Armored Hearts (The Town of Pearl 7)

“How dare you talk to me like that? I don’t know what has gotten into you and why you’re so angry,” she said and all he could do was stare at her.

Her long platinum-blonde hair was pulled back to the side in some casual style that

made her look sexy and desirable. Even in the huge, baggy sweatshirt she looked attractive to him. It was insane. Then he thought about the men, the text messages to her. He was jealous, distrusting, pissed off, and he didn’t want to hear her lies. Women lied. This was why he kept his heart out of sex. But with India it was different. With India he could be free, and could let go and that was why this hurt and pissed him off so much. She would leave them for those men. They were probably rich, with fancy sports cars and yachts to show off. He and his team lived in the middle of a farmland, out in Texas with a small town nearby and down-to-earth neighbors. She wouldn’t give up her lush life in Chicago for them. What the hell had they been thinking? Now when he walked into the kitchen she was loving their dogs. His dogs.

“Don’t just stand there giving me the silent treatment. What did I do wrong? You’re seriously pissed off because I talk to your dogs and pet them, rub their bellies, cause them to let down their guard so they can have fun and breathe?”

“My dogs have fun. They have it on a schedule, just like soldiers do.”

Her eyes widened and she stepped closer. “Are you serious? Has anyone informed you that you’re no longer in the service? That this is civilian life and the likelihood that a troop of enemy soldiers are going to invade your kitchen while I’m petting your dogs is pretty much not ever going to happen. What is the real issue here, Fenton? Why would you say such mean things to me?”

“When Silas calls. When Dmitri and he give the all clear that it’s safe to return to Chicago, are you just going to leave? Replace us with the men you have back there waiting to fuck you, and pretend they care about you and what you experienced?”

She blinked her eyes. His words were like a strike to her face. He hadn’t meant to be so harsh but he was jealous, pissed off, and fearful that she would never truly be theirs. He’d taken a risk and now it seemed it was for nothing.

“What men? What are you talking about? Did Silas call you? Did he say that it’s safe to go back?”

“No.” He turned around and paced.

Silas had been pissed off about the text messages. He didn’t know that Fenton and the rest of the guys would be even angrier than him. He couldn’t let on to Silas that they’d slept with his sister. That they wanted her to be part of their lives, but that these text messages made Fenton ask more questions about India’s honesty, integrity toward them and any potential commitment.

She was a gorgeous woman. She could have any man she wanted. Why would she choose five retired soldiers, heartless bastards, as her lovers when she could have so much more in Chicago?

He felt her hand on his arm and she turned him.

“Talk to me, Fenton. What in God’s name has gotten into you to make you hate me so much? Please tell me so we can talk about it.”

He stared down into her blue eyes. He towered over her and she sensed his anger, his intimidating stance, and she went to take a step back. He snagged her around the waist and pulled her closer.

“How many lovers do you have waiting for you in Chicago? Waiting to care for you and fuck you?”

She tried pulling back as she gripped his forearms.

“What lovers? Who are you referring to? I wasn’t seeing anyone when I was abducted.”

His heart hammered in his chest.

“It didn’t sound like nothing was going on in the text messages.”

“What text messages?”

“I have access to your cell phone and so does Silas. I can log on to the computer and read the messages, e-mails, texts from anyone who has sent you something.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me so that I could talk to my friends?”

“It’s for your safety and protection in case one of the Russian assholes tried to harass you. That’s not the point. There were men texting you. Men asking to see you, saying they missed you. Men offering to care for you by your bedside. Men wanting to fuck you.” He raised his voice and pulled her tighter against him.

“I wasn’t seeing anyone, Fenton. If a guy sent me a text message about something like that, I’m certain it wasn’t a past lover. I have friends. Both male and female in Chicago. Some are closer than others.”

He shook his head and backed her up against the bedroom wall.

“You’re mine. Ours. To read those texts and to think about other men wanting you, wanting to have sex with you when you belong to us, really pisses me off, India. When your brother calls with the all clear, what are you going to do? Are you going to leave us? Are we nothing but some fantasy encounter for you to go back to Chicago and share with your friends?” he barked at her.

He saw her eyes fill with tears. But he needed to know. He wanted to know if she was feeling how strong this bond was.

“You really think I’m some whore who sleeps around with men and decided to try a ménage with the five of you?” Her voice cracked.

He swallowed hard.