With Every Breath (Slow Burn 4)

“I have a man on her,” Dane said, and prayed he wasn’t lying. Prayed his instincts about Wade Sterling hadn’t steered him wrong and that the very thin line between black and white that Sterling skated allowed him liberties those who stuck to the book didn’t take. And that even now he was shadowing her every moment. God, let Sterling be on her.

“What?”

He couldn’t tell who said it because it came from all directions. There were looks of confusion, accusation and relief.

“I knew it was all wrong,” Dane muttered to himself. “Goddamn it, I knew it wasn’t good. I just never thought it was this bad. Had to protect her but couldn’t let her know that because I’d lose her trust. We’d lose her and, fuck, that’s exactly what may happen anyway!”

“But we’re all here,” Zack asked with obvious bewilderment. “What man did you put on her if we’re all standing here?”

Next to Dane, Zack was closest to Eliza and it was clear he was not only confused but angry that he wouldn’t have been apprised of anything going down with Eliza, any cause for worry and certainly Dane putting a man on her. If not Zack himself.

“Why the fuck didn’t you assign me to shadow her?” Isaac demanded in a pissed-off tone. “I don’t have a wife or other obligation. Eliza is important to us all and you put someone outside of DSS on her? What were you thinking?”

Isaac tended to be quiet, but he was downright surly when it came to the protection of the women who belonged to DSS, Eliza included. He had a protective streak a mile wide and at the moment, his face was mottled with fury—and worry. The big man was private and didn’t divulge much of himself but he was absolute in his loyalty to the people he’d pledged his allegiance to.

“Wade Sterling,” Dane said grimly.

“What the fuck?” Isaac and Beau both bellowed.

The room exploded again, anger vibrating the walls. Except Gracie looked relieved and for the first time a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.

“I gotta make a call. Now,” Dane bit out, reaching for his cell as he spoke.

And he silently prayed the entire time as he brought up Sterling’s contact and then put the phone to his ear.

He should have done what his gut had told him to do and sit on her and never let her out of his or DSS’s sight. He never should have been so goddamn afraid of losing Eliza’s trust, loyalty and friendship—her love—by backing off and calling in Sterling. Because even if she was pissed, quit and never spoke to him again, at least she’d be alive to hate him.

ELEVEN

WADE was never so relieved to see Eliza’s mutinous, belligerent glare as she stared at him from across the small breakfast table in a safe house two hours from Calvary. Her wrist was cuffed to one leg of the table, which meant she was scooted toward the edge instead of being seated in the middle and since he was, they were at a slight angle to one another.

“Eat,” he ordered in a tone he knew would piss her off.

If he kept her pissed off, then maybe the chances of her losing it again and crying were less and it would keep her focused on him instead of whatever private hell she was dealing with. Furthermore, if she fell apart and started crying again, he couldn’t be assured he wouldn’t completely lose it himself. And now, more than ever, he had to keep it together because he was not losing the fierce yet infinitely fragile woman currently giving him the death stare.

“You’re delaying the inevitable, Eliza,” he said with exasperation he didn’t even attempt to hide. “If you want to sit here and have a stare down all goddamn night, I have all the time in the world but you’re going to eat and we are going to talk and then you’re going to get some fucking sleep.”

She glanced down at the mound of food on the plate he’d put in front of her and he could see the hunger beating at her. Damn stubborn woman. Still, it was better than the alternative. Her in his arms sobbing with heart-wrenching despair he’d never before witnessed in anyone, much less her.

“You have thirty seconds to dig in before I take over and feed you myself. Your choice.”

Fury blazed in her eyes but not the good kind of fury that told him she was on her game. It was helpless, hopeless fury and he hated doing this to her. She despised losing her formerly impenetrable control. He hated being forced to take it from her. Hated having to take her choices from her because the result was a subdued, beaten down Eliza and not the fiery, kickass, fearless woman who could hold her own in any situation.

She likely thought he got off on it. Enjoyed it. Was probably humiliated beyond measure that he had the upper hand and she was vulnerable. She couldn’t be more wrong. He felt like the worst sort of bastard by mowing over her as he’d done. He liked her spirit, her fire, her confidence and her strength. He liked it a hell of a lot.

She sent him a final, blistering scowl and then picked up her fork with her free hand and began to eat. A dull flush worked its way up her neck as she stared down at the meat he’d cut into bite-size portions so she could eat one-handed. Then she lifted her chin and he didn’t like what he saw in her eyes at all.

“Are you enjoying this?” she asked quietly. “The opportunity to take me down a notch. Show me who’s boss.”

His response was automatic and explosive. “Fuck no!”

He swore again and gripped his nape with his hand and rubbed wearily. She wasn’t the only one who needed rest. He hadn’t slept since the night she dumped him on his ass in her driveway before roaring off like a bat out of hell.

“You think I enjoy seeing you cry, Eliza? You think I enjoy imagining you hurt, tortured or dead? You think I’ve enjoyed being worried out of my fucking mind because I couldn’t find you and was worried I’d get here too late? You think I like seeing you fall apart when you’re the strongest fucking woman I’ve ever known?”

Faint shock registered in her eyes. Her hand froze, midway from the plate to her mouth, the bite slipping off and hitting the table.

“Eat,” he growled. “We have a lot to talk about but we aren’t doing it until you clean that entire plate.”

Surprisingly she complied, suddenly concentrating on the food and once she started eating, his suspicions were confirmed that it had been way too fucking long since she’d had a decent meal. She ate quickly and hungrily but what bothered him was that not once did she meet his gaze again.