Protected by a Hero

by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne

  A nap in his bed though. Obviously he didn’t realize that would likely mean absolutely no sleep. She’d sooner get rest on the tile floor of his bathroom with towels as a pillow. The man did have heated floors in his bathroom, so that wouldn’t be a huge hardship.

  Lexi trailed her finger along the smooth wood headboard. Parker’s bed was so Parker. Dark sheets. Dark furniture. Big, strong, but somehow refined. The carved wood was sleek and inherently masculine. Powerful. His bedroom smelled slightly more of him, but his sheets… her hand slipped from the wood to smooth over the pillowcase and sheets.

  God. Her stomach flipped, and carefully, almost as if she were savoring the moment, she crawled onto the king-size mattress and fell into Egyptian cotton heaven, thread count a billion.

  There was no way she would get any sleep. Her pulse thundered in her throat, and even now, all alone, she didn’t feel as though she could take a deep breath. He’d been gone for twenty minutes at least, and her mind was still entirely focused on Parker. Whose clothes she wore, whose bed she was in, and whose kiss stayed on her lips. Lexi pressed her fingers to her lips. That had been the sweetest, deepest kiss of her whole life, and despite how he’d pulled from her, it was also one of the most empowering moments she could remember.

  Her phone buzzed.

  Parker: You’re not sleeping

  Lexi: How would you know

  Parker: Assumed

  Parker: Sleep…

  Lexi: I can’t if you keep texting me

  She couldn’t break the smile from her face. He was flirting with her while she lay in his bed. In what universe was this happening?

  Parker: Sleep yet?

  Lexi: Sigh. I’m trying

  Parker: Buzz me if you need anything

  Lexi: Thx 1.0E6

  Lexi: Sorry. Thanks a million. It’s a work thing. Never mind. Thx for tonight.

  Parker: Know what it means, sweetheart. Sleep.

  He was flirting with her. Holy shit. But what was her problem, slipping into Silver-headspace when she texted with him? Or maybe she was just becoming comfortable with who she was around Parker.

  “I was almost me tonight,” she whispered in the dark, Parker’s sheets pulled up to her neck.

  Her neck and cheeks heated. She was embarrassed by how weak she’d been with Matt, but the world felt full of possibilities just from how Parker made her feel. There was something between them, the kind of connection that made the air feel magnetic, as though it crackled and sparkled the closer they stood.

  Her stomach dropped again, despite lying flat on her back, and she smiled. Because she was lying flat on her back in Parker’s ginormous bed, and he’d set the groundwork for something more than just a kiss.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  A noise clanged, pulling Lexi out of her half-comatose dream. She rolled over, buried in everything that smelled like Parker. She sighed, shaking her head and trying to organize her thoughts. Had that been a doorbell?

  The green glow of his alarm clock read a little after nine. Hours had passed since she’d showed up at Parker’s. Her limbs were sore, and her face ached. She was bruised and beaten and all of her muscles hurt from Matt. Wait—a doorbell? She shot up in bed. Dread arrived hard and fast because somehow she knew, without a second thought, that Matt was there. Bacon rolled over and whined at the foot of the bed. Dogs always knew what was up, and that whimper said her ex was definitely there.

  What was she supposed to do?

  She started shaking. Matt would kill her. She was lying in his friend’s bed? In his clothes? Holy crap. His violent mood swings had been epic lately. But Parker would protect her. Hell, he wanted to shred Matt to pieces. So she was safe.

  The tiniest spring of relief tried to push into her mind. Parker would keep Matt away from her. She took a calming breath and quickly ducked down, burying herself in the pillows and comforter. Maybe her instinct was wrong, and it wasn’t Matt. Maybe Parker would lie and say he hadn’t seen her. Maybe Matt was risking life merely by approaching Parker. But the more she thought about Matt’s jealousy, the more she trembled.

  So what to do? Just stay in bed with Bacon? Or she could spy on their conversation. Just a bit of eavesdropping to see what was going on between the men. Anything was better than having a panic attack in Parker’s bed.

  “What do we do?” she asked the dog that had crawled up to her side.

