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A tic appeared along Lucas’s jaw as he stared down Ryder. “You were supposed to keep her safe. This never should have happened.”
“Lucas.” Nathalie stared, open-mouthed, at her godfather. “I don’t think—”
“I know.” Ryder’s quiet response stopped her mid-sentence. “And I can promise you, I will die protecting her. She’s not a job to me. She’s my life.”
Lucas arched one black brow. The stare-down continued.
Outside, the wail of an emergency vehicle drew closer.
Nathalie’s finger crept to toy with her earring, trying not to fidget, nearly choking on the tension between the two men.
Finally, a faint smile tilted the corner of Lucas’s lips. “Good. I have a feeling this has been a long time coming. Don’t screw it up.”
“Ryder needs to go to the hospital.” Nathalie’s stomach flip-flopped every time she looked at the garish red streaks on his arm. She didn’t know how much of the drying blood on his face and hands belonged to him, but the fresh blood definitely did.
Lucas released her and stood. “He’ll survive, but if it makes you feel better, sweetheart, I’ll go grab a medic.”
The small home was now bursting with people and activity. Hadley was carried out on a stretcher. Detective Johnson stood off to the side with Lachlan, Nathan, Caleb, and Danny, and scribbled in a small spiral notebook.
Ryder still kneeled at her feet. She ran her fingers through his wavy, chestnut hair. His eyes drifted shut with a smile.
She leaned forward. Whispered, “Beneath that mild-mannered persona, you really are Superman.”
He winced and let out a pained groan. “You are a cruel woman.”
“Yeah, but I’m your woman.”
Ryder’s lids lifted. The love shining from his beautiful blue eyes stole her breath. “Yes. You are. Forever.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fourdayslater
“We did it!” Nathalie lifted her champagne flute to cheers from her employees crowded into the large conference room at Williams.
Despite everything, she, Don, and Ravi had made the presentation on their avionics software design to the military. Plans were in the works for Williams to incorporate their technology into both final prototypes of the Air Force’s NGAD fighter aircraft.
“We’re gonna be rich.” Ravi danced around her, then clinked his flute to hers.
“I’m not so sure about rich, but Williams Advanced Avionics is in a pretty good position,” Don said. He slung an arm around Nathalie, hugging her to his side. “You scored a huge win, hon. If only your dad were alive to see this.”
She’d done it. Achieved her father’s dream. She fought back tears so she didn’t blubber like a child in front of her colleagues.
“Nathalie. Your father would be so proud.” Vivienne claimed the next hug.
Nathalie clung to her mom. “I wish he were here,” she whispered.
“I know, baby.”
Nathalie looked over her mother’s shoulder at her godfather, his usual stern expression softening as it lingered on Vivienne. She bit her lip at the tenderness in his blue eyes. “Thank you for coming, Lucas, and for bringing Mom.” Whether or not Lucas would admit it, his feelings for her mother went beyond those of a man caring for his best friend’s widow.
Lucas lifted his gaze, the emotions that had slipped through in that unguarded moment locked back in whatever mental vault he kept them. “Now that your technology is under DoD safeguards, you won’t have to worry about anyone else targeting you personally. Foster Hadley confessed it was Liu Jianjun who paid him to steal your design.”
It was over. Liu and Hadley were both in custody. She didn’t need a security detail anymore. Her employees and their families were safe. Her mom was safe.
A familiar figure stepped into the room.
Nathalie’s heart skipped a beat. Dressed in a navy suit and blue and yellow striped tie, Ryder looked as dashing as ever.