The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,52

marred her cheek. His fingers lingered against the softness of her skin.

“Antony…”

“Unlike your new partner, you know I’m not useless. I can assure you, I will not, ah, shit myself if things get dangerous.”

Her eyes danced. “No, I don’t expect that you will.”

“Axel Walker had one friend that seemed to always be getting arrested with him. It wasn’t in the file I prepared, but that friend got out of jail about two weeks ago. I have that friend’s address.” He also had the friend’s work location, and even the name of the fellow’s last three girlfriends. Antony believed in being thorough.

So what did I overlook in Ella’s life?

“Why wasn’t this information in the file?” Ella asked.

“Because I wanted to talk to the guy personally. Calvin Hunt. Cal to his friends.” He was still touching her. If he had his way, Antony would always be touching her, and the world would be a happier place. “I figured you’d want to come with me?”

“You figured right.” Her hand rose and curled around his wrist. “We should go now.”

Yes, now, before he kissed her. Because when he kissed her, stopping was hard. When he kissed her, he wanted to keep kissing her. He wanted to take her. Claim her. Never let go.

But she’d let go of him. Ella strode for the door.

Just as he moved to follow her, Antony received a text. A quick alert from Dex. Jacob is on the steps. He has my personal recommendation. You can count on him.

“Our new friend is waiting outside,” Antony told her. “Comes with a glowing rec from Dex.”

She peered back at him with a slightly worried stare. “Should that reassure us or terrify us?”

“Probably a bit of both.” But he joined Ella. They headed toward the main entrance of the house. He opened the door.

A tall man with wide shoulders, dark, tousled hair, and a battered coat stood on the steps. He offered his hand to Antony. “Hi, I’m—”

“Jacob?” Ella exclaimed excitedly as she pushed past Antony. “Jacob, is it really you?”

Surprise flashed on the man’s face, then he was opening his arms wide and pulling Ella in for a crushing hug.

A way, way too familiar hug.

What. The. Hell?

“Uh, Ella?” Antony narrowed his eyes on the agent still clinging so tightly to Ella. “Want to introduce me to your friend?” Or should I just go straight to kicking his ass?

The thought drew Antony up short. Holy hell, he was jealous. Not just some mild flicker of jealousy, either. He was completely, one hundred percent losing his head. He didn’t want the stranger hugging her tightly. Touching her. Antony didn’t want the jerk near her at all.

Possessiveness flooded through him. He’d never been overwhelmed like this. Never thought of himself as a particularly primitive kind of guy, but when it came to Ella…

His back teeth clenched. Get your fucking hands off her or I will take them off for you. Ella is mine.

Chapter Thirteen

“Ella, want to introduce me to your friend?” It was the tone of his voice, the low menace barely hidden beneath the friendly facade that told Ella…

Red flag. Huge, madly waving red flag.

Her shoulders tensed and her head lifted as she stared up at Jacob. It had been so long since she’d last seen him. She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. Finding Jacob on the doorstep had been the last thing she’d expected. She’d known that he had a place in Atlanta, yes, but when she’d tried to call him and tell him about her move, she’d been told that he was out of the country. Jacob was often out of the country. He was a collector, and he spent his time hunting down rare treasures that he acquired for his high-end clients.

“God, I have missed you,” Jacob told her with a wide grin. His eyes sparkled. His dark hair had been carelessly shoved back from his forehead. He was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. He looked casual and at ease and seeing him made her think so much of all the time they used to spend together.

“I’ve missed you, too,” Ella replied with a burst of affection. “I can’t believe—”

“Hello.” Antony’s voice was definitely not amused and held zero affection. “I’m Antony Kyle. You’re standing on my doorstep, and you’re hugging my bodyguard. How about we pull this fun little meet and greet inside so you can tell me what the hell is going on?”

She eased from Jacob’s hold. Turned her head and slanted a suspicious glance