Page 68 of Sinner’s Game

I fight a fresh wave of nausea as I meet Ronan’s eyes. “This isn’t just about framing me for Mr. Big’s murder,” I say. “This is about getting me out of the picture altogether.”

“You’re right,” Ronan says, pulling me into his lap and wrapping me in his arms. “But I’m not going to let that happen.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“I’m not going to let that happen,” Ronan repeated. He heard the tremor in his voice and tried to dial it back. God, he could have lost her just now. He could have fucking lost her. “I swear to God, Brandy, I’m going to keep you safe.”

“Okay, okay. I’m okay.” She was breathing hard, looking more than a little shell-shocked.

“Come on, angel.” He hooked an arm around her, helping her stand. “Let’s get you back to the hotel.”

“Yes. Yes, please.”

“Wrap this up,” Ronan said to the team. “Clear the scene.”

“I got the license plate,” Nova said. “We’ll work on tracking. You just worry about Brandy.”

He lifted his hand in acknowledgement, then took out his earpiece. Brandy’s too. She needed to be away from this right now. As far away as he could get her.

She could have died.

But she didn’t. That was why he had the team.

She could have fucking died. Just like Michelle. He could have fucking failed her.

Stop it! Just stop it!

They drove in silence, and it broke his heart the way she curled up in the seat hugging herself, looking small and fragile. She barely moved except to sip from a water bottle, and she said nothing. Just sucked on the breath mint she’d found in her purse. Quiet, a little lost. And all he wanted to do was hold her.

That’s exactly what he intended to do once they stepped through the door to their suite. Hold her. Soothe her.

He didn’t expect Brandy to make the first move, and he gasped when she pulled him to her and kissed him, clinging so tight it was if she was soaking up his strength.

When she finally stepped back, her expression was full of admiration. “Thank you,” she said. “You and the whole team.”

He felt the growl rising in his throat, and he shook his head, suddenly furious with her for not seeing the fuck-up. For trusting him when he damn well didn’t deserve it. “You’re thanking me? Are you insane? I could have lost you. I could have fucking lost you today.”

“No.” Her eyes went wide. “You took care of—”

But he didn’t let her finish. He pushed her back, slamming her against the wall, his mouth closing hard on hers, claiming her in a hard, bruising kiss. Wanting her, needing her.

Terrified that she could be taken from him again—

Again?

He roughly pushed away, leaving her breathless. Her hand went to her mouth, and he saw that it was red, stained from the harshness of his kisses.

“I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “No. I told you. You don’t have to be sorry.”

“I promised I would protect you. I almost failed.”

“You didn’t fail.” She grabbed his hands. “Ronan, stop it.”

“How? How can you trust me after what I did? After everything I screwed up?”

“You didn’t screw up. I’m alive. You planned for the worst, just like you said, and you saved me.”