Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

catapulting him off a deadly edge of rage. Tony’s words had struck him in the heart at the thought of something happening to his baby sister.
    He needed to know what was going on.
    Now.
    As the voice of reason, Liz pushed forward. “This isn’t the place to discuss this.”
    Sal started to speak, but Liz held up her hand, silencing him. “I said. Not. Here.”
    Bella took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves but couldn’t stop shaking. She felt drained. “Sal, I need to…we have to talk.” She couldn’t look him in the eye. “I’m going to go back to my apartment. If you can come over, we can talk there.”
    “You’re damn right I’m coming over. Let’s go. Mac, get your fucking hands off her.” Sal growled.
    Jason just ignored him and kept his arm around Bella. “I’m going with you,” Jason said softly, which brought Bella’s frightened eyes flying up to his face.
    “The hell you are!” the brothers snarled in unison.
    Jason kept his voice calm, using a soothing tone, afraid that he would frighten further. “If you are in some sort of trouble, love, I need to know about it.”
    “You don’t need to know jack shit,” Tony spit out harshly.
    “Yes I do. Since I plan to be spending a lot of time with Bella, I should know.”
    Bella was speechless. She watched the four large men face off, not knowing what to think, not able to move.
    “Your sister is with me now. I should be there for this conversation if there are things I need to know.”
    “With you? If you fuck with her, let me tell you something, I will bury you. You want to toy with her, then the three of us will put you in the ground. You won’t be using Bella as your playmate of the week,” Sal raged.
    “Enough,” Jason roared. Impossible though it seemed, Sal’s scowl softened in surprise as Jason snarled back. “Don’t you ever talk about her like that!”
    This was the first time that any of them had actually seen Jason’s rage. It sparked off him like volts of electricity. “You may be her brother, but I will still beat you senseless if you ever talk about her like that again. I’m in her life whether you like it or not. She was already in my bed, and I plan to keep her there.”
    “The hell she was!” the three Moretti brothers shouted at once as Bella moaned in distress, burying her face in Jason’s chest. Jason’s muscles flexed under her hand as he readied himself for action.
    “Hey! Stop it,” Liz cried out, stepping in the line of fire. “All of this testosterone is just going to make things worse for Bella. Don’t you jerks even see that? You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
    She pushed to stand beside Bella, noting with a bit of satisfaction that Jason’s arm was still around her, holding her close as if trying to protect her. “Sweetie, let’s go back to your place, okay? We can all talk there.”
    Bella nodded weakly. Liz tried to pull Bella forward away from Jason, but Jason still wouldn’t release her. Liz glared back at him. “Listen, she doesn’t need this right now.” Her voice gentled as she noticed the way Jason embraced Bella in his protective hold, his body unconsciously curling down around her. “We need to get out of here.”
    Before anyone else could speak, she blasted the others with icy fury. Her voice low and seething in anger, “Don’t any of you dare say anything else. You can stay here and continue arguing, but I’m taking Bella home. Meet us there if you want. I don’t really care, but you will not upset her anymore .”
    Bella looked up at Jason, whispering with pleading eyes, “Please, I…I want to go home.”
    Jason looked down into Bella’s frighten eyes. He transferred his grip to clasp her fragile hand in his. “I’m coming with you,” he said once more, his voice soft but unyielding. After a moment Bella’s head jerked in a nod. He squeezed her hand, telling her without words that he was pleased before finally releasing her.
    Liz gripped Bella’s cold hand in hers and swept past, leaving the men to follow in their wake.

Chapter Nine
     
    They had assembled in the great room on the first floor where two couches and a few lounge chairs sprawled lavishly in a U shape around a large fireplace. They used this room for entertaining, and Bella wished silently that they were all gathered for a different purpose. She had been quiet in the car on the way, retreating within herself, barely aware of the scenery passing outside the window as they made the