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He eased her away and cupped her face, willed her to stop shaking. “Sweetheart, who’s Stephen Willoughby?”
Her breath grew choppy, and a shaft of fear lanced his heart. “He’s—my stepfather.”
Shock slammed him. “What?I thought he was dead!”
She shook her head so wildly her locks covered his arms. “My mom shot him. Then herself. She died. He survived.”
Christ. “So where’s he been all this time?”
“Locked up. He’s supposed to be serving ten to fifteen at Florida State Prison.”
Supposed to be.
They stared down at the message:Stephen Willoughby is out. Call. Warren.
The phone rang again. She answered it, her voice growing stronger with each question she fired at Snyder. When she hung up, he took her back in his arms.
“Aren’t they supposed to notify you about his release?” he asked.
“What does it matter? He’s out.” Another shudder raked her body. Then she pulled away.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going home.” She left the bed and headed for the dressing room.
Part of him was glad she wasn’t shaking with shock and fear. The other part of him wanted her to remain in his arms. Safe and warm.
“I’m sure I can catch a flight first thing.”
“You don’t have to. My plane will take too long to get here, but I’ll charter one to take us home.” He picked up the phone and dialed his assistant’s number.
She stopped. “You’re coming with me?”
He frowned. “You expect me to stay here? And, what, carry on with the trip without you?”
She bit her lip. “I’m sorry. That was stupid.”
He held the phone to his ear and caressed her cheek with his other hand. “You’re in shock so I’ll let this one slide. But you’re mine to protect now. Please don’t forget that.”
She gave him a weak smile and turned into his caress. When he curved his hand around her nape, her head dropped to his chest. The feeling was so sweet; he closed his eyes until the phone clicked.
“Maddie, I need a plane.” He gave her the instructions and hung up to find Leia’s gaze on him.
“You own a plane?”
He rubbed his nose against hers. “I own two. One for business, the other for pleasure. The business one is in KL getting a refit. The one for pleasure is flying my parents around Australia and New Zealand. It’s their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary this week. Mom’s crazy aboutLord Of The Rings. Almost as much as I am. Remind me to speak Elvish to you sometime.”
Noah kept his tone light, banked down the rage bubbling beneath his skin at the news that her attacker was still aliveandbreathing free air.
The shadows he’d thought were banished once and for all were back in her eyes. More than anything, he wanted to take her to bed and fuck her happy again.
Instead, he contented himself with a long, slow kiss before nudging her toward the dressing room. “Go get dressed. I’ll get someone to pack your things.”
She started to leave. Then stopped. “Noah, are you sure you’re okay with this? You don’t have to?—”
“Yes, I do.” The certainty came from deep within. Somewhere he didn’t bother to question.
She blinked and nodded. “Thank you.”