She shook in his embrace. “I know I should, but I . . .”
“You’re not doing it,” he said firmly.
“I’m not?” Relief flooded her even as she told herself not to be a coward. “But I should, shouldn’t I?”
“Definitely not.” He scowled at her. “Do you seriously think that I would allow you to go anywhere near him? Not just that, but if the Devil’s Sinners found out why you were there, what do you think they would do to you?”
She blanched at the thought. “But is it my duty to help?”
“This isn’t your problem, baby. This task force can do their job, I’ll do mine. Which is to take care of you. I’m in c
harge when it comes to safety and I’ve already said no. You can call me bossy and overbearing and domineering, I don’t care. As long as you’re safe and in my arms, that’s what’s important. You’re not doing this. And you’re not to feel guilty. This is all on my shoulders.”
Having him take away any choice was actually a relief. That guilt for not helping disappeared.
Because she had no choice. He was in charge of this. It was his decision.
“Okay, Daddy,” she told him.
He kissed her. “That’s my good girl. Now, you want to explain why there are googly eyes everywhere?”
35
Linc came awake with a start as his shoulder was shaken. There was someone looming over him. He let out a shout and shoved himself up out of bed, ready to defend Marisol.
Tiger.
Tiger had found her.
The person moved back and turned on the light, right as Marisol cried out in fear. Linc dove forward, on the attack, just managing to bring himself to a stop as he saw who was there.
“Fuck! Zander! What the hell! What are you doing in here? It’s the fucking middle of the night!”
“I’m well aware,” Zander replied calmly. The big man had his arms crossed over his chest. He stared over at Marisol then back to him. “I believe Marisol is scared.”
“Jesus, of course she’s fucking scared.” Linc stormed back to Marisol, who was clutching the sheet to her chest. She was only wearing a see-through nightgown. Her breath was coming in sharp pants and it was easy to see she was on the verge of a panic attack.
He leaned in, kneeling on the bed to cup her face. “It’s okay, baby. Just breathe. Breathe in, hold, one, two, three then out, one, two, three. Good girl. And again. For God’s sake, Zander, have you ever heard or calling or knocking?”
“It’s the middle of the night. I didn’t think you’d answer.”
“Because we were asleep. Good girl. Just breathe.”
“I thought it was T-tiger,” she managed to say.
“If it was, Linc would likely be dead,” Zander told her.
“Oh God,” she moaned.
“Zander! Shit! Shut up. You’re scaring her.”
“I didn’t mean to scare her,” Zander said awkwardly. “I was trying not to scare her.”
“By breaking in?”
“You have no security on your cabin.”
“The door was locked.”