Free Need Me by Cynthia Eden

He’ll stay there until he gets in, and then, the way I see it, we have two options.”
    She couldn’t look away from Devlin. He definitely looked pissed. Julianna swallowed.
    “Option one. We tell him the truth. Unfortunately, I think the guy is one of those freaking Boy Scouts. You know, the kind that really gets on my last nerve. With his history, he could have gone either way.”
    His history? She finally managed to glance back at Ethan.
    “But Devlin decided to put the bad guys away.” He quirked a brow. “He might think you’re one of the bad guys.”
    Was she? “I-I…” Dammit, why couldn’t she remember what had happened the night Jeremy died?
    “Option two.” He shoved the flash drive into his pocket. “We lie our asses off. You don’t owe that guy anything, Jules. I’ll back up any story you want to give him.”
    He would. He’d backed her up before.
    “So what’s it going to be?” Ethan asked her.
    Julianna squared her shoulders. “I had sex with him.”
    Ethan swore. “Because you just
wanted
to make things more complicated?”
    Her gaze strayed to the screen—and to Devlin’s face—once more. “No,” she told Ethan quietly. “Because I just wanted him.” But he wouldn’t see it that way. Not if he realized she’d taken the flash drive. He’d just think that she had been trying to distract him. That she’d used him.
    She hadn’t.
    She’d been free with Devlin. She’d been able to let herself go and just feel. The house that had been a prison for so long—she’d broken out, with Devlin. No pain. No fear.
    Only him.
    Devlin lifted his hand and pounded on the door.
    “Let’s turn on the audio,” Ethan murmured. He tapped his phone again and sound came out around her as—
    “Open the fucking door,”
Devlin snarled. “I know she’s in there. Now…Let. Me. In.”
    ***
    Someone had gone slumming.
    Julianna Patrice McNall-Smith had certainly shown her true colors. From a mansion to the darkest club in the city. It had just taken a few clicks to get pictures of her rushing inside Wicked so desperately. Going to see Ethan Barclay?
    Maybe he was still her weakness.
    But now the new lover had joined the fray. From the looks of things, he was about to tear down the door in order to get to Julianna. A jealous lover could be a very dangerous thing for Julianna. A jealous lover could be pushed to the edge…so very easily.
    Time to learn about that lover. Time to see how he could be used.
    Then eliminated.
    ***
    Devlin lifted his hand. Ethan needed to hurry up and open that damn door. His fisted hand swung toward the wood once more—
    The door opened. Julianna stood before him, and his hand hung in the air, far too close to her beautiful face.
    “I—” Shit. He dropped his hand.
    Julianna backed up a step. Had fear flickered in her eyes? He didn’t want Julianna afraid of him. Never that. He’d like to kick the crap out of Ethan, but he would
never
do anything to Julianna.
    “You should come inside,” Julianna said. She swung the door open a few more inches and Devlin saw Ethan, standing far too close to Julianna. “I’ll explain everything inside.”
    He crossed the threshold and marched right up to Ethan. “Why is it…” Devlin gritted out. “That every time I turn around, I’m tripping over you?”
    Ethan smiled. A cold, dangerous smile.
    Devlin just glared right back at him.
    Julianna shut the door. “I had enough violence with Jeremy. Don’t even think of swinging a punch right now.” Her gaze cut between them. “That goes for both of you.”
    And Ethan’s face softened. “I’m sorry. If that bastard were still alive—”
    “Ethan…” A warning edge entered Julianna’s voice.
    But Devlin knew what the guy had been about to say. Maybe because he felt the same way.
If that bastard were still alive, I’d kill him.
    Julianna’s left hand curled—rather protectively—around her right wrist.
    Ethan locked the door. “Come this way. We should go into my