my phone. Plus, the office is locked when Forrest isn’t in there. How will I get a key?”
“Why kind of lock is it?” Brody asked. “Deadbolt or a simple latch lock?”
She gave him a confused look. He brought something up on his laptop then turned the screen to her.
“Is it like that?”
She nodded.
“Good. That’s easy. All you need is a credit card to force open the lock.”
“I don’t have a credit card.” Force open the lock? Who did he think she was?
“We can get you a card. I have one you can take. I’ll cancel it and get a new one. I can show you a video on what to do.” He looked over at Ink. “If we find out what security system he uses, I might be able to take care of the cameras. I could cut them out a few times before she goes in. So the guards get lax about it.”
“This is not happening. She can’t do this.”
“I can. I can do this.” Maybe. Probably. Oh God.
“No.” Ink loomed over her. With anyone else she might have been terrified. But she trusted Ink. When it had happened, she wasn’t sure. But she was certain her Little side would never have emerged without his care and attention.
She both hated and loved the way she felt about him. Loved it because she’d never known a man like him, never thought she would.
Hated it, because she was terrified of losing him. And part of her was certain it was inevitable.
“No, Betsy. You’re gonna do as I say.”
“Ink, please.”
“No.”
Her shoulders drooped. She loved that he was protective. But how else was she going to get rid of the threat of Forrest? Without endangering everyone she loved.
“Ink,” Duke growled. Ink swung towards him.
“No! You wouldn’t fucking let Sunny do this. So why should I let my woman?”
She glanced from Ink to Duke then over to the colder man whose name she still didn’t know. He didn’t offer an opinion. Just watched them all carefully. Then he glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow.
“While I’m all for keeping women out of danger,” he drawled. “If we don’t get Forrest under control, then your woman is always going to be at risk.”
She gulped.
“As well as those she loves.”
“There’s gotta be another way,” Ink muttered. “Why can’t I go in and get it?”
“He’s got a lot of security. Armed guards. Cameras. Dogs. Alarms.” She shook her head. “It would be a foolish risk.”
“It’s too much of a risk for you.”
“I never thought I’d live for much longer, Ink.”
He pointed at her but looked over at the cold-eyed man. “That is why she can’t go in. She has no self-preservation.”
“I don’t think she was finished speaking,” Duke eyed her.
Betsy licked dry lips. Her head pounded with stress. She was moments away from a migraine if she didn’t calm down. “But if you…if you really do want me…”
Ink drew her up, his hands around her waist, her feet dangling in the air.
“We got things to work through. Like honesty and trust and communication. But we’ll work through them with you by my fucking side, under my fucking protection, doing as you’re fucking told!”
She narrowed her gaze. “Doing as I’m told?”
“Uh-oh,” Duke muttered.
“When it comes to protection and safety, I’m in charge.”
“You asked me if I was your sub, your Little.”
“And if you are then you’ll do as you’re told.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I won’t be your doormat. I’ll never be that again.”
“I don’t want a doormat!”
She flinched as his voice grew loud and he groaned as he set her down. “Shit, brown eyes. Sorry. I have a temper. I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered.
“No, it isn’t.” The words came from the cold-eyed man, which shocked her.
She glanced over at him.
“Ink is furious because he cares about you and doesn’t want any harm to come to you, however he needs to watch his tone around you.”
Ink snarled and she worried he was going to jump the other man. But to her shock, he took a deep breath and nodded. Then he looked over at her. “Reyes is right. Christ, brown eyes, sorry for scaring you.”
“I know you won’t hurt me,” she told him, meaning every word. “All men have ever done is hurt me. So it was a shock when I realized I was attracted to you. That I felt safe with you. Nobody has ever protected me, Ink.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “So let me keep you safe.”