  Bacon’s ear pricked up, pivoting as both ladies strained to hear anything. Lexi came up short, but her pup heard something. A low, protective growl came from the pudgy pooch.

  Carefully, Lexi crawled from underneath the protective cocoon of the sheets. Cool air heightened her senses, making her feel chilled even though she still wore Parker’s sweats. “Stay, girl.”

  But Bacon ignored her and jumped down.

  They inched toward the door together. Butterflies spun in her stomach as if she’d been drinking tequila on an empty stomach, and she grabbed Bacon to feel less queasy. Together, they cracked the door. Hard voices drifted up the stairs, but the words were lost.

  “Stay.” She pushed Bacon back inside the bedroom then crept closer to the stairs, hoping to hear exactly what the hateful mumbles were. Inches turned into feet, and she stopped at the corner. Their words drifted up the stairs.

  “Showing up here isn’t the answer,” Parker’s baritone boomed, making her slide just another foot closer.

  Matt’s anger resounded though mumbled, probably slurred, words that she couldn’t make out.

  “Not my problem.”

  What wasn’t Parker’s problem? Her? Matt? Their messy breakup? She had twenty questions, and they all revolved around her. Anger rushed through her veins. God, she was just so done. She had to have an empowering I’ve-taken-back-my-life moment, and this was it, even if there was a stronger likelihood that she would puke from nerves. Lexi stood on shaky legs, ready to confront him, and—what? Would she really tell Matt to leave?

  Yes. She’d say get out, that it was over, that he couldn’t hit her, hurt her, steal her thoughts for a moment longer. Lexi pushed past the corner, her heart rioting against her ribs, warning her to stop. But it was too late. She couldn’t stop even if she wanted to.

  Silver gave no fucks about the world, and she was her! Lexi gripped the handrail and forced her legs to take each step down. Her stomach soured. Adrenaline spiked into her blood, and a cold sweat broke out on neck.

  When she was three steps from the bottom of the stairs, the men’s conversation died. Both sets of eyes were on her, both men with vastly different looks on their faces.

  Matt’s was familiarly scary. Angry. Harsh lines that didn’t come from laughing creased around his eyes. His mouth, which she’d once found sweet, was snarled and rabid-looking.

  And Parker normally looked protective and handsome, but there was nothing sweet or sexy on his face now. His strong features were marred with protective concern.

  “Are you fuckin’ shittin’ me?” Matt growled, charging forward.

  Parker’s arm shot out and caught Matt across the chest. “Chill out.”

  “Fuck you, and your I’m-not-fuckin’-Lexi bullshit.”

  Lexi glanced down. Wearing Parker’s clothes didn’t do her any favors. “Matt, you have to go.”

  “Get your skank ass outside and in the—”

  “No.” She stood her ground and shook her head. “We can’t do this anymore. I’m done.”

  “Outside, Lexi.”

  She wasn’t breathing because this wasn’t working. What had she expected? If she walked out the door with him… bad, bad things would happen.

  “Please—” She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “I left. You knew I left because you forced me out. I don’t care if I see you or my things ever again. I have what I need. Let’s both walk away.”

  “Stupid fucking woman. Your things? The only things you care about are your stupid computer and that fat-ass dog.”

  “Time to go,” Parker interjected.

  “F
ine. Fuck it if I care. She’s a lazy fuckin’ screw anyway. You’ll see if you don’t already know, goddamn Judas.”

  His words… her molars grinded, her head exploding. She was so sick of this. God! Lexi shook her head, seething. Her fists bunched as she slammed her arms straight. “No one’s screwing me, but if they did, from here on out, they will have to have my permission! Now get out!”

  “Excuse me?” Parker growled, catching her eye then turning to Matt as though he was a hair away from strangling the guy.

  “Like you didn’t want it.” Matt exploded, and he dove at her, hands outstretched like a predator.

  Her body had been trained to react. Her forearms covered her face, her hands wrapped around the back of her head. She dropped and curled into a ball, awaiting the punches and kicks that would rain down on her.

