When he defends protecto.., p.26
When He Defends (Protector And Defender Romance Book 4),
p.26
Cass was waiting. Blocking his damn path.
Gray frowned at him. “What in the hell are you doing here?”
“You know I have connections.” Cass quirked a brow. “And forget the fake outrage at seeing me. I should be the one who is pissed. I mean, come on. I don’t get to have fun, but you do? That hardly seems fair.”
“Who said life was fair?” He sidestepped.
Cass moved with him. “You going to terrorize Owen Porter? That the next stop on this exciting, post-midnight tour that you have going on?”
Hell, yes, he was paying a visit to Owen Porter. “Just want to make sure that he and I understand each other.”
“Uh, the guy is going to get life without parole. He’ll die in prison. I think he understands plenty.”
Not yet, he didn’t. “He made Emerson afraid for years.”
“And if she finds out that you’re sneaking into prisons, twisting the law and maybe killing people, what will that do?”
Gray’s breath sawed out. He wasn’t going to kill Owen Porter. Just make the guy wish for death. Those were two totally different things.
Tap, tap, tap.
Both men turned around at the faint sound. No, no, it can’t be—
But it was.
Emerson walked down the corridor with her heels tapping.
“I’m back from my honeymoon for one month. One month. And my husband is already taking up new hobbies.” She sighed. “Are you bored with me already?”
“I could live a thousand years and never be bored with you.” He turned to fully face her. Of course, she’d realized what he’d planned. Even though he’d tried to be so very careful. Arranging for the prisoners to temporarily be in the same facility, making sure he’d have access to them, pulling all the strings, getting the security cameras turned off…
Tap, tap, tap.
Emerson stopped in front of him. “You don’t have to hurt them for me.”
He was hurting them for him. Because he hated what those bastards had done to her. Because the beast inside called for vengeance. Sometimes, he was far too much like Cass. Eye for an eye. Pain for pain.
“We have a life waiting. The darkness doesn’t get to drag us down.” She caught his hand. Pressed it to her stomach. “The baby wants us to leave these particular monsters alone. They have their punishments coming. We won’t have to do anything else.”
The baby?
She smiled at him.
Cass whistled.
The prison was too dark. The sins there too great.
“We started trying before the honeymoon. Told you, it wouldn’t take long.” She smiled at him.
Of course, he’d been trying for a baby before the honeymoon. As soon as Emerson had suggested they ditch the condoms, he’d been game on. In her bare? Making her pregnant? Having a little Emerson 2.0?
That’s what I want. That’s my future.
She was telling him that future lived beneath his hand. Their future.
The baby can’t be here. Not in this darkness. He nodded. Pulled Emerson close. Held her.
Cass slapped him on the shoulder. “Get the hell out of here. Go celebrate.”
The baby.
“I’ll have fun for us both,” Cass added.
Gray slowly turned his head toward his cousin.
Cass winked at him. “I got this. Let someone else do the dirty work for you.”
No, Cass shouldn’t be there, either. Cass…
Cass was already too close to the dark.
“The baby’s godfather needs to haul his ass out of here with us,” Emerson instructed in a tone that brooked no argument. “You two have to set positive examples. You can’t be terrorizing criminals. It’s just not done.”
But, wasn’t it done? Especially when they deserved some terror?
She pulled away. Turned. Tap, tap, tap. “Leave them.” Emerson’s voice drifted back to Gray and Cass. “They are in their own hell.”
“Great,” Cass groused. “Now your wife isn’t letting me have any fun.”
Gray smiled at him. “I’m going to be a dad.”
Cass glowered and then he grinned, too. “You’re gonna be an awesome dad.”
Gray threw an arm around Cass’s shoulders. “You’re gonna be an awesome uncle.”
His grin slipped. “I’m…your cousin, not your—”
“Awesome uncle.” Gray tightened his grip on Cass’s shoulders. “Now start reforming your ass so my baby girl can be proud of you.”
“Uh, you don’t even know that you’re having a baby girl.”
True. And it really didn’t matter what he had. He was just delighted by the idea of Emerson’s baby. His and Emerson’s baby.
He had to call his friends. They’d all been at the wedding, and he knew they’d be thrilled with this news. Tyler, Ronan, and Kane are going to flip.
His Semper Fi buddies would celebrate hard with him.
He walked out of that prison, with Cass at his side, with Emerson and his baby in front of him, and Gray knew that…
This is what a dream feels like.
