Fever (17 page)

Jace’s side, seeking his protection. These men reminded her too much of her run-in with the guys

who’d wanted money from Jack.

“They won’t hurt you,” Jace murmured.

He slipped his arm around her and squeezed her against him. Instantly she felt . . . better. More

secure. It didn’t matter that the men were twice Jace’s size. Veritable mountains and they looked . . .

questionable at best. She was next to Jace and he wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her.

At Jace’s words, the front man pulled up short and frowned. He held up his hand to halt the other

guy and they both stood a short distance away, careful to maintain the space between them and where

she stood.

“Mr. Crestwell,” the front man said. “I’m Kaden Ginsberg and this is Trevor Dixon.”

Jace extended his arm, stepping forward to shake each of their hands. “Thank you both for coming.”

He turned and motioned Bethany forward. Hesitantly, she stepped in Jace’s direction and eyed the

two newcomers with caution.

Jace held out his hand for Bethany to take and she slipped her fingers into his. He laced them

together and tugged her forward so she was once again at his side.

“This is your security team.”

She couldn’t formulate a response. Security team? Why on earth did she have a security team? She

cast a bewildered look in Jace’s direction.

“Why?”

The one word came out cracked and hoarse.

His lips pressed together in a gesture of impatience. Then he turned to Kaden and Trevor. “Let’s sit

in the living room. We have a lot to talk about. I want your absolute assurance that Bethany will be

safe in your care when I can’t be with her.”

Kaden nodded. “Of course.”

Jace put a hand to Bethany’s back and urged her toward the couch. He sat down next to her, linking

his fingers with hers. They were so close that their thighs touched. She leaned in closer as she

cautiously eyed Kaden and Trevor. They sat across from the couch in two chairs that looked far too

small for their bulky frames.

“You look like professional wrestlers,” she blurted. Then she felt like a complete moron and she

dropped her gaze to stare at her and Jace’s linked hands.

Kaden chuckled, forcing her to look back up. He had a really good laugh. Not at all mean sounding.

It was soft and vibrated over her ears. It was . . . nice.

“It helps in my line of work, ma’am.”

“Oh yeah,” she muttered.

Jace squeezed her hand and then directed his attention toward her security team. She felt ridiculous

calling them that. The whole thing seemed so utterly bizarre that she couldn’t wrap her head around it.

He glanced back at Bethany, his eyes serious. “Kaden and Trevor will accompany you everywhere

when I’m not with you. They’ll shadow your every move—and I do mean every move. When you’re

here, they’ll be here. If you go out, they go with you.”

Her eyes widened. “But why? I don’t get it. Jace, this is crazy. I’m nobody. Nobody cares about

me. I have nothing, so no one has any investment in me. There’s nothing to gain by kidnapping me or

God knows what else you’re thinking.”

Jace sighed. “Do you forget that a day ago those bastards had you on the ground? That they kicked

you and threatened you? They gave you a week to respond. What do you think’s going to happen when

that week comes and goes, Bethany? Think they’re just going to forget about you because they

suddenly can’t find you where you usually hang? I’m going to make sure they don’t get anywhere near

you and part of doing that means Kaden and Trevor here are going to stick to you when I can’t be with

you. Which means that you go nowhere without them. You understand?”

“You really think they’ll find me here?” she whispered.

“Let’s just say I’m not taking any chances.”

Kaden cleared his throat. “Ma’am,” he said politely. “Men like that don’t give up easily. They have

a point to prove. If they don’t make those points, they lose street cred. If it’s perceived they wimped

out on collecting a debt, it means more people will decide not to pay up. They operate on fear and

intimidation. If people cease to fear them, then they are rendered ineffective and they go out of

business. They aren’t going to let that happen, so yes, they will make the effort to come after you.

Trevor and I are going to make sure they don’t succeed.”

Her mouth formed a silent
O
and she stared wide-eyed at Jace.

“You understand now?” Jace asked quietly.

She nodded but she was still reeling from all the sudden changes in her life.

Jace’s driver brought in a small bag and handed it to Jace. It wasn’t one she recognized, though

there’d been so many that she lost track of them hours ago.

Jace pulled out a box, opening it to reveal a brand-new cell phone. He popped the battery in,

powered it up and then fiddled with it for several long minutes. Then he pulled out his cell and

punched buttons before finally tossing the phone toward Kaden.

“Program your numbers into her phone. I want her to have you on speed dial in case anything ever

goes wrong.”

Bethany’s eyebrows drew together as Kaden and then Trevor rapidly punched buttons before

returning the phone to Jace. Then Jace handed her the phone.

“I programmed my number in. It’s number one on speed dial. Kaden is number two and Trevor is

number three. My office number is four and my apartment is number five. Carry this phone on you at

all times, and if you don’t want me freaking out thinking you’re in an alley dead somewhere, then you

better damn well answer when I call. Got it?”

Numbly, she nodded. Holy shit but her head was spinning in circles. She could barely breathe and

her head was starting to ache horribly. Fairy tales didn’t happen for girls like her and yet she’d

walked right into the middle of one. But this one wasn’t destined for a happily-ever-after. That only

happened in fiction. She was too well acquainted with the way things worked in real life. Real life

sucked. But it was real. It was unapologetic. It made no excuses. It just was.

Jace leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ve got to run into the office. I have a meeting I can’t

miss, but I won’t be gone long. Kaden and Trevor will stay with you until I get back. Groceries will

be delivered soon as well. Make sure one of them answers the door and you stay out of sight until

they give you the all-clear. And whatever you do, listen to whatever they tell you. Their job is to keep

you safe. Make it as easy for them as possible by cooperating. Okay?”

“Okay,” she murmured.

“If you need anything, call me. I’ll have my cell on me even during my meeting.”

She nodded mechanically.

