Protecting Piper

by Cynthia Eden

  Bitter laughter. “And you think she wants you?”

  He certainly wanted her.

  “I’ve seen you with women. You never stay with them. It’s fleeting. Everything is fleeting with you.” Ben shook his head. “Piper isn’t like that. Don’t you see? She’s scared. She’s been scared ever since her dad left. She doesn’t know what it is to be with someone that she can truly trust. She needs that, more than anything. She needs a lover that she can count on to be there.”

  “I will be there for her.”

  “You’ve never been there for any of your other lovers!” The machines gave a fast beep, beep, beep. “I’m supposed to believe Piper is different? When you’ve made her life hell for so many years?”

  Eric stalked toward the bed. “You’re injured. You’re hurting. And you’re on a lot of drugs. So, I’m taking your anger, but be careful what you say—”

  “Piper fucked you.”

  Eric locked his back teeth.

  “She said it just happened. What—was it the first night you had her at your place?”

  He didn’t say a word.

  “The second night? Hell, it was, right? The second. I can see it on your face. She just fell into your bed and—”

  “Be careful what you say.” His words were low and lethal. “Because this is Piper, and she matters to us both, and when you cool down, you don’t want to regret the things you can’t take back.”

  “Like you can’t take back sleeping with my best friend! Mine, not yours! Dammit, Piper was never supposed to be yours. She’s too fucking good for you!”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” Again, his voice was low.

  Ben blinked.

  “I thought you wanted Piper, Ben. I thought—for years—that the two of you would wind up together. So I stood back. I played the role of the dick—yeah, that shit was deliberate, because when you can’t have the one thing you want most, then you need to push it away. You need to get that temptation gone.”

  Surprise flashed on Ben’s face. “You…what?”

  “I couldn’t have her. I thought she was meant for you. That the two of you would stop playing your games and you’d get married, and one day, I’d have to see your kids.” The pain knifed through him. “You know what? I knew I’d fucking love those kids because they were part of you and they were part of her and I—” He stopped, flattening his lips together. His heart pounded in a too-fast drum beat. “I waited. I made sure I didn’t overstep. The person I wanted most was right in front of me, but I didn’t so much as touch her, and I made sure she didn’t want to touch me.”

  Or…at least…he’d tried. He’d been the dick, the asshole, over and over…and now he was trying his best to show Piper that he was more. That he could be so much more for her.

  Only time was running out. A psycho was out there, a man who wanted to kill.

  A man who was already at the edge. No, over the edge.

  Eric forced his hands to unclench. “I waited. You and Piper didn’t get together, and then, a few days ago, you called me to her house. A stalker was after her. She was in danger. I’d been waiting—waiting all that time…and I could lose her to some sick SOB? No, not happening. I was done waiting. I was done holding back. If you wanted her that way, you should have manned the hell up sooner.” Eric gave a fierce shake of his head. “I should have stepped up sooner. You see, I don’t care if it pisses you off. I don’t care if you’re furious at me. I want Piper. By the grace of God, she seems to want me, too. I intend to have her for as long as she’ll let me.”

  Ben gaped at him.

  Eric lifted his hand and pointed his index finger at his brother. “But you don’t get to look at her like she’s some kind of villain. You don’t get to hurt her. You’re mad, fine, be mad at me. Yell at me. Curse me. When you’re back on your feet, you can even try to kick my ass. Fair warning, you’ll fail. Because you always do. But you can try.” His hand dropped. “But you can’t take out any rage or hurt on her. I won’t let you. I’ll stand between her and any pain out there. I’ll stand between her and…” He shrugged. “Everything.”

  “Why?” Ben’s question seemed strangled.

  Eric lifted his eyebrows. “You’re a smart guy, bro. Graduated at the top of your law class. Don’t you know the answer to that question?”

  Ben shook his head. But his eyes said…yeah, he knew. “It’s not just sex.”

  “It’s Piper.” That was all that needed to be said. “Watch your mouth and watch your eyes. Don’t look at her with fury again. No one hurts her, not even you.”

  Ben’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t…dammit, I can barely think.” His eyes squeezed shut.

  Eric stared at his little brother. “You’re going to be protected. I’ll keep my guards on you. He won’t get another chance to come at you.”

  Ben’s eyes opened, and he gave a slow, negative shake of his head. “It’s not me that he’s…gonna want.”

  Piper.

  “It’s…you.” Fear flashed in Ben’s eyes. “He wanted to destroy her lover. It’s not me. It’s you. He—he knows that now. He’ll be coming after you.”

  Good. That was exactly what Eric wanted.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “One of Ben’s neighbors saw the guy running away. He jumped on a motorcycle. The ride was abandoned later. It was listed as stolen about two weeks ago, and since the neighbor who saw the fellow said the perp was wearing gloves…” Simon sighed out a long breath. “I’m not exactly thinking we’re going to find prints on the ride.”

  Piper made sure her tears were gone before she turned to face Simon. “What else did the neighbor say about the guy?”

