Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

get some rest. We can all meet tomorrow and discuss plans for your protection and what to do next.”
    Bella wordlessly cringed while looking at Sal. Here it comes. He is going to try and lock me in a room or have me trailed by bodyguards. “Sal, I’m safe. Tony and Danny have helped me get my life back and have made me feel safe again. I don’t need any more protection. I won’t let you put me under lock and key. I just want my life back to normal.”
    “We’ll see.” Sal’s harsh frown dared her to argue.
    She threw her hands up in surrender and shook her head. “Whatever. I’m too tired to deal with this tonight.” She was immediately comforted as Jason ran his hands lightly over her shoulders.
    Sal looked like he wanted to argue but conceded when he noticed the exhaustion on her face.
    Trying to help, Liz announced she had to go and offered to give Danny a ride back to the bar.
    “It’s late. I’ll drive you both back. Just leave your car here,” Sal ordered.
    “Thank you, but no. I drove here, and I need my car tomorrow morning. I’ll be fine.”
    “I can drive you back in the morning.” Sal frowned.
    “Don’t be silly.”
    “It’s not silly, it’s late, and I said I’ll drive you home,” he snapped.
    Her cool blue eyes frosted over, and a delicate eyebrow rose.
    “Listen up He-Man, I said I don’t need you to drive me anywhere.” Dismissing him, Liz got up to hug Bella close, saying she would call her tomorrow.
    She also surprised Jason by leaning up to press a small kiss on his cheek before turning and sweeping by Sal without a second glance to go get her jacket.
    “He-Man? Did she just call me He-Man?”
    “Kind of fits,” Tony agreed.
    “Bro, are you trying to piss her off or what? Or has your memory just tanked? You can’t just order sweet little Lizzie around without getting her back up.” Danny shook his head as he surveyed his brother sadly. “Looks like I need to give you some pointers on how to handle the ladies again. Obviously you’ve gone without for too long. We’ll get you right in no time.”
    “I don’t need shit. And not everyone wants to be a man-whore like you.” Sal growled.
    Danny smiled. “I love the ladies, and the ladies love me. What’s a guy to do?”
    “Umm, get tested regularly?” Tony quipped, moving safely out of striking range.
    Liz scoffed from where she stood by the door. “You guys never change. You’re lucky I love you, Danny. ’Cuz even though you’re like a brother to me, I wouldn’t wish you on any woman.”
    “Aww, sweetheart, you wound me.”
    Liz rolled her eyes. “All right, Don Juan, I’m ready to go. Let’s get a move on or this lady will be leaving your ass here.”
    Danny winked at them. “See, she can’t help but mention my ass.”
    “More like you are the ass,” Liz fired back, smiling.
    Bella’s lips quirked up as she tried to muffle her laughter.
    Danny kissed Bella on the cheek and hugged her. He turned a telling glance to both his brothers then glared at Jason before he quickly followed Liz out to the car before she left him.
    Sal continued to stare at their retreating forms until the door closed before swinging his frown back at Bella and Jason. His hard eyes bored into Jason as he tried to size up the other man. “You can catch a ride back to the compound with me, Mac.”
    “I’m staying here with Bella.”
    “The hell you are!” Tony bit out. Sal’s fists clenched, but he forced himself to release them.
    Bella held up her hands to both of her brothers. “I want him to stay. Please, just give us some time to talk. Don’t make this harder for me.”
    “He doesn’t want to just talk,” Tony spit out. Finally, he sighed, a weary acceptance taking over. “Hell, you were with him last week, weren’t you?”
    Damn, her brother had been more observant than she thought. Owning up to it, she stuck out her chin in defiance as she answered, “Yes.”
    Sal stood with his massive arms crossed over his chest. “How the hell long has this been going on?”
    To her surprise, Tony answered, “I saw them together at the benefit we went to last weekend.”
    Swinging around, Sal frowned at his brother. “Why the hell didn’t you do something?”
    “Do what?” Tony snorted in reply. “She looked happy with the asshole.”
    Jason opened his mouth to answer but never got the chance. Bella took a step forward. It was almost comical how she had placed her petite frame in front of him as if to protect