Page 67 of Once a Killer

It felt like hours before the elevator slowed, then stopped at their floor. She dragged Jameson out of the car and hurried him to their room. He used his key card to open the door, and as soon as they were both inside, she threw all the locks.

“Stay here by the door,” she ordered. She searched both bedrooms, the bathrooms, looked behind all the furniture and the bar. When she was certain they were alone in the suite, she tossed her tiny purse onto the sofa. Took a deep breath, then turned to face Jameson. She wanted to explain, but her anger caught the words in her throat. Strangled her.

“What is it, Bree?” He grabbed her shoulders. Held on tight, and his now-familiar grip comforted her. Made the tension inside her begin to unwind.

After a moment, Jameson eased closer. Wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against his body. She was his bodyguard, but the solid strength of Jameson made her feel safe. Protected. Sheltered. Exactly what she needed right now.

“I’ve got you, babe,” he murmured into her ear. His breath stirred her hair and tickled her neck. She burrowed closer and twined around him like a vine. Feeling him against her, the warmth of his body, the strength of his muscles, eased the horrible memories that the confrontation with Larrimore and Kingsley had stirred.

Jameson settled her, something no other man had been able to do. She clung to him, anger making her body shake, until she regained some control. Finally she pushed away from him. Stared up into the deep blue pools of his eyes. Saw concern there. Worry, too. She hadn’t been the recipient of either of those emotions in a very long time.

That worry and concern in Jameson’s eyes stripped away every one of her careful barriers. Made her feel raw. Exposed. Vulnerable.

The last time she’d felt vulnerable was after her last interactions with Larrimore and Kingsley.

“Can you tell me what that was all about?” he said, stroking his hands over her cheeks and sliding a finger over her lips. “Or is it something classified, something you can’t talk about?”

“Yeah, classified.” She gripped his shirt and hauled him closer. “But those two snakes threatened us. Not just me, but you, too. So fuck security clearances.” She gritted her teeth. “Since you’ve been threatened and now are in the middle of my problem, you have a right to know what just happened there.”

Chapter 23

He grabbed her hands. “I want to know what those two guys did to you,” he said. “So I know if I need to take them apart and leave their remains in unmarked graves. Are you sure you can tell me?”

“They threatened you, Jameson,” she said, her voice hard. Fierce. “You. Two men who’ve never met you. They threatened you because you’re connected to me. Of course I can tell you. Ihaveto tell you. I can only protect you if you know all the facts. All the information.”

“Okay,” he said, tightening his hold on her hands. “I want to hear what you need to tell me.”

“And you will.” She shook her head, as if trying to get rid of unwelcome memories. Then, taking his hand, she led him to the couch. Sat down and tried to draw him down beside her.

“I’m going to get a drink,” he said. “You want something?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She shuddered. “No, I’m not fine. I feel like I need to take a bath. Wash away the stench from standing near Larrimore and Kingsley.”

Of course she wasn’t fine. She was livid with anger. Far from the composed, controlled woman he’d gotten to know. “Go ahead,” he said. “A bath might make you feel better.”

She drew in a deep breath. Blew it out. “Not now,” she finally said. She looked over at him. “I need to talk to you. To tell you what’s going on.”

“And I want to hear it. But you want to take the dress off first?” he asked. “Put on something more comfortable?”

She frowned for a moment, as if she hadn’t understood his words. Finally she nodded. “Yeah. I want to do that. I’ll be right back.”

She stood up, and he hurried over. “Let me unzip that dress for you,” he said, settling his hands on her shoulders.

“Thank you,” she said. “That would be helpful. I’m so angry right now that I’m afraid I’d rip the fabric.”

He set his hands on her shoulders and swept them down her arms. Squeezed her hands, then reached for the zipper.

He pulled it down slowly, swallowing a gasp when he saw the black band of her bra over her back. Went lower and saw the matching black underwear. He wanted to strip that dress away and explore all the skin that would be revealed, but this wasn’t the time. So he stepped back. “I think you can get it off, now.”

He slid in front of her and took her hands. The dress sagged at her shoulders, and she tugged her left hand away from his to put it on her chest. Hold the dress up.

“Go ahead,” he said softly. “Just come back out. I’ll be here, waiting.”

She nodded. “I promise I’ll come back. I want to tell you what’s between Larrimore and Kingsley and me. I want you to know, and you deserve to know.”

She walked toward her room, the dress sliding off her shoulders, revealing creamy skin. But before the dress could hit the floor, she was in her room, the door closing softly behind her.

Taking a deep breath, Jameson went to the mini bar and opened another small bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue. Poured it into a glass, and took it to the couch, where he set it on the coffee table.

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