Leaning over the center console, my face is only inches from hers. I imagine feeling her breath on my lips, but the fabric on the mask prevents it. I need it, but oh, how I hate it right now.
“I’m protecting you.”
“Or scaring me” she bites back.
It’s unfortunate she’s still intimidated by me since I’d never hurt her. But if she only knew how infatuated I am with her, she’d have every reason to be.
What is she thinking? What was she going to do once she got here?
I shake my head, my facial expression covered by my black mask. “We need to talk about this.”
Her lungs take in a sharp rise. “Don’t talk to me like you’re in charge of me.”
“Lux,” I warn.
“What?”
“I asked you a question.”
She tucks a loose hair behind her ear. “I came to check out the house of one of the men who took me. His name is Rich Smith.”
“What makes you believe this is his house?”
Keeping her head down, she picks at her thumbnail. “I ran into him earlier this evening at a coffee shop.”
“And he admitted to you he took you?”
Lux whips her head at me, fixing me with an irritated glare. “Of course not.”
“Then how do you know, for sure?”
“I was there that night, remember?” she exclaims. “I knew something was off about him, but he smelled like cherry cigars, the barista called him Rich, and he…” She trails off, a look of determination morphing her features. “He tried to make small talk with me, then when he grabbed his drink, he called the baristadarlin’. The same thing he called me when I when captive.”
I hate that she had to go through this, and I hate that more than anything. I want her to remain safe and out of my way so the team and I can kill each of these men for putting her and the others through this. I find the urge to wrap my arms around her and take all of this away, but I still need to know how she found out where he lived.
“How did you find his address?”
“I overheard him and the barista talk about taxes, and when I told her I was new in town and looking for an accountant, she gave me his name. A quick law enforcement database search led me to his place.”
Her research methods pique my interest. “Database?”
“My dad works for the police department, remember?” She pulls her lip between her teeth. My guess is he doesn’t know she has access. Which surprises me, but also impresses me.
“And what was your plan once you got here?”
“I don’t know,” she admits.
Her answer irritates me, but how can I expect her to have a plan? She isn’t a career criminal so I doubt this was preplanned. Lux is in survival mode from what happened to her and her impulsivity was driven by rage.
I rub my temples, burying feelings of agitation for her, potentially putting her life at risk. “What if he recognized you? You would have essentially delivered yourself to his doorstep.”
“What was I supposed to do?” she sneers. “You refused to give me any information, so I had to get it on my own.”
“I told you that my team and I are handling it. Nothing good can come from you being a part of this.” I sigh in exasperation, then lower my voice. “You’re gonna get yourself killed.”
“And why should I believe a man I barely know, who won’t even showme his face?”
“It’s better this way.”
