reminding her how everything was on his terms.

“I’m not a passenger in my own life,” she said. “I’m a solutions-oriented woman.”

“Then offer solutions.”

Anger exploded in her mind, and she shakingly shot out her hand. “I’ll have my phone back now, please.”

“Not if you think you’re going to callhim.”

“I’ll call who I want to call—” she started, but quickly regretted it. She bit her trembling lip, trying to stay strong in front of Warren’s abject intensity.

After a brief pause, he reached into his suit pocket, yanked out her cell and threw it at her.

“Prove me wrong.”

Then he watched her as she turned it on, clearly hearing all the notifications pinging—someone clearly trying to get a hold of her. They both knew who that was. Her face twisted as she saw Dean’s name scattered across her screen.

He was back in LA.

He was demanding her presence.

She looked up at Warren, burning in her eyes. Why did it have to be so complicated?

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, feeling tears rushing to her eyes.

“You gave yourself to me. You’re mine to protect now.”

His eyes drifted down to the engagement ring she wore on her finger, the ring he’d slid on.

“We both know this isn’t for real,” she said, twisting the ring, peaking her eyebrow at him.

“And why’s that?”

Staring, he leaned in, his hand thumping against the wall beside her. She sank as he trapped her underneath him yet again. She felt her eyes suddenly sting, hating the truth.

“You’d never marry me.”

“Why not? What is the fucking deal with you?”

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