Page 15 of Hunted Innocence
I’m not sure how I didn’t see just how absolutely into me she is. Sure, we flirted, and I knew that she liked me. I also knew that just her scent made my dick hard, but beyond that, I didn’t realize just how infatuated she was. I see it now, and I want nothing more than to feed it—feed her.
All of her.
In every goddamn way possible.
Chapter Six
NADINE
Dinner and dessertwere without a doubt the most fantastic night of my life. I didn’t think that any part of sex could feel as amazing as it did last night. I want to do it all over again. Again and again. Every single night until I die.
A throat clears in the distance, and my eyes pop open. I’ve been halfway between sleep and awake for a while, choosing not to open my eyes because I didn’t want the memories of last night to fade away as the start of the new day begins.
Grayson stands above me, wearing his usual work attire. A pair of slacks. Today’s are my favorite, light gray to match his name. Which always makes me smile when I think about it. On top, he’s wearing a navy-blue button-down shirt perfectly pressed, and his matte silver watch, which I know costs more than my rent for half a year.
“Are you leaving?” I ask, my heart racing inside my chest at the thought of being here in my apartment alone.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to truly be alone again. I was by myself a lot in the safe house, but it somehow felt differentfrom this. It doesn’t matter that I know without a doubt the security at my place is better than at the White House. I don’t want to be alone.
“Baby,” he rasps. “You’re bait, remember?”
“Can’t we have some kind of game plan?”
His lips curve up into a grin as he watches me as if he thinks I’m this adorable little creature. I’m not. I mean, maybe I am, I don’t know, but I don’t want him to think about that right now. I want him to say he’s never leaving my side and that he has a grand master plan.
“The game plan is you’re bait. We keep an eye on you, but otherwise, we have to give him the opportunity to hang himself.”
Sitting up fully, I stare at him, unable to take my eyes off his. “Please, Grayson.”
He hums but doesn’t respond to my plea. Instead, he only smiles. “Grayson,” I snap. “I’m terrified.”
He moves toward me, sinking onto the edge of the bed until he’s sitting beside me. He lifts his hand and cups my cheek. His thumb slides across my bottom lip, his gaze never leaving mine.
“I have you, baby. I will not let a single hair on your head be touched, let alone hurt. I have you.”
I’m not worried that Grayson won’t protect me. I know without a doubt that even if we weren’t sleeping together, he would do everything in his power to ensure my safety. What I’m concerned with is the fact that the things Landon Tate can and will do to me that would be beyond Grayson’s power.
And he wouldn’t have a choice but to let me go.
That is what’s terrifying.
As much as I want to say all of that, though, I don’t. But I can feel it hanging between us. He knows as much as I do that Landon Tate, being ATF, can and will use his powerful government position for evil.
I’ve been running from him for long enough that I know once he catches me, he’s going to pull out all the stops to keep me. To hurt me. To use me, abuse me and make the rest of my life, no matter how short it is, absolutely miserable as payback for leaving him.
But I’m pretty sure that if Securus keeps me hidden, I also know that he will likely ruin their lives. That’s six to my one life, not including Lucille and Colette, plus the new babies. And then there’s my brother and all his people—his found family.
There are too many people’s lives at stake here for me to be concerned about my own personal welfare and safety. So I’m going to do whatever I can to save everyone’s lives around me because I’m the one who brought this to their door.
They didn’t have a say in any of this. I selfishly came to Securus for safety and security. I should have left here a long time ago. I stayed long enough that it allowed Landon Tate the time to look for me. And honestly, he should have sooner. I’m literally in the same town as my brother, using the same first name.
It’s not like I was overly stealthy. Sure, I covered up my digital print, but I was hiding in plain sight. I should have left a few years ago, staying on the run consistently. But I couldn’t leave Brody, and I wouldn’t leave Securus and Grayson.
Now my selfishness has put them all in danger.
So instead of arguing or telling Grayson that I’m scared to death, I am going to accept my fate. Because I brought all of this to their door, and they don’t deserve any of it—not a damn ounce.
“Nadine,” he calls out, likely because I’ve completely zoned out and have become lost inside my head.
