The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,72

this place. Like Antony, I don’t think the case is over yet. The protection detail won’t end until I’m satisfied. I’m working things out with Eric. Don’t worry. I’ll keep him in the loop.”

She filed that info away. “What was the right question?”

“Ah, yes. The right question.” His head cocked toward her. “What would you do for Antony?”

Anything. Her lips parted to tell Dex that unsettling truth.

“And there he is.” Dex motioned toward the passenger window. “I guess someone was waiting for you.”

She turned and saw that Antony was running down the front steps and heading straight toward the car. Ella hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt and shoved open the door. Her thoughts were whirling as she slammed the door. She was unsettled by her talk with Dex, riding high from adrenaline because of the nightmare at the factory, and still furious that she’d turned to find Antony leaving her—

Antony curled his hands around her arms and hauled her against him. “Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Dex’s sardonic voice rang out. “I know how to protect and defend. Practically was born doing it. I’m not the one who is so unchivalrous that he leaves without offering a lady a ride home. Manners, man. Manners. Your mother would be appalled.”

She tipped back her head and stared into Antony’s eyes. “We need to talk.” She needed to tell him about Dex. About the first time she’d met him. Ella didn’t want secrets between them. Not Antony’s. Not hers.

Antony nodded his head in agreement, but then his attention shifted to Dex. “You won’t use her against me.”

Ella’s shoulders stiffened. She looked back and saw that Dex was standing near the driver’s side of the vehicle. He had one arm propped on the top of the car.

“Use her?” Dex acted all clueless and bland. “Why, whatever do you mean?”

“Don’t screw with me, man. I’m not like the others. I can see your moves coming in advance.”

A bark of laughter. “I don’t think that you can, but it’s adorable that you believe so.”

“How’s this for adorable?” Antony threw back. “You got me to hire Ella because you knew I’d fall for her.”

No, that was the exact opposite of what Dex had said—

“You’re wrong.” Dex didn’t sound bland any longer.

“You put a sleeper in my company.”

She pulled free of Antony. “What did you just call me?”

But he was still glaring at Dex. “And I fell for her. There were parts of her life that I didn’t see. Things I should have known, but they weren’t there when I checked her out because someone with power was hiding the truth. You are the only one with that kind of power, Dex.”

“I’m not some kind of sleeper agent, Antony!” She wanted to shake him. “Listen, let me explain. Let’s go inside. I’ll tell you everything.”

He reached for her hand. Held tightly. “I was going to come to you tomorrow.” His voice was off. Too ragged. Rough. There wasn’t a lot of light out there. She couldn’t see his features clearly enough. “Everything would have been better tomorrow.”

“I’m here now.”

A shudder worked along his body.

Dex let loose a long and loud sigh. “I’ll just leave you two so you can work all this out. Try not to fuck things up beyond repair, would you, Antony? How about you try and remember the love life advice I gave you before, hmm?”

“Dex gave you love life advice?” Would the shocks not stop that night?

A door slammed. The car’s engine growled. Dex drove away.

Antony stood there, still gripping her arms and still staring down at her.

“There are agents watching us.” Dex’s people. Maybe Wilde agents. “We should go inside and—”

“I’m not going to talk if I go inside with you.”

She licked her lips. That hadn’t even sounded like Antony. “Where are your glasses?” She’d just realized he wasn’t wearing them. His hair was wet. His body extra tense.

“If I go inside with you, I’ll just want to fuck.”

Her eyes widened. Her heart rate—already high—accelerated even more.

“You…you shouldn’t be with me right now,” Antony warned.

Headlights hit them. She turned automatically and shielded her gaze. Had Dex come back? Why would he be back?

“That’s Jacob. Eric texted me and said Dex had taken you. That Jacob was following.” Curt. Dark. “Get a ride home with him. You don’t want to be here.”

He let her go. Walked away. His movements were stiff and jerky.

For a moment, she didn’t move. She felt rooted to the spot. “Here is where I want to be.” Didn’t he