When He's Bad (Walker Security Adrian’s Trilogy #2) - Lisa Renee Jones Page 0,22

list of the top five options,” Adrian says, “but the Devils are broad and deep. Waters wants us dead. That means he put a price on our heads. His followers will come from all over to serve Waters via Deleon.”

I don’t allow myself to think about just how terrifying that concept is. I focus on the case, on the witnesses, on making every sacrifice count. “Please tell me my witnesses are safe,” I say.

“They are,” Blake assures me. “And we’ve made sure they feel safe, too. No one else in this group of witnesses is going to back out on you. But that only matters if you and Adrian make it to the trial alive.”

I read exactly where this is headed and I rotate to face Adrian. “Even if Blake tells me to go to New York, too, it does not mean I’m going. I get why Ed needed to leave. He’s dead, we’re dead, but if I die, he can take over. I need to work the case.”

“You can,” Adrian insists. “Do it remotely.”

“I need to meet with the judge and if we manage to capture one of Waters’ people, I need to be here to interview that person.”

“We can have you back here in a few hours,” he argues.

“The first few hours are critical in an interrogation,” I counter.

“That’s why they have law enforcement,” he snaps back.

“Who might be dirty,” I argue. “Come on, Adrian. You of all people know how deep the corruption with Waters runs.”

He glowers, hands settling on his hips. “You’re the most stubborn woman I have ever known.”

“And you, Adrian Mack, are the most hardheaded man I’ve ever known. This isn’t about your personal baggage.”

“And yet, it is, Pri, in more fucking ways than you know.”

“That’s because you won’t tell me.”

“She’s right on that,” Adam agrees.

“Yep,” Savage chimes in.

“They sound married,” Lucifer says. “Are they getting married?”

Married?

My God, what is he saying and why is he saying it now?

My cheeks heat and Adrian rotates away from me to face them. “Are you trying to convince her to stay or go, assholes?”

“She should go,” Adam says, eyeing me. “You should go. If you’re dead, it’s over. Dead is pretty much the end.”

“I need to meet with the judge,” I repeat.

“You and the judge need to keep a distance,” Adrian snaps. “Teleconference with him.”

“If we leave,” I say, glancing over at him, my eyes burning, no doubt, “Deleon goes after someone else.”

“You’re right,” Adrian says, facing me again. “Which is why I already decided that I’ll stay. Adam will take you to New York City.”

My eyes go wide. “So, you’re passing me off so you can carry out your death wish alone?” I don’t wait for a reply. “No,” I say. “No. I’m not leaving. I intend to take Waters down and I can’t do that by hiding.”

Blake stands up. “I think you both need a shower and some rest. We can talk this out later tonight.”

“Yep,” Savage says again. “You two are stinky.”

“Lower right bedroom,” Blake says. “And Pri, I set you up a secure phone and MacBook. We also brought over some of your things.”

Adrian scrubs his jaw and settles his hands back on his hips before glancing at me. “He’s right. We’ll fight later. I need a damn shower.”

I nod, but anger tics in my jaw. “Fine. Later, but I’m not giving in.” I glance around the room. “Thank you all. I’m fairly certain I’d be too dead to argue about how to get myself killed if it weren’t for all of you,” I joke.

No one laughs. Instead, Blake says, “You fit right in, Pri. These guys are always volunteering to get themselves killed for the greater good. Fortunately, we always find a way to get the job done and keep everyone alive.”

I fit right in.

There is a pinch in my chest, a past pain, and now my demons are the ones asking me to dance while they declare permanent residence in my life. Fitting in is exactly what I wanted once upon a time. And then I discovered fitting in can come with a price. With my father, that meant giving up my soul. If fitting in here means giving up someone else’s life, then I’m not okay with that.

I start to turn away from the group when Blake says, “Pri.”

I glance back at him. “Use your technology as needed,” he says, “but full disclosure. I forwarded your calls to that phone. I’m also listening in. You have zero privacy right