Page 84 of Tempted

“I don’t care what you have to do or who youneed to talk to, but I’m not leaving.”

“Sir, please, don’t make me callsecurity.”

“I’m not leaving.” I repeat.

I don’t care what anyone says. There’s no waythey’re getting me out of this room.

E’s voice comes from the doorway. “It’s okay,Cindy. I’ll take care of it.”

He places a firm hand on my shoulder. “I’mnot going anywhere, E.”

“Don’t worry. You can stay, but she’ll be outfor the rest of the night. You should get some sleep.”

“I wasn’t there.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this,brother.”

“Why not? Are you telling me this isn’t somekind of payback? That someone’s not using her to get to me?”

“We don’t know that.”

“I wasn’t there. That’s not happening again.Ever.”

CHAPTER 19

***Raven***

Jesus. I feel like I’ve been run over by asteam roller. Every inch of my body hurts. Even my vagina. What thehell happened at that party last night? More importantly, why don’tI remember?

“Babe?”

Ah…hisvoice. Sosoothing. I open my eyes and come face to face with the mostbeautiful man I’ve ever seen. His features are marred by a worriedfrown. What’s wrong? He’s still in his suit, which I assume is fromlast night, but he’s disheveled. His shirt is crumpled and his tieis untied and lying around his neck.Why have I not woken upnaked in his arms?I look around the room and realize I’m in ahospital.What the fuck happened last night?The achebetween my legs gives me an idea, but he couldn’t possibly havedone that much damage, could he? Before I can ask what happened,someone enters the room.

“Hunter,” the newcomer says.

Gage clenches his jaw, straightens, and turnstoward the door.

“Renley,” he says through clenched teeth.

“Here we are again,” the sheriff replies.

“Fuck off, Renley. I don’t need your shitright now.”

“Well, you’re going to get it. I need you tocome with me. We’re taking you in for questioning.”

Questioning? For what?

“What the fuck for? You thinkIdidthis?”

Renley approaches my bed and looks down at mesympathetically.

“Miss Alvarez…do you remember what happenedlast night?”

I glance between the two men in confusion. Ithink Renley mistakes it for fear.

“I can protect you. Just tell me who didthis.”

Okay. Now I’m even more confused. I needan explanation.“Gage?” My voice is barely a whisper. I clearmy throat. Renley looks like he just hit the jackpot. Another mancomes up behind Gage and starts to read him his rights. Panic takesover. “Gage?”