more men.”
The men in cheap suits stiffened.
“I mean, seriously, is it amateur hour?” Sebastian asked.
Dex’s jaw tightened. “Do you want your friend to arrest you?”
Want it? Not at the top of his wish list but…“See, I don’t think he will. At least, not until after I kick your ass. And if you think you’re taking Alyssa anywhere, then you will most definitely get your ass—”
“Stop,” Alyssa demanded.
He stopped. Turned to her.
Her face was far too pale. “You think I’m going to let you get locked up because of me?”
Oh, no. No. He did not like where this was—
“Antony was almost shot tonight. You could be shot next time.”
“I’ll accept the risk.” Any risk for her.
“I don’t think the situation that we’re in is about your brother, Alyssa,” Dex said. Figured the dick would interrupt. “I don’t think it’s about Sebastian or Antony. I think it’s always been about you.”
Now he was playing a very, very dangerous game.
“So if you come with me, the threats to them will be eliminated,” Dex added smoothly. “And you can keep your boyfriend out of jail. It’s a win, win situation.”
“He’s a prick, isn’t he?” Winston muttered.
Sebastian nodded. But to Alyssa, he said, “Don’t believe him. Dex is one of the best liars I’ve ever met.”
“That’s high praise, coming from you.” Dex didn’t look amused. “Now, I’m not exactly keen on standing in the hospital corridor all night, so let’s move this along, shall we?” And, just as he’d done at Shark Gaming and Design, he offered his hand to Alyssa. “Willingly or in cuffs?”
Antony swore.
So did Winston.
Sebastian didn’t say a word. He just moved his body so that he was standing between Dex and Alyssa. He thought the movement expressed his intentions perfectly. In order to get her, Dex would have to go through him.
Except…
Alyssa brushed past Sebastian. He immediately curled his fingers around her wrist. “Baby?”
Her gaze met his. Shit. Were those tears in her eyes?
He hadn’t ever seen her cry.
Normally, he didn’t like tears. He didn’t like to see any woman cry. But when Alyssa had tears in her eyes, when she stared at him and he could see them glistening…
Hell, no. He hated them. He wanted to haul her into his arms, then destroy the person who’d made her cry.
In this case, that person was Dex, and it would be Sebastian’s pleasure to—
“There is no need for you to jeopardize so much for me, and I’m certainly not letting you go to jail for me.”
“Alyssa…”
“I can’t let you do this.”
It wasn’t about letting him. He was doing this.
A tear slid down her cheek. “You don’t want me taking risks. Don’t you get that I don’t want you in danger, either? And if I can stop this mess, if I can do something to keep you and Antony safe, then I have to leave with Dex.”
“I don’t care about danger.”
“No, you might not. But I do. I care about you.” Alyssa blinked, as if she’d just said something she hadn’t intended to reveal.
He’d been dead serious before when he said that he loved her confessions. Even before he’d ever met Alyssa, Antony had once laughed and told him about his sister’s tendency to blurt out exactly what she was thinking.
Sebastian had met her, seen her in action for himself, but hadn’t found the trait humorous.
He’d found it fucking adorable.
“I’m asking you to let me go right now,” she told him. “Because if you’re in jail, you can’t help me. If I’m gone with Dex, then you don’t have to look out for me every moment. You and Winston and Antony—you can try finding this guy. You can work together and find him.”
Sebastian shook his head. She didn’t understand Dex the way he did. “No.”
“Please.”
Shit. She’d just said please to him? Didn’t the woman get it? She didn’t have to beg him, not for anything. Not when he’d give her everything.
“You can’t go to jail for me. Winston can’t get in trouble for me. And Antony—he can’t get shot at because of me.” Her breath released in a low rush. “I’ll see you soon. This isn’t forever. It’s just for now.”
The hell it would be.
Her hand pressed to his chest. “I don’t want to be in cuffs, and I don’t want you in cuffs, either.”
“Listen to the lady,” Dex quietly ordered him. “She’s offering you some good life advice here.”
Sebastian’s gaze cut to Dex. Fuck you, he mouthed.
Dex smiled at him. “I’ll keep her safe. I know how to do my job, and