Dirty Secrets (Get Dirty 4)

He sputters, “I do not!” But then he stops at my evil grin. “You’d do that, wouldn’t you?” At my nod, he hooks a thumb over at a black sedan in the far corner of the parking lot. “All right, but not here. Your place?”

“I guess it’s a given that you know where it is,” I reply, annoyed. “You following me like usual?” I can’t help but get in the dig. “And we talk there. Deal?”

“Deal.”

At home, Logan walks me to my door, a new routine, apparently.

As I unlock the door, I stand aside, motioning him in. I’m not scared of Logan. In fact, he makes me feel safe, and it’s probably easier for him to guard me from here than it is downstairs, or wherever it is he hides out.

I’m surprised, though, when he doesn’t take a single step inside but instead crosses his arms, shaking his head once.

“He’s coming to talk to you himself.”

I can’t decipher his tone, but he looks at me like this is bad news. Honestly, though, I don’t care. Dom might be The Boss of East Robinsville, but he and I need to get some shit straight between us. Still, realizing that Dominick Angeline’s coming to my apartment makes my heart flutter in my chest like a hummingbird after a Red Bull.

Dominick is coming here? Shit, I need to change and pick up a bit. I don’t want him to think I’m a smelly mess, though that’s probably more true than false on most days.

Chapter 6

Dominick

“Say that again, slowly.”

Logan’s voice is filtering through the cabin of my car as he tells me again what happened after Allie left her classes tonight.

“And the MMA guys? Are they a problem?”

There’s a beat of silence as Logan considers what I’m asking. “They’re legit fighters, both heavyweights. No reputation for anything other than hard work and being tough sons of bitches. If anything, I’d say they might be good backup on-site if they agree to some terms.”

I let that idea roll around in my head, nodding to myself. It would make keeping an eye on Allie easier now that my duck blind has apparently been discovered. I’m not upset with Logan about it. He did his job exactly as I requested, and I wouldn’t have wanted him to lie. At least, not to her.

“I’ll take that under advisement. I’ll need full workups on them both . . . families, allegiances, strengths, and weaknesses.”

“On it. You’ll have it by tomorrow,” Logan says, and knowing him, I’ll probably have their grade-school report cards in there as well. He’s that sort of thorough.

“And the rest? What exactly did she say?”

I listen as Logan explains that he had to break cover, and that Allie knew she’d been under observation, which was a surprise to me. I don’t like surprises. Not at all. She says she knows all of it, which I seriously doubt, so I’ll have to tease a bit at her to test the edges of her knowledge. I don’t want to share too much, too soon.

I knew there’d come a time to reap what I’ve sown, even though I’ll admit I’m a man who likes to control what goes on in my life. But I have crossed a line with Allie, and I need to deal with that.

I pull into my reserved spot and head upstairs. As I push the button for the third floor, my heart flutters a little as I realize I’m going to see her, to be in her space again, not by stealth and sneaking but by invitation.

It’s an intriguing idea since this will be the first time she willingly lets me into her apartment. I’ve been here, of course, the first time when I took her home after the shooting, still shivering in my arms, and then again to carefully install the cameras.

But this will be a first of sorts.

Logan is in the hallway, giving me a respectful nod before pulling a fade and standing by the elevator door where he can keep his eye on the entire hallway without any issues.

At my knock, the door breezes open and she stands before me in a pair of short shorts and a strappy tank top that grazes her body. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she dressed for me, but I know this is her usual nighttime attire. I understand. After a day of dance tights, she must want to be as comfortable as possible.

I step inside and turn as she closes the door.

“Allison,” I greet her, my voice deep and intense. Until I saw her, I hadn’t fully processed that tonight could have played out much differently. Forget the questions I’m going to have to answer, the explanations, and possibly her recriminations. The thought of something happening to her makes my blood run cold in my veins.