He’d had plenty of nightmares in his time. He’d been a nightmare to plenty of people. But finally, there was more out there. More for him.
Joy. Hope.
Emerson glanced over her shoulder.
His partner.
His wife.
His life.
He’d protect her with every breath in his body. Always.
THE END
Know what I really love? Cold case solving…and a bit of Christmas fun at the same time.
She’s coming home for the holidays…and there’s gonna be hell to pay.
Last Christmas, Melody Mage vanished without a trace. The wealthy socialite was presumed dead by her loved ones. But on the anniversary of her disappearance, Melody appears on the doorstep of her family’s estate. Her memories are fractured, her past shrouded in fog and confusion, but she knows one thing—someone attacked her. Left her for dead. She just has to figure out who the guilty culprit is. Then she’ll make the person pay.
In other words, Melody has to solve her own cold case mystery. And she’s going to do it—no matter what it takes. No matter how many skeletons she has to drag out of her wealthy family’s closet. And no one will get in her way. Not even her father’s intense—and dangerously attractive—protégé, Victor Alexander. Victor has just taken over as the company’s new CEO. He’s driven, powerful, and he stares at her with eyes that glitter with far too much…longing?
He ripped apart the world looking for her, and the love of his life just casually knocked on the front door.
Except Melody doesn’t know that Victor had his heart carved out of his chest when she vanished. Their relationship had been secret. On the outside, he and Melody had appeared to barely tolerate each other. In private, they’d touched—and ignited. She’d been his obsession. He’d been her personal attack dog. Now she’s back, saying she’s looking for justice, and he’s going to give it to her. He will give her anything. Unfortunately, Melody has no idea that she once promised to love him forever—or that when she vanished, she was wearing the engagement ring he’d given to her.
He never stopped loving her. Too bad she believes he’s the enemy.
Victor has been working with the Ice Breakers, a cold-case solving crew, and he suspects that Melody’s attacker is someone in the family’s inner circle. He also knows that there is no way on earth he will ever let Melody vanish again. He’ll protect her, he’ll win her heart once more, and he will see to it that the person who hurt his Melody is buried in an icy grave before the new year dawns.
Author’s Note: It’s Christmas and cold-case solving time…only for this book, the heroine is the case. Melody can’t fully remember her past. She doesn’t know if she can trust Victor—or if he might just be a villain she should fear. No worries on that score. While Victor may have a dark side, he’s only a villain to the rest of the world. Never to her. Let’s deck the halls, solve a cold case, and fall in love this ICE COLD CHRISTMAS.
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading Gray’s book! I had been wanting to write a story for Gray ever since he first slipped onto the page in WHEN HE PROTECTS. The challenge was coming up with a heroine who would match him. I hope that you thought Emerson was the right match for Gray—and I very much hope that you enjoyed their romance.
It has been an absolute delight to write the Protector & Defender books…and I have another one coming your way soon! There is no way I could leave Cass out in the cold. He’ll have his story told in WHEN HE GUARDS.
Thank you, again. I’ve been addicted to romance books ever since I picked up my first Harlequin years and years ago. I love reading romances, and writing them is truly a dream come true for me.
If you have time, please consider leaving a review for WHEN HE DEFENDS. Reviews help readers to discover new books—and authors are definitely grateful for them! (Believe me—we are super, super grateful!)
If you’d like to stay updated on my releases and sales, please join my newsletter list. Did I mention that when you sign up, you get a FREE Cynthia Eden book? Because you do!
By the way, I’m also active on social media. You can find me chatting away on Instagram and Facebook.
Until next time…may your life be filled with happy days and may your books be filled with happy endings.
