Page 20 of When He Defends

“Emerson!” Gray shouted her name. He grabbed for the connecting door on his side. Opened it. Butherdoor was still locked. Screw that. He didn’t hesitate. Just lifted his foot and kicked in the door that barred her room. It flew forward even as he burst into Emerson’s motel room. “Emerson!”

A fast glance took in everything.

The trashed bed.

The clothes that had been ripped and thrown around the room.

The painted threat on the wall over her bed.You’ll die.

And…Emerson. Frozen near the motel’s front door, with her back pressed to the wood. But her gaze whipped toward him. Her breath shuddered out. “Gray?”

“Did you search the room?” He was already doing it even as he asked the question. Peering into the closet. Looking under the bed. Checking the tiny bathroom. “The bastard is gone.” Fury bled in every word. “The fuck you’ll die. Can’t believe some angry prick left that message for you.” He bounded toward her.

She seemed rooted to the spot.

Worry rose to twine with his rage. “Emerson?” His right hand retained its grip on the gun, but his left reached for her. Touched her shoulder.

She flinched. “I-I don’t have delusions.”

What? He glanced over his shoulder. “No, baby.” His stare returned to her. “This isn’t a delusion. Some creep broke into your roomandmine. They are both trashed.”

She shook her head and seemed to snap to attention. “Right.Both.” Another shake of her head. Her gaze sharpened. Darted to his gun. Then back to his face. “You’re okay?”

“No, I’m notokay.” He nearly roared with his fury. “The prick slashed my suits.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. Not the suits.”

She could not be mocking him. Not then. “Emerson…”

“Did you call me…baby…earlier?”

Damn. He might have. “No idea.” Yes, he had. Definitely. “We need to make sure we weren’t robbed. My laptop was in the room’s safe. Didn’t even check to see if it was still there.” Because he’d hauled ass to her. “Search to see if anything of yours was taken.” He whirled away from her. Glared at the wreckage. “Do youknowhow many fingerprints are in motel rooms? No way will a crime scene team find anything useful.” And there sure as hell hadn’t been any cameras outside their rooms. The only camera he’d seen had been in the small check-in office.

That office that would be his next stop.

He hurried back to his room. Opened the safe.Good.The laptop was still there. Not that seeing it did anything to lessen his fury.

“Nothing was taken.”

His head jerked toward the connecting doorway. Emerson stood there. Beautiful, fragile Emerson in her high heels and with her dark hair falling softly around her face and smudges of exhaustion beneath her gorgeous, sapphire eyes.

She hadn’t slept all night. Neither had he. And this piss-poor motel was not providing any security. He should have done better with her. He’d just—hell, he’d thought they’d be in and out of Briar, Tennessee. Not like he’d planned for a long haul.

I should have taken better care of my partner. This won’t happen again.

Because that was what Emerson was.Partner.Not a lover. He could not,would notcross that line. It was too dangerous. Not because of her. Because of him. Because as he’d learned when he finally tasted her, his control did not hold when he had Emerson in his arms.

“Gray?”

“You’re not fucking dying,” he snarled.

“Good to know.” Her gaze dipped to his bed. Over it. To the message painted there. “Guessing someone isn’t keen to have us in town, huh?”

“Probably one of Trevor’s buddies. Word must have spread about his arrest.” And Gray had leftEmerson’sroom when Trevor came knocking. So he’d shined a bright signal on their location. But, still… “I’m talking to the desk clerk.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Sure, she was. Damn straight. He didn’t want to let her out of his sight.