Read Online Crossing Lines: A gripping psychological thriller (Behind Closed Doors Book 3) by Erin Cawood - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Erin Cawood
Ads: Link
crawl. I know, just from the way he dismisses me, I do not compare to whatever he’s measuring me up against.
He turns back to Krystal. “You know my job as head of security is to do just that.”
“Are you mad at me, Rylan?” She sends a wink and half smile my way as the head of security grunts his denial. “He is.” She grins. “He's mad at me for making him return from New York, when it was his weekend to have his kids. And he's mad at you for simply being here. But he knows I'd kill him if he dares show you just how pissed he really is.”
“You could try,” Rylan snaps. But he stops beside her, shifts the weight of my luggage onto one arm and with a now-freed hand gently assesses her eye.”I'm mad at you because of this,” he grumbles, gently turning her face in his hand. “You refused to have your security team stay with you and, against my better judgment, I let you stay alone!” He drops his hand abruptly as his disgusted glare turns to me, “Well, I suppose you weren't exactly alone, were you? But I know better. Your way and your safety don't always agree. Dex is going to kick my ass when he sees the state of that eye!”
“Rylan, I went to my old dojo. You know these things happen when I train with overly enthusiastic opponents. You can't protect me in a controlled combat environment.”
“Uh-huh,” Rylan mutters. “Old dojo.” He doesn't believe her. “Right.”
I watch the tender exchange, not quite sure of the dynamics between them. Is it possible that Rylan is responsible for more than her safety? It’s evident in the way he touches her that he cares a great deal more than duty requires. And despite Krystal’s embellishments of the truth and her rebellion, the affection is mutual.
“Therapy, AJ? Really?” He sends that disgusted scowl my way again. “You should have told me about the doctor before now. Dex is going to kick my ass when he finds out you've been stepping out on him with Hawthorne and I didn't tell him. “I didn't know” is hardly going to cut it, considering I'm supposed to know your every move.” Ah, the real reason Rylan is annoyed, and with both of us.
“Then I'll kick his ass for you,” she threatens playfully, but he doesn't return the smile. Krystal stiffens. She meets his stare with a hard one of her own as she barks, “Discretion is part of your contractual agreement, Rylan.”
“You don't get it, do you?” Rylan sighs. “He's my big brother, and you messed him around for another guy last time. The very same guy you've allowed to live here for the past month.” I watch Krystal’s attention go to a window on the second floor. “AJ, you promised me you wouldn’t do this again. After you ran off at New Year’s and ended up in Dex’s hotel room, you promised me Sean wouldn't be a problem, and you wouldn't put me in this position. You promised me you wouldn't hurt him. You really fucked with his head last time, you know you did. Yet here were are, ten months later, and you’re doing it again. You have never, not once, invited him here, and that was okay because you have trust issues. Now you're giving the new guy free range to your sanctuary indefinitely? Nu-huh, AJ. That’s not on, so don’t expect me to be happy for you. How much more of this does Dex have to put up with before you accept that he loves you?”
“You're out of line, Rylan. You don't get—”
“Fuck you, AJ. I'm off duty,” he hisses. “He's my brother, and you're cheating on him. So don't even think about pulling that boss-employee bullshit with me, because I'll walk—you know I will. My brother comes first.” He turns away.
“Wait!” With lightning-fast reflexes, she grips his free arm. Surprisingly, she has the power to stop him in mid-stride, although I’m not sure if it's her strength or her words that accomplishes it. “You’re right,” she admits quietly, “and I’m sorry, Rylan. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.” He looks back. “I didn't
He turns back to Krystal. “You know my job as head of security is to do just that.”
“Are you mad at me, Rylan?” She sends a wink and half smile my way as the head of security grunts his denial. “He is.” She grins. “He's mad at me for making him return from New York, when it was his weekend to have his kids. And he's mad at you for simply being here. But he knows I'd kill him if he dares show you just how pissed he really is.”
“You could try,” Rylan snaps. But he stops beside her, shifts the weight of my luggage onto one arm and with a now-freed hand gently assesses her eye.”I'm mad at you because of this,” he grumbles, gently turning her face in his hand. “You refused to have your security team stay with you and, against my better judgment, I let you stay alone!” He drops his hand abruptly as his disgusted glare turns to me, “Well, I suppose you weren't exactly alone, were you? But I know better. Your way and your safety don't always agree. Dex is going to kick my ass when he sees the state of that eye!”
“Rylan, I went to my old dojo. You know these things happen when I train with overly enthusiastic opponents. You can't protect me in a controlled combat environment.”
“Uh-huh,” Rylan mutters. “Old dojo.” He doesn't believe her. “Right.”
I watch the tender exchange, not quite sure of the dynamics between them. Is it possible that Rylan is responsible for more than her safety? It’s evident in the way he touches her that he cares a great deal more than duty requires. And despite Krystal’s embellishments of the truth and her rebellion, the affection is mutual.
“Therapy, AJ? Really?” He sends that disgusted scowl my way again. “You should have told me about the doctor before now. Dex is going to kick my ass when he finds out you've been stepping out on him with Hawthorne and I didn't tell him. “I didn't know” is hardly going to cut it, considering I'm supposed to know your every move.” Ah, the real reason Rylan is annoyed, and with both of us.
“Then I'll kick his ass for you,” she threatens playfully, but he doesn't return the smile. Krystal stiffens. She meets his stare with a hard one of her own as she barks, “Discretion is part of your contractual agreement, Rylan.”
“You don't get it, do you?” Rylan sighs. “He's my big brother, and you messed him around for another guy last time. The very same guy you've allowed to live here for the past month.” I watch Krystal’s attention go to a window on the second floor. “AJ, you promised me you wouldn’t do this again. After you ran off at New Year’s and ended up in Dex’s hotel room, you promised me Sean wouldn't be a problem, and you wouldn't put me in this position. You promised me you wouldn't hurt him. You really fucked with his head last time, you know you did. Yet here were are, ten months later, and you’re doing it again. You have never, not once, invited him here, and that was okay because you have trust issues. Now you're giving the new guy free range to your sanctuary indefinitely? Nu-huh, AJ. That’s not on, so don’t expect me to be happy for you. How much more of this does Dex have to put up with before you accept that he loves you?”
“You're out of line, Rylan. You don't get—”
“Fuck you, AJ. I'm off duty,” he hisses. “He's my brother, and you're cheating on him. So don't even think about pulling that boss-employee bullshit with me, because I'll walk—you know I will. My brother comes first.” He turns away.
“Wait!” With lightning-fast reflexes, she grips his free arm. Surprisingly, she has the power to stop him in mid-stride, although I’m not sure if it's her strength or her words that accomplishes it. “You’re right,” she admits quietly, “and I’m sorry, Rylan. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.” He looks back. “I didn't
Similar Books
