Page 16 of Bliss with a Billionaire

Julia eased onto the edge of the bed. “Kyle, none of it was true. But some of the evidence we saw made it look like you just…walked away.”

“Mm-hmm, yeah. And let me guess, my dad insisted I’d disappeared in a fit of rage after our argument.”

“My sister, the cop–”

“Probably wanted me to die because of what I did in Maine. Which is why I need you to know that I’d never do that, okay? If I’m missing, please search for me.”

“I hope you’re never missing again,” Julia said with a sigh. “I don’t know how many more near-deaths I can take.”

“Me either. Especially when you’re the target most of the time. You really need to stop putting yourself in Lydia’s crosshairs.”

“Me?” she cried. “I think you did a pretty good job of that when you played double-agent. Lydia made it perfectly clear that your betrayal was what drove her to nearly kill you.”

Kyle shifted in the bed with a frown. “Don’t remind me.”

“Look, either way, you are family. No matter what arguments any of us have had in the past, we stick together.”

“Except–”

“Don’t say that,” she said with a wag of her finger. “Don’t say except Grant. Because he was very upset over what almost happened to you. We all were.”

He sucked in a breath. “Fine, noted.”

She tugged one corner of her lips back as she studied him, noting that he still avoided her gaze, intent on tracing the outline of the blanket covering him. “Kyle–”

“Julia, I’m fine. I’ll be better when I’m out of this hospital.”

She studied him. The tension in his jaw suggested he wasn’t fine. The weight of what happened would be enough to destroy anyone, but coupled with the emotional toll Lydia took when she dug at a would she knew would bleed, Julia worried it would be too much.

Sierra jabbed at her end call button with a dramatic sigh. “Well,that’staken care of. I cannot believe the incompetence of some people, though. Don’t worry, Kyle, I made sure they had only competent people coming to take care of you.”

“Thanks, sis,” he answered, forcing a smile.

“Hey, Sierra, can you give us a minute?” Julia asked.

Sierra crinkled her brow, her gaze falling on their clasped hands before she lifted it to stare at Kyle. She wagged a finger at him, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t kiss her, Kyle.”

He lifted his eyes to the ceiling with a shake of his head.

“I’ll be back after I grab a coffee,” Sierra said as she stomped toward the door.

Julia watched her go before she twisted back to face Kyle.

“I’m not a baby, Julia. And I don’t need you to hold my hand and tell me I’m important like you do with Sierra.”

“No, you don’t need the same things Sierra needs. But you do need to know you’re important. Your…initiation into this family hasn’t been easy. And what Lydia said was designed to make sure she needled at things she knew would bother you. Things she knew would hurt you.”

“Well, good job to her. She’s very good at what she does. She managed to nearly kill Sierra when told her she was unloved.”

“And you, too,” Julia said.

“Actually, the physical beating did that, but…”

“I’m being serious,” Julia said. “Lydia’s calculated vitriol has no truth to it. I will always be there for you.”

“And please keep Alex Stone on speed dial.”

She grinned at the joke as his tension released a little. “I will. Though I hope not to need him again. This family has scared me way too many times.”