He kissed her again. “We’ll go out for dinner. Wear one of your new outfits and be sure to bring

your damn coat. It’s supposed to snow tonight. Then we’ll spend the night here so you can get

acquainted with your new apartment.”

She marveled at how arrogantly he assumed he would be staying with her. She also marveled at the

fact that she didn’t correct him. Didn’t offer argument. And she marveled at the relief that surged

through her blood when she knew she wouldn’t be alone.

Lost. Already she was lost in him. So completely immersed that she wasn’t sure she’d ever find her

way out again. When he decided to walk away, it would break her in a way nothing else ever had.

Her life. Her addiction. Her fuck-ups.

He had power over her that she’d never imagined another entity having. And that scared her more

than the thought of drugs, sex or the men who’d threatened her.

chapter fifteen

Jace strode into the building that housed the HCM offices and rode the elevator up. If he didn’t

have this damn meeting, he would have ditched work altogether today. He didn’t like leaving Bethany

on her own so soon after he got her back.

No, she technically wasn’t on her own, but he still didn’t like leaving her to fend for herself.

When he walked into Gabe’s office a few minutes later, he saw that Ash was already there—as

was Gabe—and the way Gabe looked at him, that flash of concern in his eyes, he knew that Ash had

been running his mouth.

Jace’s mouth set into a firm line and he plopped into the chair in front of Gabe’s desk.

“Let’s get this over with,” Jace said tersely.

Ash didn’t meet his gaze and instead stared straight ahead at Gabe. That was fine with Jace. He

didn’t have time for the intervention both of his friends were likely plotting.

Gabe frowned but didn’t offer argument. Jace was five minutes late—not typical for him at all. Ash

and Gabe were probably convinced he’d lost his goddamn mind.

Maybe for the first time he’d found it. He and Ash had been fucking the same women for years.

How messed up was that? Gabe didn’t blink an eye over that practice. But he was going to pass

judgment because Jace had finally found a woman he had no intention of sharing? And Gabe had no

damn room to talk anyway. He’d lost his freaking mind over Mia. Jace’s sister, for Christ’s sake.

Jace hadn’t ripped Gabe’s head off, though he absolutely should have. The bastard had been pathetic

enough without Jace heaping more punishment.

Jace blinked when he realized they were already well into the meeting and he had no clue what had

been discussed so far. When there was a prolonged silence, Jace figured out quickly that they were

all waiting for his input. Damn it.

Ash sent him a look of disgust and then plowed ahead with the information Jace should have

provided. Ash handled it like a pro, his charming, polished mannerisms easily winning over the group

of investors on the other end of the line.

Jace gave a sigh of relief when it was finally over. Ash packed up his shit and walked out of

Gabe’s office, never once speaking to Jace. Real mature. Jace shook his head and prepared his own

exit. He was already thinking ahead to where he wanted to take Bethany for dinner. He’d call her on

his way out and give her a heads-up so she could get ready.

“Jace, a minute, if you don’t mind.”

Gabe’s quiet tone filtered through Jace’s thoughts. He frowned when he saw Gabe’s expression.

Fuck.

He wasn’t down for a come-to-Jesus moment with Gabe. Why the hell couldn’t his friends just

back the fuck off?

Even as he thought it, he acknowledged that he wouldn’t do the same if the positions were

reversed. He’d gotten into Gabe’s face plenty during his time with Mia. But goddamn it, Mia was

Jace’s sister. He had a vested interest in Gabe’s treatment of her. Bethany had absolutely no

connection to Gabe or Ash. Well, not unless you counted the fact that she’d fucked Ash, but Jace was

trying his best to forget that fact.

The image of his best friend with a woman Jace considered his was burned into his mind. He may

never get rid of the sight of Ash’s mouth and hands on her skin.

“Make it quick,” Jace growled.

He stood, refusing to sit, because sitting gave leeway for this to become an extended thing. Jace

had better things to do. Like take his woman to dinner and then take her home and fuck her.

“What the hell is going on with you, man?” Gabe asked softly.

Jace made a sound of impatience. “Nothing is going on with me.”

“That’s not what Ash says.”

“Ash needs to keep his fucking mouth shut.”

Gabe’s frown deepened. “What’s going on with you and Ash? This isn’t like you. Ash is as tight-

lipped as you are, but it’s obvious you’re pissed at each other. He said you’re all sorts of fucked up

over a woman. Anything you want to talk about?”

“Bethany is not up for discussion,” Jace said in a frigid tone. “Besides, if there’s anything you want

to know, I’m sure Ash’s background check will provide fodder for gossip between you two.”

Gabe’s expression turned from concern to pissed off in two seconds flat. “What the fuck is up your

ass, Jace? I’m not gossiping about anyone. I don’t know fuck about some goddamn background check.

I don’t even know who the hell Bethany is and I’m damn sure not gossiping about her with Ash. Ash

hasn’t said fuck-all either, for that matter.”

Jace knew he was being a dick. He knew he was a flaming hypocrite. He’d never let his friends get

away with the shit he was pulling. But he was still pissed at Ash for trying to warn him off Bethany.

And if he were completely honest, he was still pissed that Ash had fucked her. Maybe he’d never

forgive Ash for that even though Jace had gone along with it. Even with his instincts screaming like a

motherfucker, he’d allowed it to happen. He’d hated every goddamn minute of it, but he’d still let it

happen. Maybe he hated himself most of all.

“Bethany is someone I care about,” Jace said, forcing himself to speak calmly. “That’s all you need

to know. She needs help—my help—and there’s no way in fuck I’m turning my back on her.”

“Do you need my help?” Gabe asked.

And there it was. The unconditional friendship that had existed since they were in college. Always

there, at each other’s backs. They’d taken some knocks, no doubt. Gabe’s relationship with Mia had