  “She said he was tall. Fit. That he rushed out, holding his gloved hand to his chest.” He gave her a satisfied smile. “That would be because Ben stabbed the bastard. Thanks to Ben, it seems like it’s gonna be pretty easy to narrow down our suspects. We just need to line up all of your exes and see which one of them is sporting a knife wound to the chest.”

  A nurse walked past them. He paused to frown at Simon.

  “What?” Simon frowned right back at him.

  She grabbed Simon’s arm and pulled him to the side of the hallway. “My exes? You still think one of them did this?” One of her exes was dead!

  “I think it, and so does Detective Lopez. She’s rounding them up and questioning them all. And, hey, if it’s not them, then they still get a head’s up from the cops that they could be in danger.”

  In danger…just because they knew her.

  His gaze had gone all cold and hard. “And if it is one of them, then the bastard will get nailed.”

  “I want to help. I want to be there.” Her hold tightened on him. “Is she bringing them into interrogation? Can I go in, too?”

  He blinked. “Uh, that’s not how it usually works, and you might want to lighten the death grip before you cut off my circulation.”

  She didn’t lighten her grip. “Then tell me how it works. Or better yet, let’s change how it works. Because sitting back isn’t working for me. What happened with my email? Did we find out who really sent the note to Grady?”

  “I think Lopez is finally going to let Eric take a crack at your laptop. About damn time.”

  Okay, yes, that was something. That was good. That was progress.

  The door to Ben’s room opened behind her. She heard the very distinct swish sound, and her shoulders stiffened.

  “Piper.” Eric’s deep voice rumbled and chill bumps popped up on her body. “We need to talk.”

  Simon pried her fingers off his arm. “And I want to go inside and check on Ben.” He gave a little salute to Eric. “Let me know when you’re ready to head down to the station.” Then he motioned toward a guy in a suit who waited just a few feet away. The guy had been trying—unsuccessfully—to blend into the white, hospital wall. “Maurice will keep an eye on Ben. He’ll make sure no unwanted visitors get anywhere near your brother.”

  Piper was pretty sure she fell
into the unwanted visitor category. Ben had almost looked at her as if he hated her. He’d never stared at her with so much fury before.

  Simon hurried to the hospital room. He shoved the door open. “Ben, you look like shit.”

  The door closed.

  Piper rocked onto the balls of her feet as Eric closed the distance between them. Her mouth seemed to go dry, and she didn’t know what to say.

  “I’m going to the station.”

  Okay. He knew what to say. Immediately, she nodded. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Piper—”

  “Seriously? Do not argue with me. I’m coming with you. Ben doesn’t want me here with him. That much is obvious.” Obvious to everyone.

  The faint lines near his mouth deepened. “Ben is floating on pain meds. He doesn’t know what the hell he was saying.”

  Ben knew exactly what he’d said. “I know him, and I know when he needs space to cool down.” She also didn’t want to get flayed by his blue stare right then. “I have to do something. Simon was just telling me that you are going to get access to my computer.”

  He pulled out his phone. Scanned the texts there. “Yours and Grady’s. Lopez worked some magic with her chief and I’m being pulled in as a consult. I’m supposed to assist the PD’s tech team…” A pause. “While she’s working interrogations.”

  “Yeah.” She licked her lower lip. “Simon told me about those, too. All the more reason for me to be at the station.”

  He didn’t look convinced. “If one of those guys is the perp, all the more reason for you to be far away from the station.”

  She closed the last bit of distance between them. Her hands rose to press to his chest. “I feel safer when I’m with you.” That was the truth. She actually did. But she was also playing him, just a wee bit, because she was scared out of her mind. She wanted to stay close to him because she thought he was in danger. He’d waved a red flag at the freaking insane bull. He’d told the psycho out there that he was her lover.

  Now Eric was the next target. And that was why she wasn’t leaving Eric alone. She was staying close to him. She might not be some trained security expect. Not even semi-trained, but, dammit, she was going to do everything possible to keep him safe.

  And that meant making sure he wasn’t alone.

  He took her hand in his. “Come on.”

  As he headed down the hospital corridor, she hurried to keep up with him. They slid into an elevator, and he pressed the button for the ground floor.

  “I know what you’re doing,” Eric murmured.

  “Riding in an elevator?”

  His lips thinned. “I don’t need you to watch out for me.”

  Her chin kicked up. “Did you ever think that I just need to watch you? I mean, you want to keep me safe.”

  “Security is my business. My life.”

  “And you’re—” Wait, no, not the time for some big, dramatic confession. “You’re important to me.” She’d toned it down. Kept her cool. “I need to know you’re safe. I heard what you told the guy on the phone.” And she paused. “Was there…anything about his voice that stood out to you?”

  “Not a damn thing. He was whispering. Deliberately disguising his voice when he spoke to me.”

  Now that had her stomach clenching. “If he was disguising his voice, then does that mean he thought you’d recognize it otherwise?”

  “Maybe. Or maybe he’s just a freak who likes to whisper.” The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. They stepped into the parking garage. The cavernous interior had his voice echoing.

  He surveyed the garage. She knew he was looking for potential threats. She was doing the exact same thing. She’d always tried to be careful. What woman didn’t? Situational awareness was pretty much female survival 101. She always glanced around when she was in a parking garage or just a parking lot. She made note of where other people were. Made sure no one was lingering by her car. And she checked to see if anyone was paying too much attention to her. When she was alone, she approached her car with her keys at the ready, no fumbling with her bag because she didn’t want to be caught unaware.

