Page 130 of Guarding Grace

“But,” he raised his voice, “weren’t you just downstairs when we were getting shot at?” He advanced on me and pointed a finger. “Do you think that’s funny? Like it or not, your safety comes first, last, and everything in between. You will not go out in public. There will be no business dinners, business lunches, or any of that shit until this crap that Elliot has brought down on you is finished.”

I backed away. “You don’t need to yell at me.” Of course I ignored that I’d started the yelling.

He backed me against the wall. “I will not apologize for giving a shit about you.” He put his hands against the wall, caging me in. “You follow my instructions when it comes to your safety. That is not up for debate. I will not apologize for being passionate when your safety is on the line.” Fiery eyes held mine with an intensity that matched the volume of his voice.Passionatewas the right word.

Heat bloomed in my chest. We may have gone back to arguing with each other, but that was actually a really sweet sentiment. “Are you done?” I breathed in a lowered voice.

“Not quite.” His breath was warm on my face.

I licked my lips, awaiting his.

The door opened. “Hey, guys,” Serena said. “This room isn’t as soundproof as you think.”

Terry

Serena hadthe worst damned timing. I pulled back, releasing Grace from the wall.

“Oops,” Serena said as her eyes shifted to us.

Grace’s cheeks were flushed as she moved away from the wall. “I think we’re done with our discussion.”

“Totally,” I agreed.

Duke walked in behind Serena. “Sorry, man, I couldn’t stop her.”

I nodded. Serena could be an unstoppable force.

Jordy, Constance, and Zane followed Duke in.

Serena punched Duke in the shoulder. “I needed to make sure my girl was all right.”

Duke rubbed his shoulder, although I doubted Serena could possibly hit hard enough to hurt him. “She’s his girl first.”

I couldn’t hold back the smile. “Damned straight.” I gathered Grace against me, and she didn’t resist.

Jordy held out his hand. “Hey, I need the keys to your place.”

“Why?”

“Because of what Thomas Edison once said.” Lucas’s ice-cold voice announced his presence before he appeared. “What’s that, Duke?” It was his turn to get quizzed.

Duke hesitated only a second. “‘Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning.’”

Lucas nodded.

“Which is?” I questioned.

Constance spoke up. “To be ready for them. Your name will be in the police report regarding the shooting downstairs, and your place could become a target. Jordy is going to link your security system into Hawk.”

“And videos of the shooting have already gone viral on the internet,”Jordy said. “I think the best one is this clip.” He pointed his phone toward us. “You and the rest of Grace’s team facing off against this other dude.” It was me putting Sakman in his place, with most of Grace’s employees in the background.

Lucas stepped forward. “Sending an out-of-town hit team after Grace is a serious escalation. We’re going to be prepared if they decide to come back at you tonight, and once we figure out which group hired them, we’ll go after them. I will not allow this to stand.”

“I think it’s Elliot they were after,” Grace mumbled.

Lucas looked first to me and then Duke.

“I can’t say one way or the other,” Duke responded.