Page 31 of Claimed Gem

“I don’t suppose you care that I was trying to find out who painted targets on our backs?” Ries asked.

Stephanie listened to his voice and squeezed his hand, wishing his brother could show just a bit of compassion and thankfulness that he was still alive, instead of berating him over doing what Ries had thought was right at the time.

“Are you okay?” Damon asked, dropping his tyrant persona for a brief minute.

“I’ll live,” Ries answered shortly. He moved the phone and Stephanie watched Damon’s expression cloud when he saw she was there.

“What is one of your women doing there? I don’t suppose you could stop partying for even one night? I would have assumed getting shot would have put a damper on things.”

“First,” Ries answered, vibrating with anger over his brother’s words. “Stephanie is not ‘one of my women’ and it’s not really any of your business who I spend my time with.”

“When someone has targeted our company and our lives, everything is my business. You don’t know this woman. What makes you think you can trust her and she’s not the reason you got shot in the first place?”

Ries released Stephanie’s hand and stood up, pacing across the room with the phone and lowering his voice to a growl.

“You don’t know anything about her. She is the most trustworthy person I’ve ever met and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here for you to lecture, so stuff your opinions. I don’t want to hear them. As far as I’m concerned, Stephanie is now part of this family, so you need to get used to it.”

Stephanie heard his words, indignant as they were, and hope sprung forth, banishing her earlier doubts and questions to the wayside. It seemed she didn’t have to wonder about her place in Ries’ future. He’d just laid it out in clear detail for his brother.

When he turned and looked at her, it just confirmed what he’d said. His expression was filled with love and Stephanie knew then that Ries was not only her present but her future too.

They needed to stay alive long enough for the authorities to catch the man trying to kill them and then they could start living their lives. Together.

Ries disconnected the call and then stalked toward her, his intent displayed across his face. He didn’t disappoint, sweeping her into his chest with his good arm and proceeding to kiss her until they were both gasping for breath.

Chris and the housekeeper entered the room, breaking Ries and Stephanie apart. Breakfast trays were set out on the table and they were left alone again.

Stephanie’s stomach growled at the smell of the food and Ries chuckled, “It looks like you need the food more than you need me right now. Let’s eat and then we’ll sit down with the security team and make sure everything is in place to keep you safe.”

“And you,” she reminded him, following him to the table.

“We’ll both stick together and that will make Chris and his team’s job easier. I trust staying close to me will not be a hardship for you?” he asked teasingly.

Stephanie sighed dramatically and then gave him a sad look, “I will endeavor to suffer in silence.”

Ries chuckled and they set about eating. Stephanie liked how easy he was to talk to as he told her stories from his childhood, doing his best to draw her mind away from the fact that someone was trying to kill them both.

She appreciated his efforts, and enjoyed learning about the man and his secret aspirations. Aspirations she hoped he would continue to bring out into the light of day and accomplish.

Ries was an amazing man, and she couldn’t wait to see him shine and show his brothers how capable he truly was.

14

Next day…

“You’re not going,end of discussion,” Ries told Stephanie from across the breakfast table.

“I need to go back to my apartment…”

“Whatever you need, give me a list and someone will procure it for you.”

“I don’t want someone to ‘procure’ it for me, I want my own stuff,” she told him, trying hard not to lose her patience.

The day before neither she nor Ries had felt good enough to be in public. But today, she desperately needed some of her own clothing. She couldn’t continue wearing his shirts and rolled up sleep pants.

“Fine, I will go and get whatever you need,” he told her, taking a sip of his coffee and eyeing her over the rim of the cup.

Stephanie took a calming breath before asking, “You can leave the apartment but I can’t?”