Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

he knew it sounded ludicrous. But he couldn’t explain his gut reaction. The roses had been a threat. He knew the feeling he got when something wasn’t right, and seeing the roses splayed out on her car had given him that tingle of intuition that had saved his life too many time for him to ignore.
    Fear had torn through him, and his one and only thought had been to get Bella to safety. Looking at her now sitting on the same couch where he had taken her, he had to admit that he had also been overcome with both possessive and protective instincts that had forced him to handle the situation with less tact then he should have.
    Damn it, she made him feel all of these unfamiliar emotions, and it was making him crazy. His cock had turned into a steel spike in his pants, but he forced the primal urges down, trying to stay detached as he always had during times of crisis. Bloody hell, it just wasn’t working.
    His large hand covered hers and she looked down at the contrast they made. Surrounded in security, Bella felt a strength she hadn’t felt in a long time, like everything was going to be okay.
    Sal demanded to know what was going on again, and Jason hesitantly turned from Bella to tell them what had happened.
    “Is this lockdown really necessary? I mean, we don’t even know who they were from,” Bella tried to point out.
    His phone rang, but he didn’t look away from Bella. Placing her hand gently on his wrist, Bella spoke softly. “I know you won’t let anything happen to me.” Approval flashed in his eyes before he brought the phone up to his ear.
    “Go.” Jason listened to whatever was being said to him. Bella started to get up, but Jason wouldn’t let her move.
    “I need a cigarette.”
    Jason reached into his back pocket and pulled out his case, handing her one. He lit it for her, and she inhaled deep, trying to calm her nerves. Jason reached out and lifted her hand, holding it up to his mouth, and took a drag.
    Bella looked over at Sal to see the lethal rage still simmering in his eyes. Tony had been way too quiet. She cleared her throat and tried to be reasonable.
    “It was just roses.”
    Sal’s eyes met hers, and they softened slightly. Bella rolled her eyes as Jason covered the phone to growl that the only man she should be getting roses from was him. She grumbled that he had never gotten her flowers as she made a move to get up, but Jason’s hand on her arm tightened. She looked at him, frowning to get her point across, and after a moment he released her. She got up and walked over to sit between Tony and Sal. Instantly they both hugged her close, smothering her. Unknowing what else to do, she laughed.
    “I love you, guys, but I feel like the insides of meatball sandwich.”
    Just like that Bella could feel some of the tension drain from their bodies. Sal took the smoke from her hand and took a deep drag. “Shit, these things are disgusting.” He inhaled before putting it out in an ashtray on the table. Tony picked up her right hand and stroked his thumb over the scar there, and Sal kissed her forehead. She watched as Jason hung up the phone. His jaw was clenched. His mercurial eyes were no longer warm, and they were icy with lethal intent.
    “Finn said there was a card.”
    Oh, this was going to be bad. Bella could tell that he didn’t want to tell her, but she pushed anyway. She couldn’t hide from this. It was happening to her, and she needed to know. “What did it say?”
    Silence.
    Bella asked again, her frustration showing.
    “These should be on your grave.”
    Sal and Tony both let out a vicious string of impressive curses.
    “Oh.” The blood drained from her face. Bella’s eyes closed to try and think beyond the fear that was clawing its way to the surface. It was him. Victor. Oh God, Victor Dane had come after her.
    “Bella.”
    Jason crouched down in front of her, his hands gently framing her face. He waited in silence until she opened her eyes. Her brothers were comically looking away at the walls, trying to give them some semblance of privacy. Jason’s low voice was serious yet filled with tenderness as he spoke. “I will not let anything happen to you. You understand that right? You need to trust me. This is what I do, and now you need to let me take care of you. Nothing will happen to you.”
    She slowly nodded and was afraid to blink and lose track of Jason for one second, as if by simply looking at him his words would come true.
    Speaking precisely and in a low,