Temper (Knights of Fury #3) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,23

tried to shoot at you?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

“What about information on the man who died, who he was, if anyone has any suspects, or if there was any camera surveillance?” I ask.

“There was no camera footage,” he admits, sitting down next to me and sliding me my coffee. “And he hasn’t been identified yet. No one seems to have any information on the man.”

“Thank you,” I say, blowing on the mug. “So you have nothing, and I’m stuck here until you do. My whole town must be in an uproar. I don’t think we’ve ever had someone murdered there before.”

“The police are keeping it quiet from what I’ve heard, probably for that reason. Did you decide where you want to go today? I thought we could take the bike, if you don’t mind,” he continues, watching me drink my coffee.

“That’s fine,” I tell him, remembering how much I enjoyed being on the bike with him. I show him Izzy’s text message. “Can we go to one of these places? Maybe we should start at number one.”

Temper laughs. “These are all food places.”

“I know,” I reply, shrugging and ducking my head. “We can eat and then you can take me somewhere. Maybe to one of your favorite places.” I pause and then add, “Unless it’s a strip club or something.”

He chuckles under his breath. “I’m not that stupid. Let me have a quick shower and then I’ll take you out for breakfast at one of the Isabella-approved places.”

“Thank you,” I call out as he leaves the room.

I keep myself busy by washing the few dishes in the sink and wiping down the counters while Temper gets ready. When he steps back into the room in jeans and a fresh black T-shirt, I can’t help but check him out, even though I don’t really want to. He’s such a complex person, and I know he has many layers to him, but there’s something about him that just draws me in. I look away, because I don’t want him to catch me looking at him.

After everything that has happened, I shouldn’t be looking at him like this. I’ve seen what these men are capable of, but it’s not all black and white, and I’m finding that out firsthand. These men are the definition of shades of gray. Men you want on your side, not against you. They have no boundaries or limits.

They are good and bad.

I don’t know where I want to stand with him—my emotions are all over the place. I want to lash out at him, but I also want him to keep me safe, and to take care of me.

The whole situation is fucked.

I don’t want to forgive him for what he did to me, and I don’t know if I ever completely will, but I can feel myself slowly giving in. He’s obviously not all bad, kidnapping aside, and if I’m going to embrace my current predicament, maybe I should embrace him, too.

“You ready?” he asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yep. I want to grab my purse from the car, though,” I say, walking past him with a little extra sway in my hips.

“I like the clothes you chose,” he says from behind me, and I can practically feel his gaze.

“Probably good considering you paid for them all.”

We stop at the car and I grab my handbag, slide my phone inside and cross the strap over me. “You ready for another adventure?” he asks, handing me a helmet.

“Always.” I get on behind him, my arms tightly around his body, and the taste of freedom in my mouth.

* * *

“How old are you exactly?” I ask Temper as we sit in Eggslut eating delicious egg salad sandwiches. “When I first met you, I thought you were about midthirties.”

“I was. Now I’m forty-two,” he admits.

My eyes widen. “Okay, I didn’t think you’d be that old. You don’t look that old.” I don’t know why forties sounds so much older than thirties.

His lip twitches. “I’ll take that as a compliment.