my eyes welling with tears. “I’m sorry for not telling you. It was a last minute decision.”
“Did Jones take you? What about your protection?”
“He did and I’m fine. Honest.” At least that was the truth.
“Keely, I feel…I feel like I’m losing you.”
I crumpled to the floor at Troy’s confession and let the tears flow. “I know. I feel like I’m losing myself.”
He sighed. “I love you. I do. Please know that I’m here for you. So is Patrick.”
“I know.” We said our goodbyes and I told him that I would call him in a couple of days.
Never in all of my life had I lied to Troy more than I did in these past couple of weeks. I was no longer the Keely Price I once knew. I may have been broken and fragile before but now I was just bitter and confused as hell.
My body tingled. I felt Parker’s presence even before he touched me.
Rising to my feet, I hung up the phone and made my way back down into the dungeon, ignoring his stare.
I knew he was following me just by the way my heart beat hard against my ribcage. My body trembled, parts of me aching from the rough use of his touch only a couple of hours before. I never wanted him to stop. I needed him to control me completely. And although he knew this, I felt like he was holding back.
Reaching the makeshift bed that Parker had set up, I crawled onto the feather mattress and waited.
“Talk to me.”
I swallowed hard. “I hate lying to Troy.”
“What else?”
I met Parker’s gaze. “I hate that I flirted with Agent Cross to get a little more leeway. I’m desperate. I’ll do anything to get him off my back and away from you.”
Parker’s brows narrowed when he knelt in front of me. “Do I need to remind you again that you belong to me?”
“How long are we staying here?” I asked, ignoring his question and the hint of desire that spread through me.
“For a couple of days.” He looked away and went to stand up when I grabbed his hand.
“Please,” I pleaded. “I can feel you holding back. You want to talk. I’m talking but you need to as well.”
He sat on the ground and leaned against the wall, scrubbing a hand down his face. “We’re going to have company the day after tomorrow.”
“What? Who?”
“Greyson and his club.”
My eyes widened. “That’s a lot of alpha under one roof.” I smiled to myself. “Troy would love it.”
Parker chuckled softly and reached for my hand. Pulling me into his arms, he wrapped himself around me. “Hell’s Harlem is coming here to protect you.”
“What about the other guys? Your CIA boys?”
His jaw clenched. “There was a mole. Charlie Brook was leaking information to Devin.”
“When were you going to tell me this?” I asked, staring hard at him. I hadn’t known Charlie. He was always in hiding and never came around much like Colin had. I wasn’t really surprised that Devin was using him.
“I’m telling you now, aren’t I?”
“Parker, that—” I yelped when he pinched my rear, glaring at him.
“Just because we are talking, I am still Sir to you. You best remember that, pet, if you know what’s good for you.”
I bit back a huff and looked down. “Sorry.”
He sighed and pinched my chin, placing a soft peck on my mouth. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so cold. I just…this shit needs to end.”
“How did you know that I flirted with Agent Cross?” I asked, not liking the taste of those words in my mouth.
“I was in the limo when Jones dropped you off at the station.”
“You were in the limo the whole time and you didn’t say anything?” I cried, shoving out of his grip.
“Keely.”
“Where else were you that you could see me? Did you know that I got picked up by Cross this morning? Did you know that I would be there when he called you?”
He shook his head. “No. I had no idea that you were there. When I heard your voice,” he looked up at me, “it took everything in me not tell you how much I missed you. How much I loved you.”
My eyes welled. “I want all of this over. I want to forget. I want…I need…” I inhaled a shaky breath and curled my arms around myself, closing myself off to him and the world. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I was vaguely aware of being lifted into the air.