on Parker’s door a few minutes later. Hopefully, I could drop off the files and leave. But there was no answer. I tried again. Nothing.
“Shit,” I muttered. Now I’d have to use his key. On the upside, if he wasn’t here, he couldn’t quiz me.
I let myself into his apartment, juggling my purse and the three-inch-thick file without dumping anything on the floor. The sunglasses were a major hindrance now, since it wasn’t bright in Parker’s apartment, so I tossed them onto the counter with an exasperated huff.
Something smelled good and I sniffed. Deirdre had made dinner again. Dumping my stuff onto the kitchen table, I followed the smell to the oven, opening it to take a peek. Was that lasagna? Oh wow—
“Sage—”
I let out a shriek, whirling in surprise to see Parker standing there. The oven slammed shut behind me, making me jump again.
“You scared me to death!” I was breathing hard and was angry in that way you get when someone startles you really badly. After last night, the panic that had flooded me was worse than anything I’d felt before, and it must’ve shown because Parker’s eyes were wide and he held his hands up.
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s just me.”
I nodded, trying desperately to catch my breath. Then he frowned and moved toward me.
“What happened to you?” he asked urgently. He had a hold of my upper arms and turned me so I faced into the light. Taking my chin lightly in his hand, he turned my face. I heard him suck in a sharp breath.
“Sage…” His voice was tight with anger. “Who did this to you?”
His hair was wet, I noticed absently, which explained why he hadn’t heard my knock. He’d been in the shower. And now was barefoot and bare-chested, wearing only a pair of jeans. Oh geez…
“Um, yeah,” I said, struggling to sound coherent. “I went last night to find Niki, Tania’s sister, and she lives in a real nasty part of town.”
“Are you kidding me?” he growled. “You went there alone?”
I gave a jerky nod.
“You should’ve called me,” he said. “I’d have taken you over there.”
I frowned. “First, you told me not to get involved. And second, why would I ask you to do me a favor?” I wasn’t being a smartass. It was a valid question. Our relationship—such as it was—wasn’t reciprocal. I may pick up Parker’s dry cleaning, but it wasn’t like he did the same for me, nor should he. I was his assistant. That was all. “We aren’t friends,” I said matter-of-factly. “It didn’t even occur to me to call you.”
Parker went still for a moment, his eyes searching mine. “Maybe we should change that,” he said. “If you need something, I want you to feel free to call me, ask me. We’ve worked together for a long time, Sage. I may not have the best way of showing it, but I’m always concerned for your welfare.”
Tears stung my eyes and I hurriedly lowered my gaze so he wouldn’t see. His hand felt warm and gentle brushing my cheek. It was ridiculous, how happy I was at that little speech of his. I felt like a starving woman, grateful for any scrap he’d send my way. Part of me resented the power he had over me. But the other part of me was too elated to care.
Parker did feel something for me, even if it was just friendship and an acknowledgment that he’d rather work with me than hire and train someone new.
“Um, anyway,” I continued, “Niki was killed for talking to the police. Another woman named Hanna was there. She said she’s being forced by the cartel to prostitute herself. Then I was attacked by some guys who I think work for Viktor.”
“Attacked,” he repeated slowly, and I swore his face lost some color.
I swallowed. “It…it was going to be bad, I think, but this man stopped them. And he said…he said to tell Parker he owes me one.”
Parker stared at me. “It was going to be bad? You have a black eye, for chrissakes! What else did they do? Did they—” But then he stopped and I knew what he was thinking.
“No, they didn’t,” I said, answering his unvoiced question. “Knocked me around. That’s all.” My hand instinctively went to rest on my aching abdomen and Parker’s eyes followed the movement.
The tension was rolling off him—anger, anxiety, concern. I could almost feel it. Parker mesmerized me—he always had. The intensity he brought to his job was