Page 30 of When He Defends

After a moment, Rylan cleared his throat. He stepped to the side and motioned toward the round table. “Would you, uh, like to join us?”

“No.”

Her brows shot up.Way to be rude, Gray.

“Gossiping about an FBI superior, huh, Rylan?” A nod from Gray. “Expected.”

“Ouch,” Agnes murmured.

“That wasn’t the first time I’ve been tortured by someone who wanted me to give up a witness.” Gray’s voice was so mild he could have been talking about the weather forecast, and not a torture session. “I’ve learned to deal with pain. Guess that’s necessary for the Man of Stone.”

“Oh, shit.” Agnes slumped in her seat. “He knows the nickname. We’re all in serious trouble, aren’t we?” Her fingers fiddled with the end of her braid.

“For telling stories? Nah.” A shrug of one shoulder. Gray seemed so utterly unconcerned. “But try and get the details correct, would you?”

Rylan coughed. “What, um, what did I get wrong?”

“I didn’t nearly die. Big detail that was incorrect. Total hyperbole. I still had plenty of fight left in me.”

Trinity wet her lips. “But youweretaken prisoner? Tortured? And someone in the FBI was involved?”

“I was taken prisoner.” A nod. “And, yes, actually, I was betrayed by someone who should have been working to protect us all.”

Jaws dropped.

“What?”Malik exclaimed.

“My torturer enjoyed using a knife. Some of the cuts were a bit too deep. I bled out more than I should.” Spoken casually. “So all the blood loss made it look like a bigger deal than it was.” Another shrug. “No worries. I lived to fight another day.”

Everyone stared at him. Just stared.

Finally, Malik asked, “What happened to the people who took you?”

Gray’s smile was brutal. “What do you think happened?”

A shiver slid over Emerson.

Gray shrugged out of his suit coat and passed it toward her. “Should have worn a dress with sleeves, Dr. Marlowe. The temperature is supposed to drop tonight.”

She reached for the coat. Their fingers brushed. Heat singed her. “I-I don’t need?—”

“Take it.” Flat. Then he stepped back. Nodded curtly. “Enjoy the night, everyone.” He turned and strode away.

She had his coat in her hand. It was warm from his body. It carried his crisp scent. And he was walking away from her without a backward glance.

“Tell me that was weird,” Rylan mumbled. “Come on, I’m not the only one who feels like he was stalking us, right? I’m not the only one who thinks something is seriously up.”

“Good night.” Emerson was already on her feet. “I can’t take his coat. Got to give it back.” She grabbed her purse. Dipped her head toward everyone. “See you all soon.”

Then she was bobbing and ducking through the crowd. “Gray!” Emerson called out his name and she was?—

Running straight into Gray. Because he’d stopped in the middle of the bar. Turned back toward her. His hands flew out and clamped around her shoulders. “Did I forget something?”

“Yes,” she said, very definitely. “Me.” Then she stood on her tiptoes, yanked him toward her, and kissed him.

Chapter Six

“I will protect my partner. Always.” – Gray Stone