Chapter 6

 

"Not until you listen to me," he replied in a low, dangerous voice. "I'm not an angel, but I'm not an enemy either. I had no choice but to check it out before introducing myself. I trust my gut, not a file with your name and stats in it. Until I knew I had an idea of who you are, I didn't want to introduce myself." This bothered her, and some of her fear vanished.

"How exactly did it convince you that you could trust me?" An icy one Tone chilled his words. "What happened between us shouldn't have happened. I didn't intend to love you, nor did I intend for you to love me. I am sorry? I should be, but I'm not. My only regret is that I left before we finished what we started. But that moment was bound to come anyway.”

Call him for his audacity, Anna told herself, and demand an apology. She has to do that. As she should be outraged, appalled. Instead, Anna savored his seductive affirmation of a shared secret and remembered the bliss of his hands caressing her skin, seducing her until it nearly melted. Angered at herself for how he had betrayed her, she grabbed that ripe anger that still burned inside her and let it swell in her chest. The man led her down a passionate path toward trouble, awakening a dangerously erotic part of her that had once ruled her life. She should go away.

But she couldn't. Not when the stakes are so high. Not when Jerome really could be the key to Pedro's conviction. "I'll listen to what you have to say," she said because it was her only option. "On one condition." Jerome raised an eyebrow questioningly. She squeezed her chest. "Let go of me and never touch me again. Her body might still remember the pleasure he had given her, but she wasn't a fool. This man was a problem. And now he had the audacity to use his large body to force her to listen. She didn't like it. It was about time he knew he was no longer in charge. No seductive performance would change that, she promised.

Anna came to him in great style, in a manner which no woman has remembered in too long a time. So much so that his anger challenged him, made him want to kiss her into submission.

Let go or kiss? A difficult call. Her lips were full and red, seductive lips that he already knew tasted sinfully sweet. Yes, kissing her would be a delicious distraction from the hell he just called life. But then again, it wouldn't help earn her trust, nor would it help his efforts to see Pedro into permanent retirement.

Jerome gritted his teeth and accepted the inevitable conclusion that he had to behave. He gave her one last longing look before forcing himself to let go of her and take a step back. Anna immediately crossed her arms in front of her body in a careful posture. The action pushed her breasts up and gave [e-mail] eyes another delicious distraction. Damn, the woman was killing him.

He sat on the back of the divan, which served a dual purpose. He pulled Anna out of his reach and brought them both closer to eye level so he wouldn't tower over her. The goal was trust, not intimidation. Their gazes met, quiet tension filled the air. She was angry and probably embarrassed, although he doubted she would admit that part. "I think you should know," he said, trying to find a way to a truce, "no one knew I followed you, nor do t"How long have you been following me exactly?" She asked, her boot tapping the ground slowly, telling both of her agitation as much the steely look in her beautiful eyes.

Inwardly he winced before answering. "Two days." He pushed aside how much he'd enjoyed watching her for those two days, how many ways he'd dreamed of sleeping with her. He didn't think it would help his situation at all.

She made a frustrated noise; Her hands fell to her sides, perfectly manicured hands with pink nails curling around her palms. "Two days." The words were flat, her cheeks flushed. Her gaze dropped as she murmured, "Two days and I never suspected anything.It wasn't a question. It was more of a statement of disbelief to herself. Her chin lifted and her eyes bored into his reproachfully. "Do you expect me to believe that the FBI made you disappear for two days without knowing where you were in?

“ I wasn’t supposed to pull out of Pedro’s operation until the last minute .It left me less risk of exposure. But three years of my life was at stake, and I know how easily Pedro corrupts people. I didn't care what was in your file. I had to get an idea of who you are. Pedro will find someone in the middle to corrupt him, I promise you, if he hasn't already."

"I know Pedro's type," she quickly stated. "Darling, you just think you know his type." Jerome had seen things—hell, he'd done things himself over the years—that would bring grown men to their knees. "The murder is worthy of a popcorn and a soda for Pedro. As far as corrupting someone in this case, they will do anything to get out of this cell.They even threaten the lives of their families.” His voice softened. "I turned to you that night to survive. What happened next was pure chemistry.”

Her lips thinned.He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. "I need my briefcase out of the car. There are questions... A faint noise in the ceiling made her eyes wander upwards and Jerome stood up. "You heard that too, didn't you?" she asked, worry etching on her beautiful face.

He had heard correctly. So his hand now rested at his side, ready to draw his Glock. "It's most likely the wind," he said, but it wasn't. Having grown up here, he knew every sound, every nuance.

There was a double knock on the front door, a code for his men before they entered.A constable named Arnold entered, his massive body tense, his expression grim. Jerome cursed under his breath, knowing the news was bad even before it was spoken. "We have company," Arnold said, confirming Jerome's guess.

"What does that mean?" asked Anna.Jerome drew his pistol from his shoulder holster and ignored the question, concentrating on getting the facts. "How many?"

"I wish I knew," Arnold said, no longer hiding his gun. It was in his hand, ready to use. “We have movement on the roof.Two were seen walking up the west side of the property. We'll probably have to identify more.”