caring.â
Jackson went on the alert. âYou care?â What did she mean by that? Did he want her caring for him? Well, beyond the sexual, because he definitely wanted her to care about getting sexual with him again. Over and overâ
âOh, for the love ofâ¦â Unaware of his mental fumbling, Alani propped her hands on her hips. âYouâre the one who was drugged, so if anyone has reason to come unglued, itâd be you.â
Trace whistled low.
Dare looked up at the ceiling.
Alani glared at them both. âOh, stop it. If he can dish it out, he can take it, too.â
Jackson clenched his molars. âI have never come unglued. â
She waved a hand, dismissing his outrage as negligible. âIf I wasnât involved, if I wasnât part of the equation, what would the three of you be planning?â
âI donât know, because you are a part of it.â Jackson would remember that, even if she didnât. Losing all sense of discretion, he tipped up her chin. âAnd Iâm telling you right now, one way or another, youâll be removed from even the most remote possibility of danger.â
Her outraged gasp nearly choked her. âYouâre threatening me?â
âTo protect you?â He gave one sharp nod. âDamn right, darlinâ. Whatever it takes. And donât bother pouring that long wounded look on your brother, because he feels the same.â
Trace shrugged. âTold you it wouldnât be easy.â
Damn it! Heâd already known that Trace would try to talk her away from him, but now he had proof. âItâll be easy enough if you donât fight me.â
Alani took a step back, but not in fear. It looked more as if she braced to attack. âYouâre all being⦠idiotic! â
Jackson eyed her militant stance, crossed his arms and sighed. âI guess I had to see your not-so-sweet side sooner or later, huh?â
She fumed in silence for only a moment. âIf any of you would stop to think, youâd realize that Jackson needs to go back to his apartment so whoever was approaching him can find him again.â
Astute as well as stubborn. Jackson chewed the side of his mouth. He put his hands on his hips and glared at her.
âYou know Iâm right.â
He opened his mouth to set her straight and said, âMaybe.â
His agreement stole some of her indignation. âObviously youâll be more careful about what you drink now. Andâ¦wellâ¦â Her gaze avoided his. âYou probablyshouldnât sleep with any women since at this point, you donât know who to trust.â
Ah, a little jealousy. He grinned. âI know I can trust you.â
Turning to Trace, her voice a little high, a little shrill, she said, âIf he hides away with me, then whoever is responsible might just disappear and weâll never know who was behind this, or what he wanted.â
Jackson looked at Dare and Trace. They looked back. Jackson saw the same surprise on their faces that he felt.
Alani had nailed it. Remove her from the equation, and he definitely would have set himself up as a target to draw out the bastard.
âYou know itâs true,â Alani said. âAnd even if Jacksonâs okay with not knowing, I refuse to live that way.â
âSorry.â Trace crossed his arms over his chest. âFact is, you are in the middle of this, so weâll adjust.â
Stepping around Jackson, she appealed to her brother with a hand on his arm. âIâd rather know than wonder. Besides, you know the sooner we find out whatâs going on, the safer Iâll be.â
Jackson hated to admit she was right, butâ¦
âI have a suggestion,â Dare said, âif Alani will work with us a little on this.â
âHow so?â
âLet Jackson play watchdog for the night. That means the two of you staying here until Trace and I can scope out his place. If
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