Chapter 34 The Enemy Within
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, neither ready to let go after the fight and the making up.
Eventually Elena pulled back, looking at him. "I should make us something to eat."
"Or we could order in." Pierce suggested.
"Again?" Elena raised an eyebrow. "You're going to make me forget how to cook."
"I'm okay with that."
She smacked his chest playfully, and pulled away, moving to the kitchen. Pierce followed, leaning against the counter as she pulled out ingredients.
"You don't have to watch me cook," Elena said.
"I like watching you."
Heat crept up her neck. "That's creepy."
"Is it?" He tilted his head.
"A little." She said, but she was smiling.
The next few days fell into a routine. Elena went back to work, and Pierce, being true to his word, backed off. Derek still shadowed her, but from enough distance that she could almost forget he was there.
Pierce was trying and she could see the effort it took him not to call every hour, not to question her every move. And she appreciated it more than she could say.
Thursday night came, and Elena came home exhausted from a twelve-hour shift to find Pierce at her table, laptop open, looking like hell.
"Had a rough day?" She dropped her bag.
"Something like that." He closed the laptop. "You?"
"I had three car accidents and a stabbing case. So yeah, pretty standard Thursday." Elena pulled off her jacket. "I need a shower like right now."
Pierce stood. "Need any help?"
Despite her exhaustion, heat moved through her. "Is that your way of saying you want to get me naked?"
"Is it working?" He smirked.
"Unfortunately yes." She groaned.
The shower started normal enough, with hot water, soap, the usual things. Elena tipped her head back under the spray, letting the heat work through her tired muscles.
Then Pierce's hands settled on her hips, pulling her back against him.
"I thought we were getting clean," Elena said, but her voice came out breathless.
"We are." His mouth found her neck, teeth grazing. "Eventually."
Elena's eyes fluttered closed as his hands slid up her sides, thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts. "Pierce You're distracting me,"
"Don't you like distractions." His hand slid down her stomach, and Elena gasped.
She turned in his arms, water running between them. "You're trouble."
"You like trouble." He said with a smirk.
"Only your kind of trouble."
Pierce smiled against her lips before kissing her, slow and thorough. Elena's hands slid up his chest, feeling his heartbeat under her palms.
They stayed like that after, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together, water cooling around them.
Eventually elena reached for actual shampoo with shaking hands.
"Now can we get clean?" she asked.
Pierce smiled,again. "Now we can get clean."
They did, this time. Pierce washed her hair with careful fingers. Elena traced the scars on his chest, the bullet wound she'd treated what felt like a lifetime ago.
When they finally got out, wrapped in towels and flushed from more than just hot water, Elena caught Pierce staring at her with that look again, intense and almost sad, like he was trying to memorize her face.
They ordered food and ate on the couch, Elena tucked against Pierce's side, Darrel purring on her lap. It felt good and normal.
Except Pierce was tense. She could feel it in the way he held himself, the way his jaw was tight even when he was trying to relax.
"You okay?" Elena asked.
"I'm fine, Elena." He said gently.
She wanted to push but his phone rang, cutting her off. Pierce looked at the screen and his whole demeanor changed, shoulders went stiff, eyes went cold.
"I need to take this." He stood, moving to the hallway.
Elena watched him go, that familiar knot forming in her stomach.
His voice was low but she caught pieces. "...how the fuck did they know?... No, only five people had that information... I don't give a shit, Marcus, find out who talked..."
Elena tried not to eavesdrop but failed completely.
"...someone on the inside..." Pierce's voice dropped dangerously low. "...I want to know by tomorrow... Check everyone..."
The call ended. Pierce just stood there, back to her, tensed as ever.
"Pierce?"
He turned, and for a split second before he hid it, Elena saw fury in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He came back but didn't sit, just stood there looking at her like he was trying to decide something.
"That sounded like the opposite of nothing."
"It's already been handled."
Elena set down her food. "You're shutting me out again."
"It's not about you..."
"Lies." She stood to face him. "Everything about your life is about me now. Or did you forget Rodrigo's guys following me around?"
Pierce's jaw clenched. "This is different."
"How?"
"Because it's internal." He said sharply. "My crew. My problem."
"What does that mean?"
Pierce ran a hand through his hair, looking away. "It means someone leaked information. Rodrigo knew exactly when and where to hit one of our shipments tonight. Only a handful of people knew the details."
Elena's stomach dropped. "You think someone in your organization is working with him?"
"I don't think. I know." His voice was ice cold. "I just don't know who yet."
"Jesus, Pierce. That's...." Elena couldn't find the words. "If someone you trust is betraying you..."
"I'm know."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because there's nothing to tell yet."
"That's not...." Elena took a breath. "If someone close to you is feeding Rodrigo information, that affects me too."
Something flickered in Pierce's eyes. "I know."
"Then talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about until I know who it is."
Elena stared at him, frustration building. "So you're just going to investigate your own people alone? Suspect everyone without saying anything?"
"Yes."
The words hung heavy between them.
Elena moved closer. "Let me help."
"You can't." Pierce said firmly.
"Why not?"
"Because this is my world. My responsibility." Pierce's eyes locked on hers. "And because I need you as far away from this shit as possible."
Elena reached for his hand. "We're in this together, remember? That's what we agreed."
"Not this. This is..." Pierce closed his eyes briefly. "Someone I trust is selling me out. Maybe multiple people. I don't know who to trust anymore."
"You can trust me." She said softly.
Pierce opened his eyes, looking at her with something that made her chest ache. "I know. You're the only one I'm sure of."
Elena squeezed his hand. "Then talk to me. Don't shut me out."
He was quiet for a long moment. Pierce looked at her, conflict written across his face. Like he was wrestling with something big.
"Pierce." Her voice was low. "Whatever it is, just tell me."
He opened his mouth then closed it, making the moment stretched.
Elena waited, her heart pounding, knowing whatever he was about to say would change things.
"I can't," he said finally. "Not yet. I'm sorry."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm scared of what happens when I do." His voice was raw. "I'm scared you'll look at me differently. That you'll realize..." He stopped.
"Realize what?"
Pierce pulled her close instead of answering, holding her tight. "Just... give me time. Please."
Elena wrapped her arms around him, feeling him shake slightly. Whatever he was hiding, it was eating him alive.
"Okay," she whispered against his chest. "But Pierce? Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Together."
He held her tighter, and Elena felt him nod against her hair.
They stayed like that, holding each other in the quiet apartment, both carrying secrets and fears they weren't ready to voice.