Page 52 of When He Fights
Yeah, fair enough.
“What about you?”Ana pushed.
“Told you, sweetheart, if I couldn’t have you, I wasn’t interested.”
“That’s—that’s not true.”
It was.She just might not be ready to handle his truth.“I tried to warn you before.You should have listened to me.”Now, it was too late.Did she even remember the words he’d given her on that long ago day?Kane did.He’d been dead serious.
I’m not a safe harbor.I’m a nightmare.One that you won’t be able to escape, not if you give yourself to me.
But she’d done it.She’d given herself to him.
When the time comes for me to step back, for you to move on to a new life, I won’t let go.I won’t step back.
She didn’t speak again.Neither did he.Her hand remained over his heart, and his arm remained locked around her.
ChapterEleven
Grayson “Gray”Stone didn’t like to make mistakes.Mistakes annoyed him.Miscalculations pissed him off.
Ana should not have been in jeopardy that night.She shouldn’t have been running for her life, and Kane shouldn’t have barely gotten to her in time to keep Ana alive.
She’d wanted to run.
Gray had stopped her.
But maybe that was a mistake.
And mistakes just fucking annoyed him.
He’d gone back to the police station even though it was nearing one thirty in the morning.Gray had fired off some FBI bullshit and waved his ID around and gotten one of the greener officers on the skeletal, late-night staff to give him access to holding and to Turner Mitchell.When Gray walked into the holding area, the SOB was sleeping in his bunk.Sleeping hard and deep, like the prick didn’t have a care in the world.
Gray grabbed a nearby tray that had been left out after the dinner shift, and he ran that tray along the bars, creating a loud, grating clatter.
“Hey!”A shout from Turner as he shot upright in the bottom bunk.“Hey!”
“Wakey, wakey,” Gray chimed.
From another cell down the hallway, someone yelled, “Asshole, shut the hell up!”
Gray tossed aside the tray and glared through the bars as Turner swiped the sleep from his eyes.“You are a problem,” Gray informed the man.
“I’m not talking to you!”
“Fabulous.Don’t talk to me.Listen instead.Because I’m trying to give you lifesaving tips.”Probably wasting his time but, whatever.“You made a powerful enemy tonight.”Groundwork had to be laid.A cover story amended.
“What?”Turner swung his legs to the side of the bunk.
“Kane doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t forgive.When you get out of here, you’ll have a target on your back.”
Laughter.The prick rose from the bunk and sauntered toward Gray.Cockiness oozed from his pores.“Do I look scared?”
You look like you got the hell beaten out of you.Turner’s lips were swollen and busted.At least one tooth appeared cracked.“Pretty sure I heard you were shaking and begging by the time you were hauled out of the shark tank.Can’t swim, huh?Bad mistake considering all the water around here.”Gray thought he heard the faintest tread of a footstep.Sounded like it came from the entrance to the holding area.Was one of the cops eavesdropping?Maybe even the green officer who’d let him in?Gray didn’t bother to look over his shoulder.As long as he wasn’t interrupted, the cop could listen his heart out.Maybe he’d even learn a thing or two.
“Are youthreateningme?”Turner demanded.“That’s police harassment!”
“I’m warning you.Trying to keep you alive.That’s called being helpful.A good person.”Gray stared through the bars.“Tip one, learn to swim.”
