Ajax’s eyebrows rose but he didn’t say anything. Fuck. Fuck. Seemed the ship had sailed on denying she was a sub.
“Well, at least she doesn’t lie to everyone,” Connor said.
She looked over to find he was leaning back against Ajax’s desk, facing them.
“I don’t know you,” she told him. Crap. Why did she feel the need to explain?
Connor tilted his head to one side. “And I’m betting you don’t trust easily.”
“But you trust me, don’t you, Ria?” Ajax asked in a gentle voice. He reached out and tilted her chin up. “Who did this?”
“Sophie’s ex,” she explained.
His jaw tightened further. Sparks of anger shooting from his gaze. She’d noticed the way he often watched Sophie.
“Is Sophie injured? That’s why she’s not here?” he spat out. “Ria?”
“He hurt her arm. It’s not broken but it’s in a sling and the doctor doesn’t want her to use it for a couple of days.”
“Is that all?”
“No, she’s got a big bruise on her face where he hit her. Some other bruising on her body. She’s-she’s shaken.”
So was Ria. But she forced herself to push that aside. She wasn’t what was important right now. Sophie was.
“That motherfucking bastard, I’m gonna kill him. Her ex?”
“Yeah.”
Her gaze widened as Ajax let her go and stormed over to his desk. “Why didn’t you tell me she was injured? Why lie and say she was sick?”
“She didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Wasn’t her call to make. She works here. I need to know when she is in trouble, otherwise how am I supposed to protect her?”
Ria straightened her shoulders. “I’m protecting her.”
“Great job you’re doing.”
It was a direct blow. She tried not to let it show it affected her, but Connor moved over to stand next to her.
“Easy, Ajax, it’s not her fault this happened.” His voice held a cold note of warning and she looked up at him in surprise. Somehow, she hadn’t expected him to come out defending her. She thought he’d be right there with Ajax, berating her. Telling her she wasn’t enough. Not good enough. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough.
She shoved those thoughts back.
Ajax pulled his keys out of his drawer then he unlocked a safe behind him and pulled out a gun. Connor stiffened beside her.
“What are you doing?” Ria asked. She didn’t think it was a good sign that Ajax had gone for his gun.
“I’m going to visit Sophie and I’m going to be prepared if that fucker shows up.”
“Taking a gun isn’t a good idea,” Connor cautioned. “You kill him and you’re going to leave one hell of a mess. And I don’t know any good cleaners around here.”
Cleaners? She gaped up at him. Was he for real?
Of course, she wouldn’t actually be sad to see someone put a bullet in Jerry. But she didn’t want Ajax to go to jail for killing him.
“Fine. I’ll make sure he’s standing on fucking tile when I shoot him, all right?” Ajax rumbled.