Best,
Cynthia Eden
cynthiaeden.com
More Books By Cynthia Eden
Protector & Defender Romance
• When He Protects
• When He Hunts
• When He Fights
Ice Breaker Cold Case Romance
• Frozen In Ice (Book 1)
• Falling For The Ice Queen (Book 2)
• Ice Cold Saint (Book 3)
• Touched By Ice (Book 4)
• Trapped In Ice (Book 5)
• Forged From Ice (Book 6)
• Buried Under Ice (Book 7)
• Ice Cold Kiss (Book 8)
• Locked In Ice (Book 9)
• Savage Ice (Book 10)
• Brutal Ice (Book 11)
• Cruel Ice (Book 12)
• Forbidden Ice (Book 13)
• Ice Cold Liar (Book 14)
Wilde Ways
• Protecting Piper (Book 1)
• Guarding Gwen (Book 2)
• Before Ben (Book 3)
• The Heart You Break (Book 4)
• Fighting For Her (Book 5)
• Ghost Of A Chance (Book 6)
• Crossing The Line (Book 7)
• Counting On Cole (Book 8)
• Chase After Me (Book 9)
• Say I Do (Book 10)
• Roman Will Fall (Book 11)
• The One Who Got Away (Book 12)
• Pretend You Want Me (Book 13)
• Cross My Heart (Book 14)
• The Bodyguard Next Door (Book 15)
• Ex Marks The Perfect Spot (Book 16)
• The Thief Who Loved Me (Book 17)
The Fallen Series
• Angel Of Darkness (Book 1)
• Angel Betrayed (Book 2)
• Angel In Chains (Book 3)
• Avenging Angel (Book 4)
Wilde Ways: Gone Rogue
• How To Protect A Princess (Book 1)
• How To Heal A Heartbreak (Book 2)
• How To Con A Crime Boss (Book 3)
Night Watch Paranormal Romance
• Hunt Me Down (Book 1)
• Slay My Name (Book 2)
• Face Your Demon (Book 3)
Trouble For Hire
• No Escape From War (Book 1)
• Don’t Play With Odin (Book 2)
• Jinx, You’re It (Book 3)
• Remember Ramsey (Book 4)
Death and Moonlight Mystery
• Step Into My Web (Book 1)
• Save Me From The Dark (Book 2)
Phoenix Fury
• Hot Enough To Burn (Book 1)
• Slow Burn (Book 2)
• Burn It Down (Book 3)
Dark Sins
• Don’t Trust A Killer (Book 1)
• Don’t Love A Liar (Book 2)
Lazarus Rising
• Never Let Go (Book One)
• Keep Me Close (Book Two)
• Stay With Me (Book Three)
• Run To Me (Book Four)
• Lie Close To Me (Book Five)
• Hold On Tight (Book Six)
Bad Things
• The Devil In Disguise (Book 1)
• On The Prowl (Book 2)
• Undead Or Alive (Book 3)
• Broken Angel (Book 4)
• Heart Of Stone (Book 5)
• Tempted By Fate (Book 6)
• Wicked And Wild (Book 7)
• Saint Or Sinner (Book 8)
Bite Series
• Forbidden Bite (Bite Book 1)
• Mating Bite (Bite Book 2)
Blood and Moonlight Series
• Bite The Dust (Book 1)
• Better Off Undead (Book 2)
• Bitter Blood (Book 3)
Mine Series
• Mine To Take (Book 1)
• Mine To Keep (Book 2)
• Mine To Hold (Book 3)
• Mine To Crave (Book 4)
• Mine To Have (Book 5)
• Mine To Protect (Book 6)
Dark Obsession Series
• Watch Me (Book 1)
• Want Me (Book 2)
• Need Me (Book 3)
• Beware Of Me (Book 4)
Purgatory Series
• The Wolf Within (Book 1)
• Marked By The Vampire (Book 2)
• Charming The Beast (Book 3)
• Deal with the Devil (Book 4)
Bound Series
• Bound By Blood (Book 1)
• Bound In Darkness (Book 2)
• Bound In Sin (Book 3)
• Bound By The Night (Book 4)
• Bound in Death (Book 5)
Stand-Alone Romantic Suspense
• Waiting For Christmas
• Monster Without Mercy
• Kiss Me This Christmas
• It’s A Wonderful Werewolf
• Never Cry Werewolf
• Immortal Danger
• Deck The Halls
• Come Back To Me
• Put A Spell On Me
• Never Gonna Happen
• One Hot Holiday
• Slay All Day
• Midnight Bite
• Secret Admirer
• Christmas With A Spy
• Femme Fatale
• Until Death
• Sinful Secrets
• First Taste of Darkness
• A Vampire’s Christmas Carol
About the Author
Cynthia Eden loves romance books, chocolate, and going on semi-lazy adventures. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. She writes romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and fun contemporary novels. You can find out more about her work at www.cynthiaeden.com.
If you want to stay updated on her new releases and books deals, be sure to join her newsletter group: cynthiaeden.com/newsletter. When new readers sign up for her newsletter, they are automatically given a free Cynthia Eden ebook.
Cynthia Eden, When He Defends (Protector And Defender Romance Book 4)
