“Go up and shower, get ready for bed. I’ll let Ace in, and then get ready to go.”

She grabbed his arm. “Promise me you won’t get hurt.” She reached up and stroked the cuts at his temple. “That you’ll come back to me.”

“I’ll be here when you wake up, baby.”

He kissed her, and it was soft with something she’d never felt before. God, was this what love felt like?

“Now, go and change,” he said. “I have no desire for Ace to see you naked in only my shirt.”

“You come back safely, Easton.”

He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “I promise.”

* * *

When Easton let himself into the house, the sun was just starting to rise over the city.

He’d spent the night out with Vander. There’d been no sign of Hugo Durant, or Charles Carlson.

They’d pressed Armand pretty hard, but the man had claimed he’d cut Durant loose.

“I would never hurt Harlow, Norcross.” Antoine shook his head. “Hugo crossed the line.”

Easton had hated the guy even saying her name. Only the knowledge that she was safe, and tucked up in his own bed, had stopped him punching Armand.

But he had used his interrogation skills. They’d followed Durant’s trail, and Easton had questioned some of his “friends.” As he headed up the stairs, and he curled his hand into a fist, his newly torn knuckles stung.

He found Ace in the formal living area, laptop open, kicked back in an armchair.

“Hey,” Easton said.

“Hey.” Ace straightened. “Any luck?”

Easton shook his head. “Durant is a cockroach.” He’d slithered into a dark hole somewhere.

“He seems pretty fixated on Harlow.”

Easton’s lips flattened. “He’s not going to get near her.”

“Sick fucks like him don’t give up easily.”

“Armand’s cut him loose.”

“Makes him even more volatile.”

Easton felt his gut tighten. “Thanks for looking out for her.”

“Easy job. She’s sweet, funny. She was wired when you left, made me some coffee. She was worried about you. Then she crashed.”

“She still asleep?”

Ace nodded, then rose. “I’ll get going.”

“Any sign of Carlson?”

“Narrowed down some options. We’re getting closer, I can feel it. We’ll bring him in soon.”

Easton scraped a hand through his hair. He’d need caffeine to get through today. “I want this over, and Harlow safe.”

Ace slapped his back. “Hang in there, amigo.”

Easton let Ace out, then headed upstairs.

When he entered his bedroom, he didn’t even look at the view. His gaze went straight to the woman sprawled in the center of his bed. She’d half kicked off the covers. She was on her stomach, one long leg hitched up. That drew her pajama shorts up, giving him a beautiful view of her panty-covered ass.