The Billionaire's Practice Kiss - Tamie Dearen Page 0,75

okay? It was me. I found a fire extinguisher and sprayed the driver in the face. It wasn’t Sophia’s fault. I’m sure she did her job as best she could.”

For the first time, his expression altered, his eyebrows arching slightly. “You are asking me to spare her life?”

“If you explain it to the Krupins like that, maybe they’ll listen.”

“Sophia belongs to me,” he said. “She will not be harmed.”

“Okay, then.” At least Ellery hadn’t given her life for nothing.

He shook his head as he unfastened a button on his lab coat and reached inside. “I will probably regret this, but Sophia insisted.”

This is it. He’s got a gun! Or a knife! Her heart pounded against her ribcage. Her only chance of escape was the element of surprise. He probably assumed she was weak and bedridden, but she’d been walking the halls for days.

She freed her legs from the covers, preparing to dive off the other side of the bed as she glanced around for a weapon. Maybe she could get the lid off her coffee and throw it in his face.

His hand emerged. The expected gun was missing. In its place was a thick manila envelope. She blinked at it, confused.

“I believe the FBI will find this interesting.” He pushed it into her hands.

“What is it?”

“A mere sample of the substantial evidence we have accumulated. The Krupins have been credited with a number of crimes of which we are innocent. We have proof that Chester Abercrombie was responsible for these events, with money from Senator Edwards. We hope the FBI will agree to correct these errors and clear our good name.”

She heard his unspoken “or else” loud and clear. His intense glare burned into her retinas, and she gripped the envelope with both hands, icy fingers curling in her gut. Not knowing what else to do, she gave a weak nod, as if she had some magical power with the FBI. It seemed to satisfy him, because he turned away and closed up his cart.

“How are they going to contact you?” Ellery asked. “To get the rest of the evidence?”

“I will contact them.” He pushed the cart toward the door.

“Hey!” she called out, as his hand reached for the handle. He sent a scorching gaze over his shoulder. She knew she was a fool to bait him further, but something inside her refused to be silenced. She gritted her teeth and returned his glare. “You said Sophia belongs to you. So you’d better stick with her. Even if she ends up with scars, like me. You tell her she’s beautiful.”

For the briefest moment, the corners of his eyes crinkled, and she’d have sworn he’d cracked a smile under his mask. Then the door opened, and he was gone.

Chapter 32

Kara stopped Logan outside Ellery’s hospital room. “Hold on. Talk to me for a minute before you go tearing into that room with that crazy look on your face.”

“I just need to see her. I have to know she’s okay.”

Simply knowing how close he’d come to losing her again had ripped a hole in his chest. How was he going to keep functioning when the time came to set her free?

“She’ll be okay, but you need to be calm,” Kara said.

“How can I be calm when the FBI just let Alexander Krupin waltz into her room? I swear, if he hurt one hair on her head, I’ll—”

“You may be the one who’s hurting her.”

Logan stopped, like he’d been slapped in the face. “How am I hurting her?”

“Answer me this… Do you love her or not?” Kara jammed her hands onto her hips.

“It’s not that simple.” He swallowed hard. He couldn’t say anything to Kara without it getting back to Ellery.

“It would be simple if you really loved her,” Kara said with a huff. “I can’t believe I defended you because I thought Ellery was misjudging you!”

“What did she say about me?”

“Nicer things than you deserve, in my opinion.” Kara took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting it out slowly. He had a feeling a tornado was about to erupt. “This is a crappy time to break up with her, if that’s what you’re planning to do.”

“What if that’s what’s best for her?” he demanded. Kara had no idea how much he’d agonized over his decision.

“Don’t you dare use that as an excuse to dump her.”

He flinched at the finger she shook in his face.

“I’m not. I’m doing the unselfish thing.”

“Are you kidding me?” Red-faced, Kara gestured toward Ellery’s door. “That