Protector: The Elect, Book 1 by Loribelle Hunt Page B

about painting in the morning light.”
    Mallory didn’t say anything as she scribbled down what Esme said. “Does anyone have visitors?”
    Esme arched an eyebrow. “You mean the overnight kind?”
    “Any kind,” Mallory said. “Regulars?”
    “The judge’s kids visit him. My brother and nephew. The others have a bunch of friends, but I couldn’t tell you names.”
    It was quiet for several long seconds. “So what happened?” Esme asked.
    “It looks like a kitchen fire. It started in your friend Star’s apartment and spread through the rest of the building. Her turpentine supply probably accelerated it.”
    “You don’t sound convinced. What did Star say?” she asked suspiciously.
    “She says she was asleep when the fire started. The stove knobs were all on when the scene was investigated.”
    “So it was intentional,” Esme said softly.
    “Could have been,” Mallory said. “Or it could have been an accident your neighbor doesn’t want to admit to.”
    “But why? If it was an accident?”
    Mallory shrugged. “People do weird things. If you figure out why, let me know.”
    They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Aaron answered, spoke softly to whoever was on the other side, and sent the messenger on his way. When he returned he handed Brax a small plastic bag. Esme stepped closer to see the small object inside. It was square, flat, and less than half an inch square.  
    “That’s a tracker?” she asked, curious but unconvinced. Surely something that small couldn’t do what he claimed.
    “Not only is this baby not on the market yet, but we have no idea who made it,” Aaron told her. He looked at his brother. “You have better resources and a much bigger budget than I do. Maybe you can find out something.”
    Brax folded the baggie up and put it in the purse Esme had slung over her shoulder. “Where did you find it?” he asked.
    Aaron snorted. “That’s the interesting part. It was wrapped under the car antenna. The tech thought it was tape at first. It’s really ingenious,” he said admiringly. “The Elect could use this kind of technology.”
    Brax didn’t look as excited as Aaron, though. He had paled and his eyes were dark, filled with worry. “You’d need deep pockets for this.”
    “Yeah.” His brother sobered instantly and shifted his gaze to Mallory a moment before returning to Brax. “Be careful.”
     

Chapter Seven
    Brax didn’t say a word when they left and started the drive home. He had no idea what to say or even think. He’d never felt helpless before and he didn’t like it one fucking bit. Mason and Carter would check the local sellers for tracking devices and try to find the buyer, but Brax doubted they’d find anything. It wasn’t a model he’d seen before, wasn’t common or cheap.  
    That wasn’t why he remained quiet, though. He didn’t trust himself. If he looked at her, if he spoke to her, he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to find a secluded dirt road, strip her and prove to himself that she was okay. He’d never allow her to be in such danger again.  
    “The silent treatment isn’t helping,” she mumbled when they pulled onto the highway.
    His hands clenched around the wheel until his knuckles popped. “Unless you’ve decided getting naked and making out in a car like a couple of teenagers is a good idea, silence is the only option.”  
    He felt her shock, her disbelief at his statement, wrap around him, but it was the surge of arousal, hot and sweet and only for him that made him groan. “I mean it, Esme. Get it under control.”  
    He glanced over to see her lace her fingers together and place them in her lap. “I don’t know if I can. What the hell have you done to me?”
    Wrong time, definitely wrong place, but it didn’t matter. That hint of confused acceptance was irresistible. And he knew just the place to go, a little-used section of the compound’s property but much closer than the main gate and house. Two miles