When He's Bad (Walker Security Adrian’s Trilogy #2) - Lisa Renee Jones Page 0,49
some degree, Adrian and I are under duress. I know that means our love could be a façade, but it feels so damn real. It is real. I love Adrian, I do, good, bad, and all of him, though I know he doesn’t believe that. Driven to protect him, I dial Ed and get his voicemail again. Irritated, frustrated, desperate for answers, my feisty side flares and I don’t tamp it down. I mean, what do I have to lose? I text him: I assume you’re either on the phone or on your way to the airport again. I’d like to know which.
I wait for a reply, staring at the empty message box, with as much patience as I have watching paint dry.
“Everything okay?” Lucifer asks.
“Just trying to get Ed to reply. Adrian deserves his immunity agreement and even that won’t protect him. Waters’ people could charge him in every city in the country and make him prove he’s immune if they wanted to. It would be hell.”
“And your father is one of Waters’ people,” he comments, no emotion, just unreadable matter-of-fact. “Any word from him?”
“No luck there either, but Logan called. I’m sure you know that since you’re monitoring my communications.”
“I did know,” he confirms. “But it’s always nice to know you’re communicating with us.”
I frown. “You don’t trust me?”
“I believe you’re an honest person,” he comments. “Stuck between the man you most likely love and your family, who you will love, despite any and all abuse. That’s just how life works. And that makes your decision-making complicated.”
“No,” I say. “I choose Adrian. I choose right over wrong.”
He snorts. “And you think Adrian’s going to beat Waters by being good?”
“Yes,” I say. “Or no. I don’t know. What are you saying?”
He cuts me a look. “Just asking questions.”
My lips press together, not sure what to make of Lucifer. “I should tell you that Adrian and I agreed that I should goad Logan. He’ll lose his temper and I know him. He’ll admit something incriminating.”
“Which does what for us? Because it damn sure isn’t going to hurt Waters.”
“I hope it allows me to force my family out of this,” I say, feeling as if this explains my desire to break free of all conflict between my family and Adrian.
“And if it doesn’t?”
My brows dip. “I don’t know what you want from me right now, Lucifer.”
“Again,” he says, “just asking questions, ones I think you need to ask yourself.”
My cellphone rings and I glance down to find a call from Logan. “Speak of the devil,” I say, answering the call with, “I only have a moment. I’m about to walk into my office.”
“What the fuck, Pri?” he demands. “You’re fucking your witness?”
“Yes, Logan. I am fucking my witness.” It’s out before I can stop it and I glance at Lucifer, who’s barely containing his laughter. “And you know what else?” I demand. “I can fuck who I want.”
“He killed his brother. Are you insane?”
I smirk. “Talking points. All the talking points. You’re almost a politician these days.”
“He’s trouble. Drop the case. Get out while you’re still alive and if you do care about this asshole, he’ll be free to hide again.”
Again. That word sticks out to me for reasons I’ll examine later. “I’m not going to drop the case. I have protection. I have Adrian. I have a mission and if it’s the last thing I do, I will end the King Devil’s reign forever.”
“And if he kills you, Pri?”
“Is it me you’re worried about or yourself?”
“This is bigger than you know.”
“Actually, I think I know more than you think I know. I need to go. I’m walking into a meeting.” I disconnect.
Lucifer laughs. “Holy hell, woman. If you wanted to get his attention, you just did.”
Already my phone rings again and I glance down to find Logan calling. I decline the call and almost instantly it rings again. This time it’s Adrian and I punch “answer.”
“Weren’t you supposed to agree to meet him?” he asks.
“Tomorrow,” I say. “He needs to sleep on what just happened and simmer until he boils.”
“Meanwhile you’ll be fucking me?”
My lips curve. “Is that a problem?” I ask.
“Not even a little bit,” he assures me. “I’ll be ready to do my part.” He disconnects and somehow, I’m smiling despite the fact that I just baited Logan. And I am perhaps one of the few people who knows just how volatile Logan can really be.
Chapter Thirty-One
PRI
Lucifer pulls the fancy statement-making Mercedes into the downtown parking garage of