Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

her eyes. Last night she didn’t sleep well. She hadn’t wanted to go to sleep, and she hadn’t wanted to eat. Jason had forced her, making some soup and spoon-feeding it to her. She hadn’t wanted to talk about it. Instead she had asked him questions about his childhood. Although some of the memories were still painful, he had told her about his family then expanded, telling her funny stories about his time in school and about his life as a soldier. He had talked more than he had in years, but he had been afraid to stop.
    Hell, he found himself stripping his memory for funny stories just to hear her laugh. Exhaustion had finally taken over as they had watched the dawn break. He had held her in his arms, secure while they sat watching the night fade as the morning light turned the sky a pale gray.
    He silently cursed, wishing he could spare her the pain and anguish she was feeling. He had felt the rage rush through him like a tidal wave when he had accessed the police file of the attack shortly after he had first found out. The team had only been told the basic details of what had happened, but he felt the slice of pain when Bella flinched through the telling. They had access to the police file as well, but he had asked them in private not to discuss what they had read in front of Bella. He knew she wanted to know everything that was going on, but if he could save her some pain, then he would do everything in his power to do whatever it took.
    He had done his research well. He had pried into her past, wanting to know everything he could about her life.
    Maybe it was an invasion of privacy, but he didn’t care.
    He would tell her later what he had done. He simply wanted to know everything he could about Bella. Every piece of information he could arm himself with would help him protect her now.
    At least that was what he kept telling himself. Deep down he knew the truth. He just wanted to know everything about her.
    He had some restructuring to do. Brett was due back any day, and Jason had already distributed most of the pressing IAD work to available agents. Mac Securities clients would have to be notified of any possible delays, but everything seemed to be covered for the time being.
    He was pushing everything nonessential aside. Unless the world was in jeopardy of being destroyed, he wouldn’t rest until he had Victor Dane’s blood on his hands. Nothing else mattered except castrating and killing the bastard who had hurt Bella.
    Jason couldn’t help the satisfaction that filled him knowing that Bella was where she belonged. In his life. In his apartment.
    In his bed.
    The last few days had been hard on her, and she looked so small and alone in his large tub. Well, she wasn’t alone anymore. He silently padded over to sit on the side of the tub and watched as bleak whisky-colored eyes opened to meet his.
    “I’m not going to quit teaching. I can’t stop living my life. I don’t want him to win.”
    His eyes were guarded, expression blank giving nothing away. He wanted to argue. No, he wanted to order her to stay home locked up tight where he could wrap her in his protection night and day.
    But he knew he couldn’t do that. She would never agree.
    Jason sighed. He knew she wasn’t going to give in, and he couldn’t blame her. “Darling, I know. We’ll find some way to keep you safe at the school, and I promise you, he won’t ever touch you again.”
    Her eyes filled. “I don’t mean to be difficult. After all you’ve done…I’m sorry…so sorry.”
    Completely baffled, Jason turned off the jets and reached out to her, lifting her easily into his arms and pulling her onto his lap as if she weighed no more than a feather. Her tears sent him into a slight panic. “What’s this? What do you mean, love?”
    “I told myself not to cry. I hate crying. All this trouble, all for me. I’m sorry. Everyone’s life disrupted.” She hiccupped. “I hate that everyone has to do all this because of me. I don’t deserve you. I’m a freaking mess! How can you stand me? I can’t even stand myself half the time. I feel so weak. I hate that everyone has to take care of me. I’m getting you all wet,” Bella wailed, unable to control her sobs now that the dam had broken.
    Jason cupped her face in his hands. “Shh, sweetheart. Oh, love, you aren’t. We’ll get through this you’ll see. Having you, Bella, having you in my life is a blessing. Darling, you aren’t weak. You are one of the strongest women