A rough laugh escaped him. “Yeah, she was furious because I hadn’t called her before I went to confront Grady. The fact that I went into an active crime scene had her seeing red.” She wouldn’t forgive that one anytime soon. “But I had to go inside. I had to make sure the perp wasn’t there—or that a live victim wasn’t in the place, too.”

“He was tortured. That’s what she said.”

Dammit. “Yes.”

“The guy who did this…do you think he’ll hurt me, too?”

They’d left the busy roads and were heading toward his house. “I wouldn’t let that happen.”

Now it was her turn to laugh. A sad, husky laugh. “I know that you like to think you control the world, but you don’t.”

“I control more than you think.” Eric glanced into his rear-view mirror, spotting the car tailing them. Julia and Rick were following his orders. Level six protection meant that eyes were going to be watching her as closely as possible. Julia and Rick would be staying nearby, looking for trouble, and when their shift was over, another team would be replacing them.

Grady had been tortured, and, no, the same fate was not going to happen to Piper. No way, not any freaking day.

Simon had stayed at the station, the better to keep an eye on Layla’s investigation. Simon also had an in with the ME, so he’d be reporting to Eric as soon as he got the official report on Grady’s murder.

Ben had gone back to his house—after Eric ordered the guy to head home. His brother had been looking dead on his feet. Murder wasn’t exactly Ben’s specialty. The guy was the charmer, the schmoozer. He never got his hands dirty, and truth be told, Eric didn’t want his little brother even encountering any kind of violence. Sure as hell, he didn’t want Ben at a scene like the one he’d witnessed that day.

“You try to protect everyone,” Piper said, as if she’d just read his mind. “But who protects you?”

“I don’t need protecting.”

“You just told me that you ran in that house today because you thought the perp might still be there. A murderer. What if he’d turned on you?”

“I was armed. And I had Simon as a back-up.”

“I don’t want anything happening to you. Not because of me.”

They were nearing his gate. He slowed the car. Turned to glance at her. “Keep talking like that, Piper, and I’ll start to think that you care.” The words were meant to be mocking, teasing. He wanted to take away a little of her fear and pain.

After a small pause, Piper said, “Of course, I care. I always have. Maybe that’s been the problem.”