  But nothing hurt her. The scuffle she heard didn’t touch her, and she blinked, surprised, and opened her eyes. Parker had Matt on the floor. When Matt looked ready to tap out or die, Parker dragged him toward the front door. With a quick move, like something out of the movies, Parker flung it open and lofted her ex through it, then slammed it shut. His gaze sliced to her. Their eyes locked, and he stalked over, his hand outstretched.

  “You okay, Lex?”

  Carefully, she unfolded herself and let him tug her up. They stayed connected at the hand for a minute until his hand came toward her face—not fast but apparently too quickly because she flinched. Hard. Then she cringed because Parker wouldn’t hurt her. A guy like him did nice, sweet things. He was strong and tough but had amazing intentions.

  “I think…” His jaw flexed in a beautifully pissed-off way. “That it’s time to talk.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Phiber had followed the man he assumed was Silver’s boyfriend, hoping to locate the woman. One day she never left the home, the next she was gone, and Phiber couldn’t think of a single hacker con she might have gone to. So he followed the guy from Silver’s house to this house, only to watch him come out flat on his ass. He’d literally been tossed out, and that guy wasn’t small. What was this? Days of Our Lives? Phiber shook his head, almost feeling bad. There was no question reject boy was drunk, angry, and had just been dumped.

  The question was how could this guy help him get what he needed? He watched reject boy climb his stumbling ass into the driver’s seat of the truck that had barely gotten him there alive. The truck’s engine revved, and the man hung out his driver’s side window, cursing at the house. Phiber opted to stay close to reject boy instead of snooping around Silver’s new location. He turned over his ignition and pulled out behind the truck.

  They swerved to the local dive bar, and reject boy parked his truck crooked across two parking spots. Asshole. Phiber parked in one spot like a decent human being and followed him in. There was no way, as drunk as the guy was, he would recognize Phiber from one passing encounter at the grocery store. The guy could barely think, evidenced by his turning on his right turn signal only to go left.

  The bar looked exactly as he would expect: sparse and crappy with a few folks who looked as though they hadn’t moved in days. Phiber sat on the stool next to reject boy and watched him slug back a beer.

  The bartender leaned over, wiped the counter, and threw down a napkin. “What’ll it be, son?”

  Phiber tilted his head. “Same as this guy.”

  Reject boy looked over, his eyes narrowing. “Do I know you? You look familiar.”

  Not too drunk to forget a fifteen-second encounter. “Not yet.”

  Whatever memory he had tried to grasp faded as he jerked back, swaying on the stool. “I’m no fag. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

  Phiber laughed. “Nah, man. I like pussy. No worries.”

  He nodded. “Right.” Then he killed the rest of his beer in a few gulps.

  Plan was to let him get even more sloshed, then siphon him for info and figure out if he knew where any of the parts of Monarch were or if Silver’s new location was permanent.

  “Got some woman problems to drink away,” he offered, hoping reject boy would take the bait.

  “Me too.”

  That was easy. The bartender put a cheap beer in front of Phiber. “Thanks, man.”

  “Tab?” he asked.

  “Yeah, a tab works.”

  “Another for me,” the man slurred.

  The bartender nodded. “Sure thing, Matt, long as you don’t cause a problem tonight.”

  “I never cause problems.”

  The dude had problems written all over him and needed a friend. Phiber held up his beer in toast. “I blame women.”

  Matt drunk-laughed. “Amen, my oriental friend.”

  “Not sure that’s the right word, asshole.”

  “Asian. Amen, my Asian motherfuckin’ friend. Cheers to fuckin’ stupid cunts. Let’s drink to that.”

  The guy would be a piece of cake. “Cheers.”

  They raised their beers, and Phiber took a long pull while Matt guzzled.

  “What’s wrong with your woman?” Phiber asked.

  Matt’s eyes hung at half-mast. “Computer girl found her nerd hero, and fuck them.”

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “Fuck ’em.”

  They drank and watched the sports replays on the hanging TV. Well, that actually bored the shit out of Phiber, but he didn’t want to rush the guy.

  When a commercial hit, Phiber bounced the bottle between his hands. “Computer girl for you? Can’t see it.”

