Page 52 of His Haunted Desire

“None here either,” One guest says.

“The damn storm,” Raiden grunts.

“The landline doesn’t have a dial tone,” someone calls from the hallway.

“Someone cut it,” Raiden growls.

“We don’t know anything yet,” I say, taking his hand and holding it tightly.

“Everyone needs to leave in an orderly fashion,” Raiden says loudly. “Go to your rooms. Lock the doors. And if this knife wasmeant for me and the killer is in here, next time you better come for the right goddamn man!”

Evangeline paces the room, her mask off, her mood far less jovial than it was this morning. “His wife thinks it was meant for you.” She wrings her hands together. “She thinks someone tried to kill my grandson, my blood, atourRetreat.”

“Do you have any idea who would’ve wanted to hurt you?” I ask Raiden. “Who would go that far?”

“Victor doesn’t have any love lost for me, and Julian has shown his true colors. I’d like to say neither of them would go that far. But hell, who knows? Maybe they would. Perhaps I don’t know a goddamn thing.”

I touch his hand. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

“A man is dead because of me,” Raiden says darkly. “He was a good man. His wife wasn’t lying when she said he doesn’t have any enemies.”

“Max Rogan,” Evangeline mutters. “One of the few human beings walking this planet who seems–seemed–like a genuinely uncomplicatedly good person, God help him. We might be wrong. He might not be the angel we think he is.”

Raiden groans and runs his hand through his hair. “We won’t be able to call the police until we get some sort of signal for our cells. And even then, they won’t be able to come to the island until the weather conditions settle down.”

“The room is sealed, and the security is watching it.”

“Security?” I ask. “I’ve seen butlers and waiters and?—”

“They’re all security,” Evangeline cuts in. “Every member of staff is a trained soldier. They serve multiple purposes.”

“That makes sense.”

“Speaking of security,” Raiden says. “Grandmother, would you mind if Aurora stayed with you until this is over?”

“Of course not,” Evangeline says.

“Wait a second. What about whatAurorawants?” I fold my arms, which, even now, causes his gaze to flit undeniably to my body. It’s like an instinct he can’t control.

He snaps out of the trance, frowning at me. “I don’t understand.”

“Why don’t you want me to stay with you?”

“If this sick bastard really was targeting me and he comes back to finish the job, I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.”

“You’ll be safe here,” Evangeline says.

“No,” I say flatly.

“No?” Raiden says in a dark tone.“No?”

I want to tell him he’s not the boss of me when it comes to this. I want to tell him he’s not mysirwhen his life is on the line, but I can’t in front of his grandmother.

“We’re a team, Raiden. I’m going to be there for you. Anyway, you said we’d have security.”

“We will,” he snaps. “But I still might be a target.”

“I’m not leaving you.”