Mine to Hold (Mine 3)

A few minutes later, Noah found himself being pushed into the back of Lane and Gwen’s unmarked car. At least it wasn’t a patrol car, but he knew word about this incident would spread through the city like wildfire. Engaged one night, arrested the next. A scandal like that would make headlines.

The cops climbed in the front of the vehicle. Before Lane could turn the key, Noah drawled, “Are you both really sure you want to go up against me?”

Gwen glanced back at him. “Am I supposed to be afraid of you?”

Yes.

“We do our jobs, and we don’t care how much power you have.”

Under other circumstances, Noah would like Gwen Lazlo. But since she was trying to toss his ass in jail… “Fair enough. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Because they were about to find out just how much influence he had in the Big Apple.

***

For a moment, Claire stood frozen in Noah’s office. No, that hadn’t just happened. As the shock faded, she turned and rushed for the door.

“Wait.” Trace grabbed her arm. “You don’t want to go after them.”

“They’re arresting him. For murder!”

And he’d thought I killed Senator Harrison? Noah had thought she was a killer, and he’d still protected her.

Trace shook his head. “They’re not arresting him. They’re questioning Noah. The cops think they can push him into making some kind of mistake.” He laughed. “They don’t know Noah well.”

He pulled out his phone. Called a lawyer. She tried to stop her knees from shaking. When he ended the call, Claire blurted, “They don’t know Noah well, but you do.” I thought I did, too.

Trace put the phone back into his pocket. “I’ve seen the man survive hours of torture, and he never broke.”

“Wh-what?”

His eyes slid over her face. “But I guess Noah doesn’t want you knowing about that time, does he? I never wanted it touching Skye, either.”

Her head was about to explode. “When was Noah tortured?” The idea of him being hurt that way made her sick.

“In one way or another, I think the guy’s been tortured most of his life.”

“That’s a really shitty answer,” Claire snapped, fed up and pushed too far.

Trace blinked at her.

“Who hurt Noah?” Because she had the fierce desire to hurt them right back.

“One of our missions went to hell. Noah paid the price.”

Her icy breath chilled her lungs.

“Noah has seen more death than most people can imagine, and because of that, the guy doesn’t get real close to other people.”

Neither did she, or at least she hadn’t, until Noah. “And he holds tight to his control.”

Trace nodded. “Noticed that, huh?”

It was hard not to notice it.

“Consider his control a good thing,” Trace told her. “Because I’ve seen him lose it before, and when Noah breaks…” He gave a long sigh. “Men die.”

She backed away from him. “That was war. That was—”

“Noah values his control more than he values anything else, because he knows how dangerous he is without it.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Was he trying to scare her? Test her?

“Because I think you need to know exactly who you’re dealing with.” He crossed his arms over his chest. Noah had just been hauled away by cops. They should both be rushing out after him, but Trace was locking his steely gaze on her. “If you can’t handle him, all of him, then you need to pull back.”

She shook her head. Pulling back wasn’t an option. Noah needed her then.

“I see what’s happening between you. It may already be too late for him, and if you can’t take him—all of him—then you’ll wreck him.”

“I-I’d never hurt Noah.”

“Are you sure about that? Because I saw your face when you looked at that photo of him at the senator’s hotel. For an instant, you were terrified.” He took a step toward her. “You thought he might have killed, and terror consumed you. He thought that you might have done the same thing, and he protected you.”

“Stop it! It’s not the same—you don’t understand!”

“I understand that Noah is my friend. And the biggest threat that the man has ever faced…she’s standing right in front of me.”

Claire straightened her spine. Focused on trying to calm her racing heart. “You don’t know me. And you don’t know how Noah is with me.” She wouldn’t let this man intimidate her. “And now you need to get out of my way because I’m not just going to stay in this place while he gets questioned. He was with me when Sloan was killed. Every minute.” Trace wisely backed away. She marched for the door. “And I’ll make those cops believe me.”

Trace called her name, but Claire didn’t stop. She hurried through the hotel. Ran by the doormen. The street outside was so busy. Packed with cars. She raised her hand, ready to hail her own taxi, and her gaze flew around the area as—

Ethan Harrison.

He was standing across the street from the hotel. His hands were shoved into the pockets of the long, black coat that he wore. His eyes—his eyes were on her. He was watching her.

Then he smiled.

“Claire!” Trace yelled from behind her.

Ethan turned away.

Trace’s hand closed over her shoulder. “Claire, come on, look, I’ll get us down to the station—”

She yanked away from him and ran into the street. “Ethan!” Cars honked. Brakes squealed. Trace roared her name.

Ethan didn’t slow.

She ran faster, and Claire could see him—

She was shoved through the air. Claire slammed onto the cement with an impact that rattled her bones.

Trace rolled her over, swearing. “Dammit, Claire, that car almost hit you!” His hands patted over her body. “Are you hurt? I didn’t think I was going to get to you in time.”

She shoved his hands off her, shoved him off her, and leapt to her feet. “Ethan!”

“Ethan?” Trace echoed.

Not bothering to respond, Claire ran down the sidewalk. There were so many people. So many—but where was Ethan? Where had he gone?

“He was here,” Claire whispered. “He is here. I just have to find him.” She whirled around. Looked to the left. The right. Bodies passed her in a blur as she kept searching for the man with the bright blond hair.

The man who should be dead.

***