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“Taken care of?” I echo. “A business associate? You work with tech nerds and pedantic publication houses. You run a legitimate conglomerate, not a mafia unit. Tell me everything, Brian. Now.”
“I was attacked.” He grimaces. “A few guys broke in and roughed me up. Zane and his men.”
Zane Myers. The vicious loan shark whom Brian suspected had killed his friend Bennett. I stare at Brian in dismay, taking in his split lip, black eye, and how he clutches his side.
“Zane Myers did this to you?” I ask, trying to piece everything together.
He nods.
“You know this for certain?”
“He was here,” says Brian. My hands fly to my mouth in shock.
“What?” I screech.
“He found out I’m messing around in his business, and let’s just say he wasn’t too happy.”
As Brian tells me everything about the investigation and how he helped Bennett’s widow and kid, things become more evident in my head.
We sit in silence as I absorb all this new information. “So, when did you eat last?” I ask.
“I had a bag of chips recently,” he says, shrugging in the direction of a half-eaten bag of Lays.
I shake my head. “That won’t do,” I say, getting up to go prepare him something remotely healthy.
Brian grabs me by my hand. “No, Tanya,” he says. “Stay, please. Don’t go.” His arms tighten around me. “Please. I don’t want to be alone right now.”
The raw vulnerability in his voice breaks my heart. I cradle his face in my hands, looking deep into his eyes. “Brian, you know I want to stay. But you’re hurt and need something healthier than chips to fuel your body for healing. I’ll be right back. I promise.”
He searches my face. “You promise?”
“I promise,” I vow solemnly. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”
Brian still looks unconvinced, so I seal my oath with a searing kiss. By the time we break apart, he seems mollified.
“Okay,” he says. “But don’t take too long, woman, or I’ll come find you.”
I laugh, kissing him again quickly. “Yes, sir. Now rest, before I have to tie you to that chair to make you sit still.”
The ghost of a smile flickers across his lips. “Kinky. I like it.”
Rolling my eyes, I extricate myself from his embrace and head for the door.
I pause as I exit, looking back to see Brian slumped in his chair with his eyes closed.
“I’ll be back soon,” I promise softly. And then I’m out the door.
I come back within twenty minutes, some soup and toast in hand. “Eat. You need your strength back,” I say as I set the tray down in front of him.
He obediently takes a few bites, then sets down the bowl with a grimace. “I’m sorry you had to see me like this.”
“Don’t be silly, that’s not something you need to apologize for,” I say. I don’t know what we are. Friends? Lovers? Whatever it is that we are, I know we’re made for each other to depend on. I watch in silence as he finishes his soup. Finally, I breach the topic that’s been running through my mind.
“So, Brian, I’ve been thinking,” I say gently. “You need to report him to the police.”
“No. I don’t need the police or anyone else involved.” His tone brooks no argument. “This is my problem to deal with. What would I tell them anyway? Zane would only come after me again. It’s better this way”
“It’s not better!” I cry. “You could’ve been killed! He might come back and have another go. He’s a dangerous criminal and needs to be stopped.”