  “Lexi… always got her nose in her computer. Playing games. Working.” He used air quotes around the last part.

  “She wasn’t?”

  “Hell if I know. But I do know that bitch fell face first into my boy’s lap. Damn nerd boy thinks he’s some kind of computer Mozart.”

  “I could use a new laptop. Get back at the girl. Sell her shit to me, make a couple bucks.” He reached for his pocket, ready to entice Matt with easy, revengeful cash.

  But Matt threw his head back. “You know what’s funny? She left her ring and took the computer. What kind of stupid woman does that?”

  Shit. The smart kind. “Where?”

  He shook his drunk head as though this all should be clear as day. “To the damn nerd’s place. Shit.”

  Phiber had gotten a glance at the guy who’d tossed Matt clean on his ass. The guy was a big dude, and he didn’t look anything like what Matt called him. If anything, Phiber was taking far more offense to nerd comments than the oriental one. Well, actually, fuck him for both.

  He needed to get back to where he’d come from. “Alrighty, buddy. Take it easy.” Matt nodded, and Phiber threw down a twenty while waving at the bartender. “Heading out.”

  Time to head back to Silver’s new place. His head pounded. Abducting someone wasn’t easy for him. He was nervous and trying to make it happen in a way that wouldn’t make him rot in hell. Grabbing Silver at the grocery store hadn’t been an overly fruitful idea. What, he was just going to sneak her out of the back of the store to his waiting car? Stalking her at home hadn’t yielded much. Honestly, abduction wasn’t his talent. But the Taskmaster said jump, so he was ready to try again.

  He climbed in his car and checked his bag. Laptop, a couple cells, chargers. Nothing to jimmy open a window. He might have a lock-picking kit in his glove box… maybe. He leaned over to check.

  “Shit, yes.” Phiber made the quick drive back.

  All the lights were on. He drove around the block a few times, but no lights went out. They weren’t going to bed. Then again, if Silver was face first in the guy’s lap, they’d be distracted. They’d fuck and pass out. Then he could grab the girl, right? Sneak in while they were occupied and just wait it out. Kind of creepy, but it was a solid plan.

  What if… Phiber pulled over and searched his bag for anything that might help. Score. A mini electro-jammer. Instant power outage. The happy fuckin’ couple could go to bed, do their distracted thing, and he could slip in. He’d grab whatever laptop looked like Silver’s
, which would be a bonus, and the girl when they were both passed out. Simple.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Time to talk? Oh boy. Lexi’s mind tumbled. “Um…”

  Parker moved around her, sliding his hand onto the small of her back. “Into the kitchen, sweetheart.”

  Silently, she let him guide her into place. Before she knew it, she was sitting at a table that held a dog-eared technology magazine while he wandered the kitchen—also known as the scene of their first kiss—doing who knew what. “Um…”

  “Beer, bourbon, or…” He opened the fridge and made a you’d-hate-it face. “Muscle milk.”

  “Um…”

  A half-smile curved his lips. “That’s about all I’ve got.”

  “Beer it is.” Which she could totally use right about now. “Thanks.”

  He pulled two longnecks from the fridge and made his way back to the table. He put one down, cracked it open, and slid it over for her. Parker flipped a chair around and straddled it. He opened his bottle then folded his forearms over the back of the chair. His fingers toyed with the two bottle caps, flipping them over in constant, dexterous motion. “I’ll start with what I know, and you fill in the blanks.”

  Biting her lip, she watched his gaze drop to her mouth. The butterflies swirled in her stomach, and her teeth released. No way could she talk about anything he wanted to know while her insides were doing the mamba. Mindlessly, she reached for her beer then gulped a sip while she tried to find the right words.

  “Matt’s a dick,” he offered.

  She snort-laughed, taking the beer away from her mouth, and giggled while slapping her other hand over her mouth.

  “Cute.” He grinned. “About time you laughed tonight.”

  “Yeah, super cute. All snorty and stuff.”

  But the laughter on his face faded away. “Your turn. Say something.”

  “Matt’s a dick. That pretty much sums it up.”