Page 31 of Defenseless
Chad studied his cousin, feeling a little of the fight drain out of him. The longer they stood there, the more he realized that his reaction to Ethan’s comment wasn’t fair. The rational part of his brain, the part that was still being overridden by the emotional part,knewEthan wouldn’t ever think that about him. But with the adrenaline from the shooting compounding his earlier conversation with Sabina, Chad wasn’t thinking clearly.
Yet another sign he needed to step away.
“I’m sorry,” he said. Ethan’s shoulders relaxed at his words. “I know you know me better. Still, it’s been a rough night, and it would be best for me to step away.”
“No one will protect her like you will,” Ethan said.
Chad snorted at that. The way his mind had made a muddle of Ethan’s comment was proof enough that he wasn’t the best person for the job. But that was a minor issue compared to the elephant in the room.
“You heard what I said. I make her uncomfortable,” he repeated.
Ethan frowned. “She really said that to you? Those exact words?”
“She said that I make her uncomfortable. Those were her exact words. As you can imagine, given my history, that’s a statement I want to stay far away from. Not to mention the fact that she needs someone she can trust to see her through this. That obviously isn’t me.” He ignored the stab of pain that lanced through his chest at the words.
“She didn’t mean it,” Ethan said.
Chad shrugged, a gesture that was more nonchalant than he felt. “Doesn’t matter. She said it.”
Ethan studied him again. This time Chad couldn’t stand the pity he saw in his cousin’s eyes, and he looked away.
“It’s killing you, isn’t it?” he asked softly.
Chad’s lips thinned before he answered. “That’s a bit dramatic, but no, it doesn’t feel good.”
“Bring back memories?”
“Hard not to.”
“You going to be okay?”
Chad exhaled. Those five words told him all he needed to know. Ethan would take care of Sabina and understood why Chad couldn’t. “I’ll figure it out,” he said. “I’ll call and make some arrangements tomorrow then head out for a few days as planned. I think it would be best if I had a little break.”
Ethan hesitated then nodded. “I still don’t believe she meant it that way, but it doesn’t matter. Not now. Go and do what you need to. You’re a good man, someone I respect and look up to. I know that might not mean much coming from your little cousin, but it’s the truth.”
Not willing to say anything other than “thank you,” Chad stepped forward and hugged him.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Ethan said, moving away from the door.
Chad nodded but didn’t speak.
Less than five minutes later, he was pulling through the gates of HICC. Headed away from where he most wanted to be.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Sabina saton a couch in the small conference room that Colton had shuffled her off to after she’d arrived with Chad. He’d brought her coffee and a glass of water and was now chatting with her about, of all things, the weather. Colton was her colleague, a man she considered a friend. And yet a small part of her felt as if he was playing good cop. That he was making her comfortable not because he wanted her comfortable, but because he wanted something from her.
“Would you like some more coffee?” he asked, nodding to the empty mug in her hand.
She shook her head. “Where’s Chad? Is he getting his arm and leg cleaned up?”
“He’s gone,” Ethan answered, entering the room. If Colton was the good cop, there was no question Ethan was the bad one. His eyes met and held hers with a cold glint she’d never seen before, and a chill raced down her spine. Hostility radiated from his body as he leaned against the opposite wall, crossed his arms, and stared—glared—at her.
She drew back but refused to be cowed. She might be confused as to why Ethan was so angry, but she wasn’t afraid of him. “Gone? Where? Did he get his wounds cleaned up?”
Ethan looked at Colton, and the two shared some sort of silent communication. Only Ethan’s ever so slight tip of his head toward the door wasn’t hidden from her. Colton nodded, rose, and slipped from the room.
“What’s going on, Ethan?” Sabina asked, her mind instantly conjuring images of Chad being more injured than he’d let on or an infection setting in.
