\[Denali’s POV\]
I watch Rosco’s expression as it changes from angry to downright enraged, and I can’t help but wonder what exactly Nadia had to say. Knowing her, she was clearly up to no good, but what could she say to make him look like that? I was both curious and hesitant.
“And if I say no?” He asks, then waits for a reply from the other end. “Fine. Send me the place.”
Finished speaking, he hangs up the phone and then looks at me with an unreadable expression before pulling me against him. Just from our bodies touching, I can feel everything he is, from angry to apprehensive, but the single emotion that sticks out the most is determination.
“What did she want?” I ask quietly, my curiosity winning out over my hesitance. “And how did she manage to break free of prison?”
“I don’t know,” he huffs, rubbing a hand across his face. “But she wants me to meet up with her.”
As he speaks, his phone goes off, and I’m sure it is a text with Nadia’s location. When Rosco’s eyes widen with shock and then he shoots me a look, I already have an idea of where she is.
“She’s here, isn’t she?” I ask. “Then isn’t it best if you meet with her?”
Once again, Rosco gives me an unreadable look before dialing someone and waiting for him to respond.
“Yo, Marty,” he announces the minute the one he is contacting answers. “I need a favor.” Growing quiet, he waits as Marty responds before continuing. “I have somewhere I need to go, but I don’t want to leave Denali alone.” Once again, he grows quiet, and by the look of frustration on his face, I know he isn’t happy with what he is hearing. “Don’t ask questions; just get your ass over here so that you can keep her company until I’m done.”
“I don’t need that,” I point out. “I’ll be fine…”
I don’t get to finish my words before Rosco lets out a growl of warning that stops any further argument.
“Get your ass here now,” he snarls to Marty when I remain silent. “You’ve got fifteen minutes.”
He doesn’t give Marty the chance to argue before he is hanging up and getting up so that his entire body is exposed, and a rush of desire rolls through me just from the sight.
Dammit, he was gorgeous, but I knew now wasn’t the time to act on my impulses, not when he was so on edge. Whatever it was that he was determined to do was important, and because of that, I wouldn’t argue anything.
As a long silence falls around us, Rosco slowly turns and fixes his dark gaze on me, and a look of questioning flashes in them. It is clear he wants me to question him about what is going on, but I simply give a small smile and shake my head.
“I trust you,” I remind him. “Just don’t get yourself into any trouble, okay?”
“I can’t promise that,” he counters. “But I promise to come back.”
“That’s all I ask for,” I sigh, feeling my heart give a squeeze. “And when you do, we will pick up where we left off.”
At my words, Rosco’s expression shifts, and I know that I’ve possibly awoken a monster, but before he can act on his desires, he stops and lets out a breath.
“Stay here,” he orders, turning and making his way to the bathroom, and when he emerges again, he is completely dressed. “It won’t be long.”
“Alright,” I beam. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
Nodding, he leans down and presses his mouth against mine, kissing me so deeply that it awakens my very soul along with my worry. He was kissing me like I would assume a soldier would kiss their lover before going into war. What in the world was Nadia planning that had him so on edge?
When he pulls away, our gazes remain locked, and it is only when a knock sounds from the door that he finally turns and heads out.
Collapsing against the pillows behind me, I listen to the soft rumbles of conversation until I can hear the door closing and know that Rosco is gone.
“Be safe,” I whisper, attempting to get comfortable but stopping as my stomach growls. “And until you return, I’ll make us a meal.”
I was sure that he would appreciate something like that after dealing with something so dangerous and heavy. It would also give me a good distraction so that I didn’t spend the entire day worrying.
After throwing on a t-shirt and a pair of sweats, I head out of the bedroom and find Mary sitting on the couch, flipping through the TV.
“Morning, mistress,” he chuckles as I pass. “I figured you would use this time to catch up on your sleep. I’m sure Rosco has been wearing you out.”
Flushing, I begin to make my way to the kitchen.
“I was hungry,” I explain. “Would you like something to eat?”
“Sure, I can eat,” Marty responds, getting up and following me. “But will your husband appreciate you feeding me? He may take my head for that.”
“He will be alright,” I assure him before beginning to hunt in the fridge for something simple to make. Once I’ve decided on pasta, I grab a pan and place it on the stove. “And there will be food here for him when he returns.”
“Right,” Marty agrees. “Any idea where he was going?”
Turning, I take in Marty’s curious expression, trying to gauge whether or not he is testing me to see if Rosco told me anything.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I didn’t ask, and he didn’t mention it.”
All I knew was that he was going to meet Nadia. What happened past that was beyond me.
“Wow,” Marty whistles. “Usually a woman would be all over her man if he was going somewhere in secret. It seems Rosco really got a catch.”
Shivering, I continue to take Marty in. I didn’t quite understand why, but something about him seemed off, but I couldn’t quite place my finger on it, and before I could think too hard about what it could be, another knock sounds from the door.
“Think he forgot something?” Marty mutters, heading into the living room so that I’m left alone in the kitchen on high alert. “Hel…”
He doesn’t get to finish his words before the sound of a gun going off echoes around the apartment, followed by a loud thud, and as two men with weapons raised rush me, I grab a knife and brace myself.