Page 87 of Noel Secrets

“Youliedto me!”

Price held up his hands, wishing he could explain that the client, her sister, had demanded he hide the truth. As a soldier who did what was expected him. But that didn’t feel like a valid excuse at the moment.

There was a rap on the door. Price knew his only hope was trying to continue with his halting explanation, but he was relieved to turn away from Addie and check who was there. He opened the door to Thayne and Moshe. He needed time to compose his thoughts, and she needed time to calm down. Yet would time make any difference in how she felt about him? Had he just ruined another relationship?

Thayne and Moshe nodded to him and walked into the house. They both looked as wary as Price felt.

“Miss Belle,” Thayne said. “We’re grateful you’re alive. We need to talk about protective custody.” He gestured toward her bombed and burned-out house on the monitors. “This escalates everything.”

Addie turned her blue glare on Thayne. “Fine. I will go into protective custody while you find out who bombed my house. As long as it’s not with him.” She pointed at Price.

His stomach flipped.

Thayne swallowed and exchanged a look with Moshe. “Um, ma’am, we’ve been on the phone with Aiden Porter.TheAiden Porter.”

Addie only glowered more. Everybody knew who Aiden Porter was. Would the fact that he was Price’s boss sway her not to trust Aiden as she obviously didn’t trust Price any longer?

“He promised he has an ideal situation for protective custody. His tech team is going to work with us to analyze the film and find the perpetrator, and he is sending a private jet for you and Captain Sanderson. The captain will escort you to the safehouse. He’s Aiden’s only operative available in the area currently. Ma’am, I hate to make you uncomfortable if you don’t want to be with Captain Sanderson, but I told you how trustworthy he is. He’s your best option for staying safe. I suppose when you get to the property they could send in a different bodyguard, if you’re still feeling the same … misgivings.”

“Misgivings? Trustworthy? You knew all along he was being paid to protect me. Didn’t you?”

“Not initially. Not when the captain had us set him up outside of Quincy Market.” Thayne backed up a step. Wisely. “But yes, after that night we were kept in the loop.”

“Well I wasn’t, and it’s my life on the line,” Addie gritted out. She pointed a finger at Thayne. “You told me you’d trust him with your sister, your wife, your daughter if you had one, and you were lying to me the entire time. All of you!”

Thayne looked to Price and then to his partner. He shrugged and mouthed, “Help.”

Price would’ve laughed at the detective’s plea if he hadn’t completely understood how he felt and was hoping for some help himself. He also appreciated the man trusting him like that. But Addie didn’t trust him, and that was all that mattered right now.

“Would you like to talk to your sister?” Moshe spoke up. “She’s the one who helped keep you safe through Aiden Porter.”

“Talk to my sister?” Addie didn’t shriek, but her voice did pitch up. “She’s the one who conspired with him to lie to me. No, I don’t want to talk to my sister right now.” She groaned and rubbed at her temples. “I’m going to miss Daphne’s wedding. Even if I’m ticked at her, I don’t want to miss my sister’s wedding.”

Price felt horrible. This was a mess, and he had far too much to do with it.

“Please,” Addie said. “Is there anyone else who can escort me to this safehouse? Anyone besides him.”

Price felt his gut twist. She didn’t trust him and didn’t want him around. He didn’t know how to reconcile those truths with how deeply he’d fallen for her and his vow to protect her.

“Not at the moment,” Thayne said. “Our department doesn’t have the manpower or resources. We could wait for the FBI, but …” His eyes reflected his distaste. It was common knowledge FBI agents usually thought they were superior to local police departments. “Believe me, Captain Sanderson is a much better option.”

“Addie.” Price kept his voice level, but he begged her with his eyes. “I know you’re upset at me right now.”

“Upset? You haven’t seen meupset.” Her blue eyes shot sparks at him. “Why don’t you try to touch or kiss me again and you’ll see me upset!”

The detectives’ eyes widened, and they each backed up another step. Price was sick. He’d messed this all up. Addie may never let down her walls again. He’d felt uncomfortable listening to Daphne telling him to wait, but he couldn’t change it now.

If he had told Addie the truth even after the night Travis came and that first kiss, she may have been more understanding. There might have been a chance. Now it was too late. One daytoo late. He was in a convoluted mess, and even a suave guy who was good at relationships may have struggled getting through this one. He doubted even Aiden Porter could charm his way out of this mess.

“I understand, and nobody blames you for feeling how you feel,” he said. “But right now your safety is the most important issue. I’ve vowed to you, God, and myself to keep you safe, and I will.”

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow, her blue eyes spitting fire. “So now I can trust you as opposed to when you were conspiring with my sister, lying to me, pretending to be trustworthy, and kissing me like it meant something?”

He flinched, but she had every right to her anger, and he’d never felt less trustworthy. Still, a vow was a vow. He’d keep her safe and then he’d walk away if that was what she needed.

“I’ll escort you to the safehouse and then we’ll work with Aiden and Nick to find another bodyguard to stay with you.”

It hurt to say those words, to think of turning Addie over to anyone else, but her being comfortable and safe was all that could matter right now. His vow to keep her safe himself and never leave her side would have to be resolved by finding the right man or woman to stand in his place.