Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,26

smirked. “Well, we’ll just see about that.”

Forty-five minutes and another argument later, Juliet had packed a few more things and she, Mike, and Lydia were in his truck, headed for Dallas.

While she was upstairs packing, Mike had slipped outside to call Jake. With a quick explanation of the situation, he’d then asked his friend to go to his place and clean out everything with the name Mike Bradshaw on it, along with anything else that could potentially give his true identity away.

He knew he needed to tell Juliet the truth soon, and he would. He just didn’t want her finding out on her own before he worked up the courage to do it himself.

During the long car ride there, Mike had opened his mouth ten different times to come clean about everything. But every time he tried, he couldn’t seem to find the words.

The truth was, he was afraid to tell her. He needed her to trust him now, more than ever, so he could keep her close and keep her safe. If he told her now, chances were, she’d tell him to go to hell and take off.

If she did, Juliet would be forced to face her demons alone. No way in hell was Mike going to let happen. So he chose to keep his mouth shut, for now, praying that when this was all over and he did reveal the truth, she’d find a way to forgive him.

****

Chapter 6

Juliet stood in the middle of Jay’s living room, angry with herself for giving in. She knew he thought she was just being stubborn, but that wasn’t the case.

Someone from her father’s organization—possibly even her father, himself—wanted her dead. And if she’d learned anything about the Russian mob, it was that once they zeroed in on something, they didn’t stop until they got what they wanted.

Juliet knew she was their target, now, and she was pretty sure she knew why. They were coming for her, and if anyone got in their way, they’d be taken out, too. That meant the longer she was around Jay, the more danger he was in.

Their relationships may have been short-lived, but Juliet had loved him with all her heart. She still did. And if anything ever happened to him...

I’d never forgive myself.

“It’s not much, I know.” Jay spoke from behind her. “But it’s just me, here, so I don’t need a lot of room.”

Holding Lydia’s cat carrier, Juliet glanced around the small space. The two-bedroom house was modest and had a lot of potential, but the décor definitely left much to be desired.

In typical bachelor style, the furniture was basic, and the walls were bare. There wasn’t even a single photograph in the entire place. It seemed so...impersonal. For some reason, that made Juliet sad.

Even as the interior decorator in her gave the place a mental overhaul, she turned and gave him a small smile. “It’s fine.”

“Thanks for coming here.” He took a step closer. “I know the situation isn’t ideal, but I need to know you’re safe.”

She set the carrier down and opened the tiny gate, setting Lydia free to roam about the place. Staring up at him, Juliet tried her best to ignore his handsome face and strong physique.

“Why?”

His brows turned inward. “What do you mean, why?”

“I mean, why do you care about what happens to me? It’s not like we’re still together.”

For a moment, he didn’t say a word. Jay simply stood there, staring back at her before slowly moving toward her. “There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought of you. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up. And every night, when I close my eyes, you’re there.”

Her heart gave a hard thump against her ribs, and Juliet felt her resolve to keep her distance from this man begin to crumble.

The entire ride here, she’d tried her hardest not to feel what she always felt when he was near. Over and over, she’d reminded herself how important it was to keep her distance. Why she couldn’t let her feelings for Jay interfere with her need to keep him safe.

The man was a pure, alpha male determined to protect her. But didn’t he know?

I need to protect him, too.

He stopped a few inches away. A muscle in his strong jaw twitched. “There’s a lot we need to work out,” his deep voice rumbled. “Things we need to discuss. But more than anything, you need to know I never stopped caring about you.”

Juliet’s heart