  And she even knew some self-defense. It had been Eric who had taught her how to defend herself. Eric who’d been a growling but patient instructor because he’d insisted she learn to fight before she headed off to college. Because… “Guys get handsy. So you have to know how to break their hands.”

  He opened the passenger door for her. She slid inside, her body brushing lightly against his, and she heard the sharp inhale of his breath.

  It was good to know that she had a powerful impact on him. Only fair, considering the way he could make her feel. She remained silent while he got in the car, and then they were driving out of the garage.

  “I’m sorry Ben was pulled into this mess.” Her hands twisted in her lap. When she’d ridden in the ambulance with Ben, she’d been absolutely terrified. She’d held tightly to his hand and seen the blood pouring from his nose. And the gash on his forehead had seemed huge.

  “I’m sorry Ben hurt you.” His gaze slanted toward her before immediately returning to the road. “He doesn’t get to tell you who to see or who to sleep with.”

  “Guess the secret is out, huh?”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I bet you don’t keep a lot of things from your brother.”

  “I keep more than you realize from him. For example, he had no clue that I’ve been lusting after you since I was seventeen.”

  He’d been— “That long?” she mumbled.

  “Probably longer, if you want the truth. And you have starred in one hell of a lot of fantasies for me.”

  He’d sure been in plenty of hers, too. But… “I don’t want to put you at risk.”

  “Piper?”

  “Being my lover—it’s a lethal business right now. I think it would be better…” Say it. Spit out the words. She had to do this. “I think it would be better if we cooled things off. I don’t need to stay at your place any longer. I can stay at a hotel.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  Uh, no. “I think it’s a good idea. We need to cool down—”

  His hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Cool is the last thing I’m feeling right now,” he muttered.

  Yes, she could see that. Tension practically poured from him and his locked jaw. “It’s better this way.”

  “Not for me. The only thing that is better for me is to have you in my house and in my bed.”

  It was a little hard to breathe. Her heart was double-timing a rhythm. “It’s safer. If we sleep separately—as in completely different locations—this guy might get the idea that we aren’t together and—”

  “Fuck that. Let’s back up.” His breath heaved. “You want to be away from me because you think it will protect me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not because you don’t want me any longer?”

  Not want him? “I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.” They should be clear about this. No games. No pretenses. She’d never been the player type. “I risked my lifelong friendship with Ben because I wanted you so much. This isn’t some fleeting desire that will just vanish.”

  Her words had come out too fast and probably too high, but she was nervous. Scared. Scared of the stalker. Scared of losing Eric. Scared of someone else getting hurt. She pulled on her ear lobe.

  “Good.” A rumble of satisfaction came from him. “Because I can’t imagine not wanting you.”

  She sucked in a breath. Let it out. Sucked in another. “Have I ever told you that when you say nice things, it makes me nervous?”

  “It’s because I spent too many years being an asshole. I want to make you forget that.” The car stopped. He turned to look at her. “You are beautiful and smart and funny. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met, and I don’t plan to let you go.”

  She didn’t want to let him go, either. “You are handsome and smart, and I think you’re funny when you don’t mean to be.”
>
  His lips quirked.

  “You are by far the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and you are an incredible lover.”

  His eyes gleamed…

  “But I like you alive. I don’t want to put any extra risk on you or shove danger toward you, so if it’s better for me to be in a hotel—”

  “It’s not.” Flat. Hard. “I’ve got this. My team has this. Hell, a team has been following us since we left the hospital’s parking garage. I have them watching you always. If he comes at us, he will be stopped.” Eric reached for her hand. “I’m not about to lose you.”

  Good because she didn’t want to lose him. Not now. Not ever.

  And that was another truth that was pretty terrifying.

  ***

  His fingers flew over the keyboard. When Eric got in the zone, Piper realized that he was well and truly in the zone. They were at the police station, in one of the back rooms, and several of the PD’s tech members were hovered around him. They barked questions at one another. And they drank coffee—a lot of it. Time had flown by. Morning had come, and the harsh light trickled through the nearby blinds.

  She watched, she listened, and she wished that she was in the interrogation room with Detective Lopez. Earlier, she’d caught a glimpse of Mark as he arrived at the station. He’d been wearing a leather coat, a black t-shirt, and battered jeans. He’d smiled when he’d seen her—she’d been heading back from the vending machine area—but then Detective Lopez had pushed him toward interrogation.

  Mark had lost his smile.

  He’s a suspect or a would-be victim. All because he had the misfortune to date her.

  Her gaze darted to the door, and as if on cue, it swung open.

  Detective Lopez stood there. Her eyebrows lowered over her narrowed eyes. “Any progress yet?”

  Eric didn’t glance up from the computers around him.

  “You can’t rush perfection,” one of the techs muttered.

  Lopez rolled her eyes—and then her gaze settled on Piper. “We need to talk.”

  Piper looked over her shoulder. No one was hiding back there. The detective meant her.