She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (The American Soldier Collection 8)
“Questions?” she asked him, holding her gaze. She looked so young and pretty. He didn’t want her to feel any more fear or pain, but she could help with this investigation if Sentinel really did have a thing for her. He swallowed hard.
“Yes, it’s about tonight at the gallery. When you met Sentinel and Phillips there.”
Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard and then looked back at the water.
“Ellie, it’s okay. Vin saw the surveillance tapes. There may be a connection to the murdered women, the stolen art, and that truck that was at the gallery tonight.”
“Really? That’s crazy. Venero’s is a very prominent gallery.”
He reached over and clutched her chin. “How was Sentinel tonight, when you were with him?” He stared into her green eyes and wanted to take the fear away.
“He seemed like himself, why?”
“Does he normally hit on you, stand really close to you, and touch your hair?”
“What?” Seno asked.
She glanced at him and then back at Justice. “What is this about? Why are you asking me this?”
“I need to know what he said to you tonight. Did he make any comments about making you money, taking you to bed?”
“Oh God, no. What are you thinking?” she asked, standing up and reaching for the towel. Seno grabbed and it she pulled it from his hands as Justice watched the water drip from her very large, aroused breasts.
“It’s believed that Sentinel and Phillips are involved in stolen art and prostitution. The women who were found murdered had been with either Phillips or Sentinel before they died. An investigative team is making a connection between them and this illegal art and prostitution ring. Sentinel could be either trying the women out, or recruiting them.”
She gasped. “And what? You think that he was recruiting me? That I would sell my body for money? That I would allow him or Luke to touch me?” She raised her voice.
“No. Of course not. That’s not what I’m asking. I need to know what he said to you and if there was any indication about the art being special or about the women, or something.”
She stared at him, holding the red towel around her body and then looked at Hunter and Mace. “He didn’t say anything. I don’t think he did.”
Justice reached for her and she pulled away. He raised his eyes at her and then placed his hands on his hips. “Ellie?”
“No. You know what, I get it. You think I’m weak. You think that I allow men to take advantage of me because I’m scared, don’t you?” She was angry and insulted and that wasn’t his intention.
“No, of course I don’t think that.”
“I handled Renaldo coming on to me tonight just like I’ve handled it from the start.”
“What do you mean from the start? This guy has been hitting on you all these weeks?” Seno asked, looking pissed.
“Oh, give me a break. You’re a man. You hit on women all the time.”
“But we know what the word ‘no’ means,” Mace stated from behind Justice.
“We’re losing focus here. This isn’t why I asked you about Renaldo.” Justice stepped closer.
Ellie stepped back and could go no further but back into the tub. “I handled it.”
“How? What did he say and do?” Justice asked.
“He talked about the art and about how he only enjoyed one-of-a-kind, rare pieces. He liked things that people would pay a lot of money for. Things that he could make money off of. He told me that I was gorgeous and classy, that my body was perfect and—”
“And what? What did he say?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “He said that he couldn’t put a price tag on my beauty. That he would keep me for himself and cater to my every need and desire.”
“Asshole,” Hunter said from behind them.