Page 61 of Pursued-

“True.”

“I think I could be totally alone and survive. I wouldn’t like it, but I could do it, especially if it was for a good reason. That’s how I’ve been able to live at Frank’s all this time. It’s a prison, but while I was there, he wasn’t looking for my mom. And Zoe was safe.”

He scowls. “Mentally, you’re a thousand times tougher than Frank. But you shouldn’t have needed to be.”

“A lot of time’s passed. I don’t think he cares as much about my mom’s betrayal. He’s got a new mistress now. And he renewed his ties to New York. I think if he didn’t need those threats as leverage over me, he might not even bother to look for her anymore. I think as long as she stays out of sight, she’ll be okay. And Zoe’s hooked up with C. It’s up to him to protect her.”

“It is up to him and the rest of us in C Crue. That’s a given.”

I offer him a small smile. “That’s good. Maybe my work in Coynston is done.”

“Your work protecting other people is. That’s certain.”

I nod, licking my lips. Then I go to the window and push the drapes back to look out. Where would I go if I could go anywhere? I would have to work. Maybe even two jobs at first to get on my feet. But wouldn’t that be an exciting challenge?

“Come back from the window,” he says.

I look at the city lights for another moment. What if I just left my troubled life behind and became someone new? I care about Sasha, but he’s right. His life is with C Crue. C and Trick are his brothers. He doesn’t want to give them up. I understand that. But it will be a taunt to Frank if I stay with them, dating Sasha. Frank will never let us live in peace. Sooner or later, he’ll kill one of us and the other will have to live with that. I couldn’t.

I step back and pull the edge of the drapes. The fabric slides, covering the window.

I’m startled when Sasha’s big hands close around my arms. He lifts me and brings me back to the bed. I don’t mind. I love the feel of his body and love the way he can make my body feel. I should enjoy this for as long as I can. Because deep down, I’ve decided the best thing I can do for both of us is leave.

Chapter

Sixteen

ANVIL

We’ve switched hotels, and we’re alone in an elevator when Rachel asks, “What’s wrong, Sasha?”

The corner of my mouth cocks up. She knows me well. I reach into the inside pocket of my suit jacket and retrieve a platinum locket on its chain and hold it out to her. There’s a feather engraved on the front.

Her eyes widen.

“Wait,” I say before she has a chance to react. “It’s tech. GPS. So I’ll know… so I can find you if we get separated.”

She looks at the locket. “It’s beautiful. Do I have to do somethingto turn it on?”

I shake my head, waiting.

She doesn’t say a thing about the fact that I’ll be able to track her every movement every minute of the day. She’s as cool as ever about the things that are fucked up in her life.

She opens the front door to the locket. It’s empty inside. “I need a picture of you,” she says.

I frown, unable to imagine that. “Maybe. Or one of your mom,” I say.

She hooks it around her neck and lets the locket fall between her breasts. I think about the taste of her nipples and want to chase the locket’s path with my mouth.

“You’re mine, too.”

I drag my gaze from her chest to her face. “What?”

“A part of me belongs to you and always will. And a part of you belongs to me and always will.” Her fierce expression challenges me to deny it. She is a hundred and five pounds soaking wet. I could pick her and a hundred-pound kettle ball up with one arm. But facts are facts.

“You own every inch of me,” I say seriously. “Blood and fucking bone, down to my crooked left pinky toe.”

She smirks, glancing down at my polished black wingtips. “That toe is weird. What happened to it?”