Never Gonna Happen - Cynthia Eden Page 0,60
crazy. They wouldn’t. Would they?
“Yes.” Dex’s answer was immediate and absolute. “I think the perp we’re after has realized that, too. At first, perhaps he thought he could only use you against Antony. But now he’s seen Sebastian with you. Seen how he reacts when you’re in danger. I guess that…friendship…of yours cuts pretty deeply.”
Her heart thudded into her chest. “But we’re going to catch the bad guy.”
One eyebrow quirked. “Oh, we are?”
“Yes, we are. I came willingly because I want this to stop. I don’t want Sebastian or Antony having to risk anything for me.”
He was still holding her hand. Frowning at it. “So delicate.”
“I’m stronger than I look.”
His gaze met hers. “I’m starting to think that you are.”
“Well, this shit sure is cozy.”
Her shoulders stiffened. Sebastian? She glanced over her shoulder. Yep, that was him. Standing a few feet away. Hands on his hips. Eyes hard with fury. No dimples. And a whole lot of hard intensity on his face.
And he had orchestrated another spy entrance that made no sound. At this rate, she was just going to have to start assuming spies were standing behind her. Or at least, one spy in particular.
“You take her away, saying you’re going to protect her.” Sebastian advanced with a slow, languid grace. “You toss out a song and dance about keeping her safe. Threaten her with cuffs. Threaten to have one of my closest friends lock me in jail if I put up a fight…” His nostrils flared. “Then I find you here, holding her freaking hand?”
She snatched her hand away from Dex. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“Oh, baby, I trust you completely. I’m sure you weren’t planning to flirt with Dex and get the guy in your bed.”
She couldn’t quite read his mood other than realizing that it was…dangerous. “Good.” She stepped to the side. Faced him. “Because I had no intention of trying to get Dex into my bed.” I’m still adjusting to having you there. One spy in her bed was more than enough.
Sebastian kept advancing.
“I think we all need to take a breath here,” Dex announced. “I wasn’t trying to get your lady in my bed—”
“You won’t try. Ever. And you will not put your hands on her again.”
Dex threw up his hands. “Listen, man, I don’t know how you found this place, but you need to calm the hell down. Then you need to get out. You’re going to compromise the location!”
Now Sebastian smiled. Who would have thought dimples could be so lethal? “Do you think I’m buying your bullshit?”
“Uh…yes?” Dex asked.
Sebastian shook his head. “I know what you’re doing.” His gaze dipped to Alyssa. Sharpened. “But I don’t know why you went along with him.”
Her mouth had gone dry. Sebastian in this particular mood was a whole new beast for her.
“What is it that you think I’m doing?” Dex demanded.
“Using her.”
Oh, well, Sebastian was right.
“You wanted Alyssa away from me because you were afraid of what I’d do in order to protect her.”
Sebastian was still staring at Alyssa. She couldn’t look anywhere else. Did the green of his eyes always burn so brightly when he was furious?
“Was I wrong?” Dex’s voice was low. Guarded.
A muscle flexed in Sebastian’s jaw. “Why did you go along with him, Alyssa?”
“Because he would have made Winston arrest you. Because that would have created more trouble for you and Winston and—”
“Why?”
“Because I want this to stop. I knew that Dex was planning to use me, and if using me meant that you would be safe, then fine, I’d be used.”
“The fuck you will.” He reached for her.
Dex shot between them. “You need to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere without her.” Sebastian’s voice was crazy hard and intense. She scooted around Dex to get a better look at Sebastian’s face. Yep, crazy hard and intense. A perfect match for his voice.
“You’re compromising this location,” Dex accused. “You—”
“The place is a friggin’ trap. You were planning to compromise the location yourself. That’s why it was child’s play to track you both here. You’re waiting for the perp to come in, and you think your team will swarm and take him down.” He nodded. “Fine. Do that shit. Commence the swarm, but I’m not leaving her alone.”
“You…you let her go at the hospital, though.” Dex’s chin jutted up. “You let her walk away!”
“No, I let anyone watching see her leave. I stopped Winston from having to lose the job he loves because you were screwing around with him, and I even managed