Chapter TWENTY-THREE
Her tone changed the instant Jagger left the room.
“Oh thank God, I feared you actually had fallen for him.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You said he blindfolded you. I needed to make sure we’d get the location.”
“So you got it. Why are you here?” She continued to push for his answer.
David played with his response. Why did he show up at the warehouse? There was no real reason for him to be there until Britton called the raid. He sighed, knowing the real reason he had come. He had already admitted it.
“I needed to make sure he was treating you all right.”
“You’re kidding me right? I thought we talked about this.”
“And yet you keep showing up with new bruises.”
“Don’t…I bruise easily. Believe me, I would take him out before he could ever really hurt me.” She wasn’t sure how much truth was in that statement, but at the time, it made sense.
“I know, but Britton, I couldn’t help it. I was sick with worry.”
She dropped her head and ran her fingers through her hair. “Here, let me untie you.”
She pulled at the knot, allowing his wrists to breathe. She rolled the course cords in her hands. It was the same rope Jagger had used to tie her up in the casino hotel room. It had only been a few days, but so much had happened since their first encounter. She looked at her wrists. The bruises were fading and the scrapes had turned to faint markings. Jagger was a jealous man, but only because of his love for her. He had waited so long for her return to him. He had protected her, took care of her family, and killed for her. And the entire time, she had no idea. Of course she loved him. How could she not?
And now he was changing. He sacrificed his reputation for her. He chose not to punish someone who, a week earlier, he would've undoubtedly killed without a second thought. He did it for her. She quietly laughed at the thought.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes. There you go.” She stood up and tossed the ropes to the floor.
“Come with me.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not finished here.” The truth was that she still hadn’t decided what she was going to do. She had all the information she needed to arrest him. Now she was just stalling. Now she had another reason to stall.
“Britton, I don’t know what’s happening here, but I need to get you out. It’s becoming too much for you.”
“No it’s not.”
Either she wasn’t seeing it, or she was hiding something from him. He decided to play the only card he had left. “As your supervisor, I’m calling off the operation.”
“David. Please, no.” She begged of him. “I’ve been working so hard for years. Please don’t take this away from me.” And yet all she could think was, please don’t take Jagger away from me.
“I have to. This isn’t working.”
Britton began to defend herself, but stopped suddenly. If he called it off now, Jagger would be safe from a prison sentence. They wouldn’t have any evidence to hold him. Should she take the high road and let her love live his life? Was she willing to sacrifice everything she had built, all the feelings that had been stirring inside her since she was reintroduced to Jagger Stromm? And what about Dominic?
If she left now, her brother, sister-in-law and nephew would also be safe. Maybe this was the right decision. It was painful, but Jagger had sacrificed so much for her, now it was her turn to do the same. She found herself thinking that maybe in another ten years their paths will cross again, and they’ll be able to laugh about the time she almost arrested him. If only…
“Okay.”
“Then we can drop this?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Thank you.” David stepped in, drawn to hug her. He slid his arms under hers and lifted her body to his. He felt soft sobs, and pulled her closer, allowing their cheeks to touch. She was warm, and soft, so soft. Her hair smelled of chestnuts and he forced himself to resist the urge to nip at her ear that delicately lay at his lips. As her cries deepened, she clasped the back of his shirt between her fingers. David felt her nails grace his back, and it sent a chill up his spine, causing him to harden with desire. He lightly kissed her cheek, convincing himself that it was an acceptable act.
She allowed her tears to flow, only causing her to clutch tighter to his yearning body. He rested another kiss on her cheek, this time inching his way to her lips. She didn’t stop him, only pulled her face away to wipe the tears from her lashes. Their eyes met, and David couldn’t help himself. He flexed his arms and pulled her into him, meeting his mouth to hers. It was his moment of ecstasy, an answer to the dream that had been haunting him since the day in the terrycloth towel.
Britton quickly pushed him away, shaken from her state of loss. “What are you doing?”
“I…” he stuttered. “Oh.”
“David, no.”
“I thought.”
Britton turned to run to the door.
“Britton, wait. I’m sorry.”
He followed closely behind, meeting her as she threw open the heavy door. She stopped dead in her tracks, and David’s momentum crashed into her.
“Agent Howard, what are you doing here?” Hank could not hide his shock.
“Agent Howard?” Jagger questioned, looking to Britton and David. He stared at David; his thoughts clear to everyone around him. His eyes bounced back to Britton.
Britton saw the realization hit him. His face twisted as though he'd been punched in the gut. It wasn’t his normal display of anger; his jaw wasn't clenched and his muscles weren’t flexed with tension. He was completely defeated, weighed down...Jagger was heartbroken.