She barely moved, not wanting to spook him. He’d never told her this much before. “Revenge? That’s why you were looking for Clarke Wellson? I mean, Albert Nelson?”

He nodded. “It took me nearly six months to tie Nelson to my case. All I had was his picture and his affiliation with Captive; I didn’t even have his correct name. Never even got a chance to question the guy.”

Nelson had been a pretty shady guy, so he’d probably had plenty of enemies. Dana remained still. “How did your team die?”

His head lifted, and his gaze shuttered. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

“Wolfe, I—”

He startled her into silence by cupping her jaw, his touch warm and firm. Then he leaned in, all intent.

Her breath caught, and excitement winged through her abdomen.

He came an inch closer. “I’m not gonna let anybody hurt you, and that’s all I have to give.”

Amusement infiltrated the desire she couldn’t seem to banish. “You’ll jump on a grenade for me?”

His lips tipped, and he released her. “Yeah. Gladly. I’ll help you get your story and keep you safe in the process. But then we’re done. The job I have to do . . . I can’t have any distractions.”

Distractions? Why did that tickle her ego? Wolfe always seemed so focused, that was probably a compliment. It hit her then. When she was in trouble, when she was in need, she called Wolfe. He came. But he was telling her that he had other things to do, and she was taking advantage of a truly good guy. It wasn’t right. “I’m going back to my apartment tomorrow,” she said quietly.

One of his dark eyebrows rose. “It’s not safe.”

Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. But she had to get out of this situation before she did something really stupid and kissed the guy. “I’m not yours to worry about.” Yeah, they were friends, but it was pretty much a one-way situation with him giving and her taking. That needed to end now. “I hate ultimatums,” she murmured, not meaning to give him one.

He blinked. “Me, too. I’ve had enough of those for tonight.”

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

He shook his. “Nothing.”

Ah. Once again shutting her out. She took a deep breath. “We’re either friends who share our problems or we’re not. Let me help you like you’ve helped me.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Dana, stop whatever you’re thinking right now. You can’t help me, and you sure as hell can’t save me. Trying is only going to get you hurt.”