Page 68 of Under Fire

Her lips pouted, fraught. He didn’t get it. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes.

“It’s time for you to tell me what the fuck is going on with your ex,” he said. “What I need from you is information. I can’t protect you if I am blind.”

“What? You want his address?” She shook her head fitfully. “You’d just do something we’d both regret.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck. I’m in charge now. I’ll make you tell me what I need to know…by any goddamn means necessary.”

The way the last words came out, she knew it was a threat. Goosebumps prickled up her thighs just thinking about how he’d punish her, torture her, hurt her…and she’dloveit.

“Please, don’t do this—”

But he cut her off, dropping his head to give her one more hot kiss.

A kiss that would be her undoing.

He dominated her easily, her own spine buckling into him as he took her mouth, kissing her deeply. He took over all her senses. All she could taste, hear, feel…was him. She moaned, needing the feel of his tongue against hers, but then he abruptly yanked back, leaving her breathless.

Warren looming over her, not letting her go. He was going to torture the full truth out of her. She didn’t want to tell him, but she couldn’t fight him off anymore. He was going to see her for what she really was.

“Speak,” he growled, deeper and more threatening than ever.

“I’m—” Alisa started, clearing her throat. “I’m indebted to Dean. He paid— Hepaid foreverything.”

“What does that mean?”

Pressed against the hotel wall, she blinked rapidly, focusing only on his deeply concerned icy blues.

Swallowing thickly, she confessed, “When my mom got sick, I paid for her medical bills with all our money. I had just been accepted to medical school. She was so happy that I was going to be someone. But I had nothing left to pay tuition.”

She paused, licking her lips, watching Warren’s stone-cold face.

“And there was Dean, offering to help me out,” she said. “I shouldn’t have, but I took his money. He made me feel like he wanted to take care of me at first, but then things got scary. He got obsessive, controlling. His help came at a big price.”

Warren’s face flinched as she said it, and she knew the worst was happening. Alisa’s gaze fell to the ground, a shameful blush heating her face.

“How much do you owe him?”

“Hundreds of thousands,” she said.

“Fuck. How does a guy like that have money to pay for so much?” he demanded.

“I don’t know.”

“Alisa, do you really not know, or do you notwantto know?”

She remained silent, shaking her head and averting her eyes. She could get killed for what she really knew, so she’d never say it. Dean wasn’t on the right side of the law, and neither was his money.

When she looked back up, she saw that Warren’s gaze had slid down to the ring, seeming to realize the implications. He sucked his teeth, pulling back. She saw that fury crossing his face, sensing it was directed at her.

“One thing I can tell you—money is money,” Warren started, crossing his arms as he stood back. “At no point do you ever have to sell your soul.”

Then Warren said something that totally surprised her.

“I’ll pay your debt.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Warren, that’s too much.”

“Call him. Break it off…whatever dumb deal you have. I’ll write the check.”

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