Page 64 of Kiss of Deceit

My annoyance flared when his grip tightened to the point where I knew I’d have marks even through my thick jacket. I usually had more control of my emotions, but right now I couldn’t be bothered to play nice. Maybe it was from lack ofsleep. Or the fact that a murderer was running around this town, and it could very well be the man in front of me.

“If you don’t fucking speak, you’re going to regret it,” he warned, anger growing thick in his voice. “What did you do to Lucas?”

“Get your hands off me,” I ordered coldly, my patience snapping. “Oryou’llregret it.”

“Gonna go running to Kole?” he sneered, ignoring my words. “He can’t always save you. You never should have come to this town.”

I locked eyes with him, giving him one more second to release me. When he didn’t, I raised my knee, slamming it into his groin. His eyes bulged as he staggered back, holding himself.

“Fuck,” he groaned out in pain. “You bitch.”

I pushed off the wall, resituating my jacket as he dropped to his knees. “I don’t need Kole to save me. I have no answers to give you about your friend. Leave me alone.”

“Bold of you to touch her in broad fucking daylight after last time.”

My head snapped up to see Kole striding closer. His murderous glare was focused on Tristin, who scrambled to his feet as fear flooded his face.

“I—I didn’t do anything,” he stuttered, shuffling back. “I was just talking to her.”

“And that’s why she just kneed you in the balls?” Kole questioned, only stopping when I got in his way, putting my hands on his chest.

“He’s fine,” I said quietly. “I can handle him, Kole.”

He dropped his head, his lips grazing my ear, causing a shiver to run through me. “I know you can. But…maybe I like saving you.”

The way his tone softened considerably when he spoke to me compared to Tristin hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting.Fuck me.

I was starting to fall.

Hard.

Tristin raced away, limping slightly and cursing under his breath. Kole watched him, looking like he wanted to go after him.

“He didn’t hurt me. I wouldn’t give him another chance,” I said as I checked my watch. “I’m going to be late for work.”

“He had his hands on you,” he said darkly. “I told him what would happen if he did that again.”

“You’re not my husband,” I reminded him. “Or my boyfriend. You have no responsibility to do anything.”

He fell into step with me as I headed toward the police station. He didn’t respond, seemingly content to walk with me in silence.

“Doesn’t the bar open soon?” I asked, glancing at him.

“I own the bar, Dani. I can open it whenever I want.”

I scoffed. “What are you doing?”

“What does that mean?”

“Every time I turn around, there you are. Why?”

He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “It’s a small town. Running into someone all the time is normal.”

A small ball of dread formed in my stomach, only growing larger when I met his eyes. Adella had told me the real reason he was following me—meaning Kole was lying. It didn’t bother me that he was trying to protect me by hiding the truth.

What terrified me was that Icouldn’t fucking tellhe was lying.

I couldn’t pick up on one tell as I stared at him. No change to his voice. No shifting. He didn’t avert his eyes when he answered.